German toy maker Franz Schneider to shut Rolly Toys plant by 2026

Franz Schneider GmbH & Co. KG, the German manufacturer behind the Rolly Toys brand of pedal tractors, go‑karts and sleds, announced that production at its headquarters in Neustadt near Coburg, Bavaria, will cease on 31 December 2026. The closure will affect more than 110 employees, many of whom have worked at the company for decades.

The firm has been in self‑administered insolvency since early 2024, seeking an investor to keep German production alive. Potential investors were deterred by high domestic production and energy costs, the loss of the company's second‑largest customer in 2025, US tariffs on its export business, and intense competition from cheaper Asian manufacturers. While the Rolly Toys brand is expected to continue under new owners, future manufacturing will shift to other locations.