Road Cars - Tempo

Tempo was a German car manufacturer primarily known for producing light commercial vehicles and small cars during the 20th century.

The brand was established in 1924 and, over time, became recognized for its innovative designs in the realm of commercial vehicles, particularly vans, trucks, and delivery vehicles. Tempo was not as famous for passenger cars as it was for its commercial and utility vehicles, but it still had an important place in the history of German automotive development.

Tempo’s earliest vehicles were designed with practicality in mind, targeted at small businesses that required efficient and affordable transport solutions. Tempo’s focus shifted toward small delivery trucks and vans, and it became highly regarded for its innovative designs in the field of commercial transportation.

Some of their vehicles were used in industries such as retail, logistics, and agriculture. In the early 1960s, Tempo faced financial difficulties and was struggling to keep up with competition in both the passenger car and commercial vehicle markets.

As a result, Tempo was acquired by Hanomag, a larger German company that also specialized in commercial vehicles and construction machinery.

Hanomag was more focused on heavy trucks and industrial vehicles, so the Tempo brand slowly faded into the background. Production of Tempo’s passenger vehicles and small trucks ceased after the acquisition, and the brand was eventually absorbed into Hanomag’s operations.

Hanomag itself was later taken over by Daimler-Benz (now part of Mercedes-Benz), and by the 1970s, the Tempo brand had been effectively discontinued.