MZ

11 entries

East Germany’s motorcycle works in Zschopau: the two-stroke ETZ was built for more than three decades and sold in the millions.

Works: Zschopau, Saxony
Name MZ since: 1956, Motorenwerke Zschopau
Millionth motorcycle: 1970, MZ ETS 250 Trophy Sport
Production in Zschopau ended: 12 December 2008

The Zschopau factory was bought by Jørgen Skafte Rasmussen in 1906, became DKW in 1923 and by 1929 was the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world. After the war the state-owned works became part of IFA and from 1950 built the RT 125; in 1956 it was renamed VEB Motorradwerk Zschopau, MZ for short.

The two-millionth motorcycle, an ETZ 250, left the line in 1983. MZ was privatised in 1990 and entered receivership in 1993; the ETZ patent went to the Turkish firm Kanuni. The Zschopau factory closed in December 2008, and the brand was bought in 2009 by Ralf Waldmann, Martin Wimmer and Dr. Martina Häger.

1906Rasmussen buys the Zschopau factory
1950RT 125 built under the IFA trademark
1956Works renamed MZ
1970One millionth motorcycle
1983Two millionth motorcycle
2008Zschopau factory closes