Niche supercar maker Gumpert has filed for provisional insolvency proceedings in its local German court, putting a possible end to the maker’s future production plans. The move comes after the company’s plans to expand into China fell through.


An appointed administrator, lawyer Mr. Görge Scheid, reportedly sees the company’s chances of recovery positive after talking with its 30 employees and performing an initial factory inspection. The company will now focus on doing business in its home country and the rest of Europe. Gumpert does need to find new investors to bail it out, however.


Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur GmbH was started by a former Audi executive Roland Gumpert in January of 2004. Its only product, the Apollo, uses an Audi-sourced 4.2-liter V8 that uses twin turbos to produce 650 horsepower. There is a six-speed sequential transmission driving the rear wheels. The 0-60mph yardstick is said to take just three seconds. The street car shares its trick body, suspension, and chassis with the race car. It uses a carbon fiber monocoque safety cell as its backbone. The interior makes liberal use of existing Audi and VW parts as well.


Gumpert isn’t alone in feeling the market pressure, however, as fellow German supercar makers Artega and Melkus filed for bankruptcy earlier in August.

...Gumpert points to disappointing sales figures in China as the culprit for its financial woes...