Historic motorcycle manufacturer MZ to shut down

One of the oldest motorcycle manufacturers in the world, MZ is to shut down at the end of the year.

• MZ’s for sale here

The German motorcycle manufacturer is due to close down on December 31, 2008 because their Malaysian backers pulled the plug since MZ has only produced financial losses since they were taken over by the Malaysians in 1996.

Roughly 40 workers from the company are due to lose their jobs at the end of the year.

MZ continued to produce motorcycles during the Second World War and while Germany was under the rule of theCommunist government.

BMW is now the only remaining motorcycle manufacturer in Germany.