Multicar

Multicar is a German specialist-vehicle brand associated with compact, multifunctional transporters used by municipalities, public-service organizations, contractors, agriculture, industry, and other operators that require a small vehicle able to perform several tasks. Its vehicles are designed around maneuverability, compact dimensions, multiple attachment and body configurations, and the ability to operate in places where conventional trucks or larger utility vehicles are impractical. The brand is produced at Hako GmbH's factory in Waltershausen, Thuringia. The industrial history behind Multicar began in 1920, when the present Waltershausen operation was established as the ADE works, named after Arthur Ade. Its early output included agricultural machinery, trailers, and clutches. After the Second World War, production resumed in 1946 under the name Gerätebau Waltershausen. In 1948 the factory became VEB Fahrzeugwerk Waltershausen, a state-owned enterprise that would remain in operation under that name until privatization after German reunification. The company's transition toward compact utility vehicles began with the DK 3 diesel cart, introduced in 1956. The vehicle had been developed at the Ludwigsfelde works and combined an electrocar-type layout with a diesel engine. In 1958 the factory produced the first vehicle to carry the Multicar name, the M21. This established the brand's characteristic position as a small, highly practical work vehicle rather than a conventional passenger-car or heavy-truck manufacturer. Around 14,000 M21 vehicles were produced by 1964. The M22 followed and remained in production for roughly a decade, with about 42,500 units built. The M24 succeeded it and reached approximately 25,600 vehicles by the end of its production period in 1978; almost half were exported. The M25 became one of the most important models in the brand's history. Its export reach extended throughout the Comecon area and into Western markets, and approximately 100,000 examples were produced. The M25 used an IFA diesel engine rated at 33 kW, or approximately 45 horsepower. Production continued into the post-reunification period as the Modell 91, which adopted a Volkswagen engine. The factory was privatized in 1991. The turnaround during the late East German and reunification period was strongly associated with Manfred Windus, previously the company's director of materials management. Windus was recognized as Manager of the Year in 1993. From 1993 to 2011, the M26 represented the modernized continuation of the compact-utility concept. In 1998, Hako-Werke acquired shares previously held by Deutsche Beteiligungsgesellschaft, making Hako the majority shareholder. Hako subsequently moved production of the TREMO and UX100 vehicle lines to Waltershausen and broadened the site’s role within its equipment-vehicle portfolio. A new generation arrived with the FUMO in 2001. The name is derived from “Function and Mobility,” reflecting the brand's emphasis on adaptable work platforms. From 2004, Multicar also produced the Mungo specialty vehicle in cooperation with Krauss-Maffei Wegmann for German Bundeswehr applications. In 2005 Multicar was formally merged with Hako and ceased to operate as a separate corporate entity, although the name continued as a product brand. Since spring 2013, Multicar has functioned as a product line under the Hako umbrella brand. The later range included the M27, FUMO, and the especially narrow TREMO Carrier. These vehicles were equipped with engines meeting Euro 5 emissions requirements according to the referenced historical material. Multicar's continuing identity rests on the survival of its Waltershausen manufacturing tradition and on its specialization in compact municipal and professional work vehicles. It is notable as the only former East German IFA vehicle brand identified in the reference material as still producing its own vehicles, although its corporate ownership and market presentation are now integrated into Hako.

Multicar's industrial roots extend to the establishment of the ADE works in Waltershausen in 1920. Named after Arthur Ade, the operation initially manufactured agricultural equipment, trailers, and clutches. Production resumed after the Second World War in 1946 as Gerätebau Waltershausen, and the factory was renamed VEB Fahrzeugwerk Waltershausen in 1948. It retained this state-enterprise identity until privatization in 1991. The factory entered the compact utility-vehicle sector in 1956 with the DK 3 diesel cart, a diesel-powered development based on an electrocar layout. The first vehicle carrying the Multicar name, the M21, was produced in 1958. Approximately 14,000 M21 vehicles had been built by 1964. The M22 followed and reached about 42,500 units during its production run. The M24 was produced until 1978, with roughly 25,600 vehicles manufactured and 48 percent exported. The M25 became the company's major export model. Its 33 kW IFA diesel engine supported a compact vehicle intended for practical transport and service work. About 70 percent of M25 production went to Comecon countries and Western markets. The line continued in 1991 as the Modell 91, which used a Volkswagen engine, and the broader M25 family reached approximately 100,000 units. After privatization, the factory's recovery was associated in the reference material with Manfred Windus, formerly its director of materials management. He received a Manager of the Year distinction in 1993. The M26 was produced from 1993 to 2011. Hako-Werke became the majority shareholder in 1998 after acquiring shares held by Deutsche Beteiligungsgesellschaft. Hako also transferred the TREMO and UX100 product lines to Waltershausen. The FUMO series entered production in 2001. In 2004, Multicar began producing the Mungo specialty vehicle in cooperation with Krauss-Maffei Wegmann for Bundeswehr use. Walter Botschatzki, a manager associated with the company, received the Federal Republic of Germany's Order of Merit, First Class, in 2005 from President Horst Köhler. Multicar was formally merged with Hako in 2005. It remained recognizable as a brand, but its independent corporate identity was replaced by integration into Hako's operations. Since spring 2013, Multicar has been treated as a Hako product line. Later vehicles referenced in the source material include the M27, FUMO, and narrow TREMO Carrier, with engines meeting Euro 5 emissions standards. The brand's historical significance lies in its continuity from the East German IFA vehicle industry into a current Hako-owned specialist-vehicle portfolio.

• 2013

  Brand becomes a Hako product line

  [1]Multicaren.wikipedia.org

  Multicar was positioned as a product line under the Hako umbrella brand.

• 2005

  Formal merger with Hako

  [1]Multicaren.wikipedia.org

  Multicar was formally merged with Hako and continued as a brand within the Hako organization.

• 2004

  Mungo enters production

  [1]Multicaren.wikipedia.org

  The Mungo specialty vehicle began production through cooperation with Krauss-Maffei Wegmann for Bundeswehr use.

• 2001

  FUMO series begins

  [1]Multicaren.wikipedia.org

  Production started on the FUMO multifunctional vehicle series.

• 1998

  Hako becomes majority shareholder

  [1]Multicaren.wikipedia.org

  Hako-Werke acquired shares from Deutsche Beteiligungsgesellschaft and became Multicar's majority shareholder.

• 1991

  Privatization and Modell 91

  [1]Multicaren.wikipedia.org

  The state-owned factory was privatized, and production of the M25 lineage continued as the Modell 91 with a Volkswagen engine.

• 1958

  First Multicar vehicle produced

  [1]Multicaren.wikipedia.org

  The Waltershausen factory produced the first vehicle carrying the Multicar name, the M21.

• 1956

  DK 3 diesel cart introduced

  [1]Multicaren.wikipedia.org

  Production began on the DK 3 diesel cart, a precursor to the Multicar vehicle concept.

• 1948

  Factory becomes VEB Fahrzeugwerk Waltershausen

  [1]Multicaren.wikipedia.org

  The operation adopted the state-enterprise name it retained until privatization in 1991.

• 1946

  Postwar production resumes

  [1]Multicaren.wikipedia.org

  The factory resumed operations under the name Gerätebau Waltershausen.

• 1920

  ADE works established in Waltershausen

  [1]Multicaren.wikipedia.org

  The industrial predecessor of the present Waltershausen operation was founded as the ADE works, producing agricultural equipment, trailers, and clutches.

A specialist German utility-vehicle brand focused on compact dimensions, high maneuverability, multifunctional body configurations, and municipal or professional work applications. Multicar occupies a niche between small transporters and larger commercial vehicles, emphasizing flexible deployment in confined urban, industrial, agricultural, and public-service environments.

• Diesel cart · 1956

  DK 3

  Introduced in 1956, the DK 3 was a compact diesel cart developed from an electrocar-type design. It preceded the vehicles that later carried the Multicar name and helped establish Waltershausen's specialization in small, practical work vehicles.

• Compact utility vehicle · 1958

  M21

  The M21 was the first vehicle to use the Multicar name. Produced from 1958, it represented the brand's early compact transporter concept and had reached approximately 14,000 units by 1964.

• Mini truck

  M22

  The M22 was a small work truck produced for approximately a decade after the M21. Its production volume of about 42,500 vehicles made it an important early expansion of the Multicar range.

• Compact utility vehicle

  M24

  The M24 succeeded the M22 and remained in production until 1978. Approximately 25,600 examples were built, with a substantial export share that demonstrated the model's utility beyond East German domestic demand.

• Compact utility vehicle

  M25

  The M25 was one of Multicar's most widely produced and exported models. It used an IFA-built diesel engine rated at 33 kW, or about 45 horsepower, and was sold across Comecon countries and Western markets. The wider M25 production family reached approximately 100,000 vehicles.

• Compact utility vehicle · 1991

  Modell 91

  The Modell 91 continued the M25 concept after reunification and used a Volkswagen engine. It illustrates the technical and commercial transition of the Waltershausen operation into the post-socialist German vehicle market.

• Multifunctional equipment carrier · 1993

  M26

  Produced from 1993 to 2011, the M26 carried forward Multicar's compact professional-vehicle format. It was intended as a flexible work platform for utility, municipal, and service applications.

• Multifunctional equipment carrier · 2001

  FUMO

  The FUMO series began production in 2001. Its name refers to function and mobility, and the line was developed as a modern multifunctional platform for professional users requiring adaptable transport and equipment configurations.

• Specialty vehicle · 2004

  Mungo

  The Mungo was produced from 2004 in cooperation with Krauss-Maffei Wegmann. It was developed for specialist use by the German Bundeswehr and expanded Multicar's activities beyond civilian municipal and commercial applications.

• Narrow multifunctional carrier

  TREMO Carrier

  The TREMO Carrier is a particularly narrow Multicar vehicle intended for work in confined spaces. Its compact width and equipment-carrier configuration make it suited to municipal maintenance, urban service work, and other operations where access is restricted.

• Multifunctional equipment carrier

  M27

  The M27 is part of the later Multicar range referenced in the source material. Alongside the FUMO and TREMO Carrier, it used an engine meeting the Euro 5 emissions standard and served the brand's compact professional-vehicle market.

• 2013

  Multicar becomes a Hako product lineStrategy

  Background

  After its formal merger with Hako, the brand was further aligned with the parent company's umbrella-brand structure.

  Action taken

  From spring 2013, Multicar was presented only as a product line under Hako.

  Aftermath

  The Multicar name continued to identify compact multifunctional vehicles, while Hako became the principal corporate and umbrella brand.

  Source

• 2005

  Multicar is formally merged with HakoM&A

  Background

  Hako's majority ownership evolved into deeper organizational integration of the Waltershausen vehicle business.

  Action taken

  Multicar was formally merged with Hako while retaining recognition as a product brand.

  Aftermath

  The company no longer operated as an independent corporate entity, and Multicar continued within Hako's product portfolio.

  Source

• 1998

  Hako acquires majority ownershipM&A

  Background

  Following privatization, Multicar required an ownership and industrial structure capable of supporting its continued development as a specialist vehicle manufacturer.

  Action taken

  Hako-Werke acquired the shares held by Deutsche Beteiligungsgesellschaft and became Multicar's majority shareholder.

  Aftermath

  The transaction brought Multicar further into the Hako group and was followed by the transfer of the TREMO and UX100 lines to Waltershausen.

  Source

1. 1Multicaren.wikipedia.org
2. 2Hako official websitehako.com