IT would appear that attempts to secure a future for Spanish trails bike manufacturer Gas Gas Ossa have failed.
According to this press release text issued by the company on July 20th, and posted on the Gas Gas UK website on July 21st, it is still hoped that a new owner may buy the assets as a going concern and recommence production.
Dear customers, partners and friends,
We are contacting you with this update regarding the current situation with the company.
As you all know, in recent months the company has gone through several legal proceedings in order to renegotiate the debt and to continue operations. Unfortunately, despite the valiant efforts made to achieve this goal, it has been impossible to reach and finally they have declared to proceed with the liquidation of Gas Gas Motos SA.
In this process, the current management team, the receivers and the council representatives of all employees are working full-throttle to collect all of the necessary information to begin the process of selling the factory and to close the subsequent sale process with potential buyers in the fastest way possible.
The target set by the sale of the production unit is to be able to reactivate the Gas Gas Motos factory in a way that allows us to produce our motorcycles, both enduro and trial, and ensure a solid and sustainable long term viability of the company.
During this stage of the sale process of the production unit, we at Gas Gas will make our utmost efforts to ensure the level of service in the areas of spare parts as well as in the after-sales department in order to avoid penalizing our customers during this period.
From Gas Gas, we convey our sincere thanks for your support during these months and wish to convey our total conviction on the feasibility of satisfactory results during the production unit sale process.
Best regards,
GAS GAS MOTOS SA.
In 2013 Gas Gas received a EUR 4 million investment by an international consortium, and in 2014 the Catalan government agreed to provide Gas Gas with a further EUR 2 million to fund a recovery plan for the company, a plan that included acquisition of new technology to improve their two and four stroke engine production.
Last year, it was announced that Gas Gas would merge with Ossa and re-launch that brand, having previously agreed to share production facilities and personnel. Ossa was re-launched in 2009, three decades after its closure, and were believed to be producing around 800 trials motorbikes. At this time it is unclear as to whether or not the Ossa brand and prospects for its production is wrapped-up in this latest development, but it is very likely that it is.
Gas Gas itself was founded in 1985, so was hoping to celebrate its 30th anniversary this year. It is estimated that the company was producing some 9,000 bikes per year as recently as 2012/13, exporting to over 50 countries and generating some 500 direct and indirect jobs in Catalonia, north of Barcelona.
