Polish investor saves Heiterblick and secures 250 jobs

The insolvent Leipzig streetcar manufacturer Heiterblick has now been officially rescued. The Polish rail vehicle manufacturer Pesa is acquiring 100 percent of the shares, as announced by both companies. A corresponding investor agreement had already been signed in December and is currently being finalized. The transaction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026.

Investor entry and expansion plans

The entry is intended to strengthen the Leipzig site and secure around 250 jobs. There are also plans to expand production in the coming years and gradually increase it to up to 25 vehicles per year. Pesa will support Heiterblick in processing existing orders from Leipzig, Würzburg and Dortmund, among others.

"Pesa and Heiterblick complement each other perfectly," said Pesa CEO Kryzsztof Zdziarski. The merger brings together the two teams and important skills in terms of market experience and technologies on both sides. Heiterblick Managing Director Samuel Kermelk also expressed his confidence: "We are delighted to have found a strong partner in Pesa. Heiterblick has a promising business model and a good order situation."

Probably no return to lost orders

The rescue has no consequences for orders that have already been lost in Saxony. Zwickau and Görlitz are sticking to their current Europe-wide new tenders. "The rescue of Heiterblick has no impact on the new tendering process," the transport companies announced. There will be no renegotiation, they said. However, the new investor could participate in the ongoing tendering process.

Heiterblick had been undergoing a restructuring process under self-administration since April last year. The aim was to reduce costs and secure existing orders. The completion of the new streetcars ordered by the city is important for Leipzig.