History

Where we come from. And everything we’ve experienced.

KAMEI is a company with a long history. Our business has been characterised by innovation and new ways of thinking since the very beginning. Aerodynamic add-on components, roof boxes, sport seats – KAMEI has shaped and expanded the evolution of them all. Below, you can explore more than seven decades of KAMEI’s automotive developments. Let’s jump right in.

1930–50s

1930–50s

1939 Karl Meier starts at Volkswagen
1947 Bodyform seats and the Tatzelwurm
1949 Launching with 50 Marks in the bank
1952 Intelligent comfort: the Schlummerrolle
1953 Spoiler alert! The Tiefensteuer
1955 ‘Protective case with luggage rack’: the predecessor to the roof box

1939

1939

Karl Meier gets his start

KAMEI founder Karl Meier started out as an interior equipment constructor at the Volkswagen factory, where he helped develop the legendary Schwimmwagen Typ 166 amphibious car.

1947

1947

Bodyform seats and the Tatzelwurm

After the war, Meier left the Volkswagen plant for a factory run by former Volkswagen training manager, Hermann Schwen, and stated building mainly commercial vehicles from old and new components. It was here that Meier developed what he named Körperformsitze or “bodyform seats” for a coupé based on a Volkswagen. We still use the basic principle for these today. He also developed a Volkswagen-based race car named the Tatzelwurm, a predecessor of the Formula Vee vehicles.

1949

1949

Launching with 50 Marks in the bank

Karl Meier went independent with just 50 Marks of start-up capital. His ‘workshop’ was a wooden shed. Together with his sons, he breathed new life into seats from used Volkswagens, reupholstering them, painting their frames and sewing new covers. As the recycled seats became increasingly popular, he began to expand the company. 30 seamstresses were employed to manufacture the covers, producing enough for 15 Volkswagens every day. That is until the industry took hold of the idea and Meier could no longer compete. Rather than lamenting his fate, he turned his hand to new, innovative interior concepts. And with great success. Some of his developments were even integrated into the standard Beetle, including the accelerator pedal.

1952

1952

Intelligent cushions: the Schlummerrolle

Finally it was official: Meier's shed-based operation became a company, KAMEI (KARL MEIER). The new firm initially specialised in interior accessories. Perhaps its most successful product was the famous Schlummerrolle or “slumber cushion,” which quickly became the standard safety headrest we know today.

1953

1953

Spoiler alert: the Tiefensteuer

Meier was unhappy with how tail-heavy the VW Beetle was, and how difficult it was to handle at higher speeds. His solution was the Tiefensteuer – an aerodynamic feature we now know as a spoiler. Outside the gates of the Geneva Motor Show, he tried to convince the manufacturers of his new invention. But to no avail – the original spoiler was put on ice. For the time being, at least.

1955

1955

‘Protective case with luggage rack’: the predecessor to the roof box

“Where are we going to put it all?” was a common question amongst drivers in the 1950s. The ever-pragmatic Meier’s answer: “on the roof.” KAMEI developed a smooth protective cover with a roof rack, a device that would turn out to be the prototype for the modern roof box. Meier’s company was also treading new ground in terms of advertising. Volkswagen staff began coming back to their cars on the company site to find product information leaflets stuck to their windshields. The demand for the roof racks was overwhelming.

1960s

1960s

1964 The birth of cool: KAMEI steering wheel covers
1966 KAMEI takes the Ku’damm

1964

1964

The birth of cool: KAMEI steering wheel covers

Over the years, KAMEI has also produced many innovative comfort products. The steering wheels of the 1960s were not particularly grippy, tended to pass on the vibrations of the vehicle and felt cold in the winter. To solve these problems, KAMEI developed the Avus and Avus Super steering wheel covers with wrap-around bands, cording, pores and 972 holes for ventilation. The Avus won fans all over the world. Everyone from racing drivers, rock ‘n’ roll greats and film stars to taxi drivers and your everyday car owner was driving with these new, cool and casual steering wheel covers. With more than 100 million produced since its launch, Avus is by far and away the world’s most successful steering wheel cover.

1966

1966

KAMEI takes the Ku’damm

KAMEI opened its own shop on Kurfürstendamm, one of Berlin’s top commercial streets, in 1966. Here at the heart of the metropolis, the store sold KAMEI car accessories and a number of other automotive products – essentially making it one of the world’s first tuning shops.

1970s

1970s

1971 KAMEI arrives on the Mosel River
1972 Spoilers allowed
1975 Keke rocks with KAMEI
1976 Wiesbaden, Wolfsburg, Connecticut
1979 KAMEI’s got soul

1971

1971

KAMEI arrives on the Mosel River

Due to the success of the Avus steering wheel cover, KAMEI opened a new branch in Wittlich on the Mosel River in 1971. A further 25 people were recruited to join the 130 already working in Wolfsburg. KAMEI began to produce its now legendary bucket seats at the new site, as well as neck pillows with long backs and strong belts for complete adjustability, which would soon become the SK 2000 safety headrest.

1972

1972

Spoilers allowed

Almost 20 years after company founder Karl Meier presented the first Beetle spoiler in Geneva in vain, its fortunes were finally changing. In the intervening period, aerodynamic features had become massively popular in motorsport, and demand for them was also rising in road vehicles. In 1972, KAMEI surprised the world with its front spoiler for the Beetle, which was soon followed by further models for cars such as the Opel Ascona, the Passat and of course the Golf. KAMEI was quickly starting to branch out from the interior to the exterior.

1975

1975

Keke rocks with KAMEI

In 1975, a double decker bus was causing something of a stir in the pits at the Formula Vee racetracks. It was the mobile headquarters of the Formula Vee 1600 team, backed by Uwes Moden, Kern and Kamei. Its drivers included Prince Leopold of Bavaria (‘Poldi’ to his friends and fans) and a certain Keke Rosberg. The ‘Flying Finn’ ran his competitors into the ground, winning the ONS Championship and taking home the Castrol GTX trophy. Even years later in 1982 when he took the Formula 1 title, Keke’s helmet and overalls still bore the KAMEI logo at the German Grand Prix.

1976

1976

Wiesbaden, Wolfsburg, Connecticut

By now, KAMEI products were being exported to 40 different countries. In 1976, the ever-expanding company moved its headquarters to Wiesbaden, close to Frankfurt Airport. Its manufacturing volumes were growing, and in 1977, a new plant with state-of-the-art, largely computer-controlled equipment, opened on an industrial estate in Vorsfelde, Wolfsburg. This expansion continued across the pond. In order to meet the specific needs of the US market, which had also been taken in by the spoiler hype, KAMEI opened a manufacturing site in North Haven, Connecticut. However, this closed around a decade later.

1979

1979

KAMEI’s got soul

KAMEI began to flourish to such an extent that the Avus steering wheel cover was being manufactured under license in the USA. The Avus had an exceedingly cool reputation, soon adorning record covers including Donna Summer’s ‘Bad Girls’ album. In 1980, Avus sales reached 20 million. A real hit.

1980s

1980s

1981 Wind tunnel optimisations
1982 Tuning gets a new name: X1
1982 The golden age of KAMEI motorsport
1983 KAMEI Capris
1986 Ahead of its time: the KAMEI Multicar
1988 Pioneering aerodynamics and aesthetics for roof boxes
1988 Exclusivity: the KAMEI Club-Van
1989 KAMEI goes to Hollywood

1981

1981

Wind tunnel optimisations

By the late 1970s, KAMEI’s front and rear spoiler range covered a wide variety of models from a number of different manufacturers. All of the KAMEI spoilers underwent thorough wind tunnel tests at Volkswagen and, to a lesser extent, Daimler-Benz. The company was becoming more heavily involved in motorsport and was responsible for optimising the aerodynamics of touring cars. But these upgrades were also having an ecological impact. The air-resistance coefficient of the Audi Coupés it worked on reduced by seven percent, and the lift on the front axle by 38 percent. The experience the team gained was later integrated into their development of spoilers for road vehicles.

1982 I

1982 I

Tuning gets a new name: X1

Although KAMEI had established itself at the IAA in Frankfurt early on, it didn't attend the prestigious Geneva Motor Show until 1982. The new X1 range, based on the Scirocco, Golf and Polo and presented in pearl-effect white on a white carpet, was met with international acclaim. Over the next few years, the X1 body kits for the Audi Coupé, BMW 3 series, Ford Escort and Opel Kadett were equally well-received. At the time, standard vehicles still had sufficient capacity for such comprehensive visual and aerodynamic tuning. The first and second generations of the Golf in particular benefitted from the X1 range, which thrilled car and engine specialists alike. Karl Meier, who celebrated his 75th birthday soon after the X1’s launch, was delighted. Inspiring people to enjoy cars was his life’s work.

1982 II

1982 II

The golden age of KAMEI motorsport

1982 was KAMEI’s most successful season on the motorsport circuit. The company sponsored a total of 127 drivers and cars, including the then rising star Stefan Bellof, Hans-Joachim Stuck and Prince Poldi's Schnitzer-BMW M1 and several tourers across the German and European championships, various Eastern European competitions and some demanding rally circuits. Across the pond in the Bilstein Bosch Rabbit Cup, all of the cars were fitted with KAMEI spoilers, including that of film star Kent McCord.

1983

1983

KAMEI Capris

The 1983 Eichberg Capris sponsored by KAMEI and Gilden Kölsch were truly unique. Alongside their regular drivers Helmut Döring and Dieter Gartmann, rally champions such as Ari Vatanen, Klaus Ludwig, Klaus Niedzwiedz and Harald Grohs also sat behind the wheel. As did unforgettable 24-hour-racing drivers Manfred Winkelhock and Norbert Haug, the latter of whom went on to manage Mercedes’ Formula 1 activities.

1986

1986

Ahead of its time: the KAMEI Multicar

In the late 1980s, KAMEI was commissioned by Opel to create a fully convertible vehicle based on the Kadett E Caravan. The resulting KAMEI Multicar was a hard top estate, pickup, van and cabriolet in one. The new concept was designed to appeal to a whole new consumer base. Other manufacturers were impressed with the Multicar. Many prototypes, including the VW Taro, were celebrated by the trade and public alike, but failed to gain traction due to excessive development and production costs and reservations regarding their marketing strategies. However, many details of the Multicar concept are still found in many brands’ standard SUVs and SAVs to this day.

1988 I

1988 I

Pioneering aerodynamics and aesthetics for roof boxes

When KAMEI develops new accessory solutions, it’s not just the functionality that is key, it’s the form too. Until the late 1980s, most people carried their equipment in unsightly cases on their roofs. That is until KAMEI first decided to design its own roof box. At Automechanika 1988 in Frankfurt, the team presented the aerodynamic KAMEI Traveller Box. The new product drew inspiration from the vehicle designs of the day, and was tested and optimised with wind tunnel tests to ensure it generated no noticeable increase in fuel consumption. The new roof box was changing the game right from the outset.

1988 II

1988 II

Exclusivity: the KAMEI Club-Van

KAMEI impressed Volkswagen with its very first concept for an executive VW Bus. Two years later, it burst onto the scene. Now an official equipment-maker for VW, KAMEI presented the KAMEI Club-Van, a new Caravelle with exclusive KAMEI fittings. It was a limited edition. Only 100 Club-Vans were ever produced, and they’re still in high demand to this day.

1989

1989

KAMEI goes to Hollywood

The rise of the Avus steering wheel covers in the USA continued. In mid-1990, six new colours were released as the ‘Go Hollywood’ range, causing a major stir and generating new sales records in the US market. This surge only continued with the release of Willy Bogner’s film ‘Fire, Ice & Dynamite’, in which Walter Röhrl played the head of the KAMEI rally team. Drawing on the film’s success, KAMEI released a limited edition of 150 Golf ‘Fire & Ice’ cars with the ‘Dynamite by KAMEI’ equipment package.

1990s

1990s

1998 You won’t believe what we can make from a Beetle
1999 The range just keeps on growing

1998

1998

You won’t believe what we can make from a Beetle

At Automechanika 1998, KAMEI’s slogan was ‘Tradition with a Future’. As part of the concept, the company decided to show just how exciting a retro styling design could be by applying it to a New Beetle. One year later, it took the Beetster to the next level – a sporty, driveable, fun car prototype with roll bars, attachments made from coloured DUROKAM, leather bucket seats and mirror-shine BBS aluminium wheels. In 2001, it shook the Essen Motor Show again. The  two-seater Beetster II roadster stunned the audience with its new bar structure that also acted as a rail system for the tarpaulin.

1999

1999

The range just keeps on growing

By the turn of the century, the KAMEI product portfolio was more comprehensive and diverse than ever before. In its tuning range, sport grilles and headlight trims were becoming increasingly popular. But the transport accessories portfolio was growing too. The roof boxes and roof rack systems in particular were showing where KAMEI was heading. Under the KAMEI Automotive label, the company began developing small batch and specialist products for commercial vehicles as well as additional fittings for ambulances and police vehicles.

2000–today

2000–today

2004 Hello Wolfsburg! Welcome Stuttgart!
2009 Becoming an OEM supplier to Volkswagen
2012 The roof box revolution

2004

2004

Hello Wolfsburg! Welcome Stuttgart!

KAMEI’s headquarters had been based in Wiesbaden since 1976, but now it was time to return to the Mittelland Canal. In the years after German reunification, the Wolfsburg site had become increasingly important, and KAMEI took the logical decision to move all of its activities to the automotive metropolis in 2003. This move was accompanied by winning the world's oldest vehicle manufacturer to its customer base: Mercedes-Benz. KAMEI has been offering an exclusive range of roof boxes with classic Mercedes-Benz styling as part of the Stuttgart-based manufacturer’s original accessory portfolio since 2004.

2009

2009

Becoming an OEM supplier to Volkswagen

After BMW and Mercedes-Benz, KAMEI became an OEM supplier to Volkswagen Accessories. KAMEI produces an exclusive range of roof boxes in the manufacturer’s style, as well as numerous other accessories including front and rear bumper trims for the Touareg.

2012

2012

The roof box revolution

One big step for a roof box. At Automechanika in Frankfurt, the world’s largest automotive accessory trade fair, KAMEI presented its revolutionary Oyster 450 roof box. The Oyster 450 elegantly combines design, functionality and safety with a 450 litre capacity. The ClickFix fast mounting system also drew in the crowds in Frankfurt. The innovative system raised the bar in terms of functionality and safety, whilst still being simple and quick to use.