Multicar

Multicar is a small, specialized multifunctional equipment transporter manufactured at the Hako-Werke GmbH Multicar factory Waltershausen, Germany. Multicar is the only brand that has survived from the East German IFA vehicle industry.

History

In 1920 the present company was founded as the ADE works (named after Arthur Ade). It produced agricultural equipment, trailers and clutches. After the Second World War, production was resumed in 1946 under the name "Gerätebau Waltershausen".

In 1948 the company was renamed VEB Fahrzeugwerk Waltershausen, a name it retained until its privatization in 1991. In 1956 production began on the DK 3 diesel cart (also known as the Diesel Ant, ants being hard-working). This had been developed in the Ludwigsfelde works and was actually an Electrocar with a diesel engine. Two years later, the first Multicar, the M21, was produced. By 1964, 14,000 units had left the factory in Waltershausen. For the following ten years the M22 left the production line, with 42,500 vehicles built. Until 1978, its successor, the M24, was produced with 25,600 vehicles leaving the factory, 48% of which were exported. The M25 was a major export; 70% went to the Comecon states and the West. The M25 had an IFA-built diesel engine with 33 kW (45 PS). Its production was continued in 1991 with the Modell 91, which had a VW engine. Approximately 100,000 units were produced.