A new beginning

After the end of World War II 400 of the 8000 workers were left and the factory site was destroyed. Mr. Schindelhauer, the former sales manager, was authorised by the City of Bremen and confirmed by the committee of trustees to remove the ruins, he ordered the construction of provisional roofs and the rescue of all the material that could still be used.
On account of his good connections with the Allied Forces and his politically clean past Mr. Schindelhauer was able to take up the production of trucks.

In 1948 the 58 year-old Mr. Borgward was permitted to return to his enterprise. He initiated the immediate erection of the factories in Sebaldsbrück and Hastedt. The company was transformed in three private limited companies (GmbH), the "Goliath GmbH", the "Lloyd-Maschinenfabrik GmbH" and the "Automobil- und Motorenwerke Carl F.W. Borgward GmbH". Now his companies could order three times higher supply of raw-material.
Trucks were produced in Sebaldsbrück. A very successful delivery van on three wheels in the Goliath works and the Lloyd Machinery enterprise built machines for spinning, weaving looms and electrical trucks.

The "Hansa 1500", the first post-war construction of a passenger car, was exhibited on the "Automobile Saloon Geneva" in 1949. This car had a "pontoon" body, a completely new constructional design, and a blinker (flashlight turn signal) which was recently constructed by Messrs. Bosch and replaced the former blinker. Despite of the odd shape the car had numerous buyers in Germany and abroad. Borgward recovered ground considering the international competition and in order to emphasise this fact he built a racing car on the basis of the "Hansa 1500".
People with a smaller income could buy the nick-named "Leukoplastbomber" (in English: "the band-aid Bomber") Lloyd LP 300, a vehicle with a wooden body and 300 cm³ motor with 10 hp.

Once again the premises of the Goliath factory with the Lloyd production became too small. Now the "Lloyd -Maschinenfabrik GmbH" was moved to a 20.000 m2 site in Bremen-Neustadt and renamed as "Lloyd-Motoren-Werke GmbH" while the production of textile machines was stopped.
The product range was extended and modernised in all the three Borgward enterprises and finally vehicles could be delivered for each taste and each purse. In the beginnings of 1950 the truck prices could be lowered between 300 and 1800 DM on account of the increasing production.

Borgward started business with Argentina very early, which finally lead to the foundation of "Borgward Argentina S.A. Industrial". Half of the capital stock was paid by both parties, Borgward and the industry of Argentine. The equipment of the enterprise was invested by Borgward while Argentine subsidized 14.000 m2 land and buildings. A small truck, the "Rastrojero", was constructed at this location.
During the following years the Borgward group expanded continuously. The target was to achieve a high independence from sub-suppliers. Consequently Borgward founded in 1955 the "Carl F.W. Borgward-Leichtmetallwerke".

Because of the high export amount of the produced vehicles and a weak winter season on the German market by the end of 1955, Borgward had to dismiss about 2000 work-men, which had been employed shortly before. Now Borgward decided to produce special car bodies with the means from the equalisation of war burdens. During this time the engineering of a helicopter was planned in co-operation with the most experienced air-plane constructor, Prof. Focke.

After the introduction of the Isabella "TS" and "de Luxe" in 1959 sales improved steadily. This resulted in an employment of nearly 20.000 people and a production of 104.410 vehicles with a turnover of 632 million DM. The offer of The Chrysler Group of America to buy the enterprise, was of course rejected by Borgward.

While the introduction of the "P 100", a luxurious, big powerful car, caused further profits, the sale losses started at the works of Goliath and Lloyd. Difficulties during the introduction of the "Lloyd Arabella" damaged not only the good credit of the company but cost millions. The Goliath vehicles still suffered from the image of small and cheap tricycles, which were no longer asked for in a time of commercial recovery.
Despite of the complete vehicle programme offered by the Borgward Group the sales decreased, above all in the US.

Credits given by the City of Bremen could keep up a tapered off production until the end of 1960. By then the financing problems of the Borgward Group reached the public, thus leading to an insecurity among dealers, suppliers and customers. A reduction of the management, dismissals and further credits could not save the Borgward Group.
Following the report of the certified account of the City of Bremen, Dr. Semler, the City refused further credits. The City demanded the complete surrender of the enterprise and granted the prolongation of the operative work. When several attempts to sell the company failed, Borgward accepted the offer, thus saving working places.

Instead of reorganising the enterprise through unpopular measurements like dismissals, Dr. Semler tried to sell the Borgward Group world-wide. Negotiations with Chrysler finally broke down, and on July 28th, 1961 the preliminary composition proceedings to avert bankruptcy was initiated. 12.600 work men received their dismissal..
A community of interested parties like dealers, suppliers, great banking houses and customers tried to buy the work Sebalsbrück for 90 million DM. The offer was however refused by the Bremer Senate. Thus on September 11th, 1961 the bankruptcy proceedings were announced which meant the end of the traditional brand Borgward.