|
1906/1907
|
This picture shows Skafte Jorgen Rasmussen (1878-1964), who was a mechanical engineer.
In 1906, Rasmussen bought a vacant textile mill in Zschopau. On 13 April 1907 he registered the factory as "Rasmussen & Ernst" in the Commercial Register in Zschopau. The company manufactured automotive, household and workshop equipment.
|
|
|
In 1912 the factory was renamed "Zschopauer Maschinenfabrik J.S. Rasmussen". |
|
1917
  
|
In World War I the factory had to produce for the defence industry. During this time the company worked on the development of a steam-powered car. The efforts were unsuccessful, however the abbreviation "DKW" became the new trademark of the company.
|
|
1919
|
1919 the production of two-stroke engine toys began. DKW stood for “Des Knaben Wunsch” (The boy's wish). |
|
1920
|
DKW developed a 1 hp auxiliary-engine for bicycles. DKW stood for "Das kleine Wunder" (The Small Miracle). |
|
|
The chair models Golem and Lomos were produced. These were the forerunners of the scooter.
DKW was successful in sport even just shortly after it began manufacturing motorcycles. DKW riders won the three top positions in the “Reichsfahrt”, an 800 km journey from Berlin to Heidelberg, on production models.
|
|
1922
|
The proper production of motorcycles began in Zschopau. The company produced the motorbike "Reichsfahrtmodell" which had an engine displacement of 148 cc and 2.25 hp. |
|
1923
|
The company was converted into an “AG Aktiengesellschaft” (public limited company -PLC). The foundation stone for the DKW Group. |
|
1924
|
The 50000th motorcycle was produced in the DKW factory. With the presentation of its motorcycle model SM, DKW laid the foundation stone and technical basis for an unprecedented development in the history of motorcycle production at that time.
|
|
1926
|
The company was the first company in the world to introduce an assembly production line for the production of motorcycles.
|
|
1927
|
The first racing department was founded.
|
|
1928
|
Due to its expansion, DKW became the biggest motorcycle factory in the world. Up to 300 motorcycles and 350 engines were produced daily. The company had 2357 employees and an annual turnover of 43316 motorcycles.
|
|
1929
|
The factory reached a new peak in production: 60,000 motorcycles!
|
|
|
DKW, Horch, Audi and Wanderer merged and became Auto Union AG.
|
|
|
The factory built the 500,000th motorcycle. The newly designed motorcycle RT125 was produced. It replaced the RT100, and was, after the war, the most produced motorcycle. Due to the war in the second half of that year, the production of civil luxury models was stopped. Additionally, the racing department was closed. |
|
1944
|
The Auto Union achieved its highest turnover of 740 million Reichsmarks.
|
|
1945
|
The factory survived the war unscathed. The Red Army occupied Zschopau and the factory. Under the command of the Soviet occupying forces, the factory was dismantled and moved to the Soviet Union.
|
|
|
The "Industrieverwaltung Fahrzeugbau" (industrial management vehicle construction), abbreviated IFA, was founded. Preparations to resume production were made.
|
|
1949
|
On 05.09.49 the SMAD (Soviet Military Administration in Germany) allowed Motorradwerk Zschopau to recommence production. The RT 125, a racing motorbike, was developed. This bike won many GDR and German Championships.
|
|
|
The production of the pre-war model RT125 began again. After the war, the Model RT125 was without a patent. The bike was developed further and produced under the trademark IFA.
|
|
1952
|
The company was renamed "VEB Motorradwerk Zschopau", abbreviated MZ. The production of the BK 350 began. This was the first two-stroke machine with a two-cylinder boxer engine and a cardan-shaft drive.
|
|
1953
|
The racing department, named IFA Rennkollektiv Zschopau, was founded.
|
|
1956
|
The MZ factory team for off-road motorsport was founded. In its first year of competition the team celebrated a total of nine wins in its class.
|
|
1962
|
The production of the ES 125 and ES 150 began. The ES 150 was the first motorcycle with asymmetrical dimmed headlights and the most produced motorcycle in Germany.
|
|
1970
|
On 21.06.70 the 1000000th MZ motorcycle since 1950 was produced.
|
|
1973
|
Production of the TS 150 series began.
|
|
|
The TS-Series was replaced by the ETZ 250. The ETZ-250 engine had an output of 21 hp. |
|
1983
|
On 07.07.83 the 2000000th MZ motorcycle was produced.
|
|
|
At the end of this year the production of the ETZ 251 commenced. This was the last model to be built in series.
|
|
1990
|
The "Treuhand" (state holding company) privatised the company. The VEB Motorradwerk Zschopau became MZ GmbH. The production collapsed and consequently, many workers were dismissed.
|
|
1991
|
After the unity of the two German states and the changes in the markets that occurred as a result, MZ GmbH developed liquidity problems. On 18.12. MZ’s bankruptcy could no longer be stopped.
|
|
|
On 01.07.92 Petr-Karel Korous founded the "Motorrad- und Zweiradwerk GmbH", abbreviated MuZ. In autumn of the same year a new model range was presented.
|
|
1994
|
In February 1994 the last motorcycle was built in the old MZ-factory. Management and production moved to the new factory in Hohndorf.
|
|
1995
|
The "Treuhand" sold the series of two-stroke motorcycles to Turkey. The company was threatened with bankruptcy.
|
|
1996
|
The Malaysian company Hong Leong Industries took over after Motorrad- und Zweiradwerk GmbH became bankrupt.
|
|
2008
|
On 04.06.08 Hong Leong Industries decided to stop production. From September 2008 onwards there was no production. At the end of the year the company was closed.
|
|
|
In March 2009, former motorcycle racers Martin Wimmer and Ralf Waldmann took over the company under the name of "Motorenwerke Zschopau GmbH". |
|
2010
|
The MZ racing team for the Moto2 class was founded. On 14.03.10 the MZ racing team was given clearance to start in the newly founded Moto2 class. Furthermore, an enduro team was founded. |
|
2010
|
At the beginning of the year, a second Moto2 team for the Spanish Championship was founded. |
German
English
