Austrian engineering firm Obrist filed for bankruptcy in late September after failing to commercialise its petrol-powered generator for Tesla cars. The company spent over a decade developing its HyperHybrid technology. Three subsidiaries became insolvent with combined liabilities of €31.8 million, as the business could not reach large-scale commercial production goals.
An Austrian engineering company that drew global attention for fitting Tesla electric cars with a small petrol-powered generator to extend driving range has filed for bankruptcy, marking a setback for one of the more unconventional approaches to vehicle electrification.
According to a report by Inc.com, Austria-based Obrist has seen three of its operating subsidiaries become insolvent after spending more than a decade trying to commercialise its proprietary HyperHybrid technology.
The insolvency affects Obrist Powertrain GmbH, Obrist Technologies GmbH, and the group's German sales subsidiary, with combined liabilities of around €31.8 million (about $37 million). The debt figure, however, does not represent the entire Obrist group, as the parent company continues to exist and remains active, Inc.com reported, citing electric vehicle publication Electrek.
Obrist gained international attention for demonstrating Tesla vehicles equipped with a compact combustion-engine generator designed to recharge the battery while driving. The company argued that its HyperHybrid system could offer a lower-cost and potentially lower-emissions alternative to large battery packs.
According to court filings cited by Inc.com, Obrist Powertrain, the unit responsible for developing the HyperHybrid technology, owes about €18.85 million to 34 creditors. The company had reduced its workforce to just nine employees before filing for bankruptcy in late September.
Meanwhile, Obrist Technologies, which held patents related to methanol production and carbon-capture systems, reportedly owes around €6.08 million to 10 creditors and no longer has any employees.
The group's German sales arm, Obrist DE, is also insolvent, with liabilities of roughly €6.8 million.
The filings were made with the Feldkirch Regional Court in Austria's Vorarlberg state. According to the report, the companies informed the court that neither restructuring nor continued operations was considered viable, and that they would cease operations immediately.
The collapse underscores the challenges faced by automotive technology startups seeking to carve out a niche in the rapidly evolving electric vehicle market.
Despite years of development work and high-profile demonstrations, the company was ultimately unable to bring the technology to large-scale commercial production, according to Inc.com.