Caravan maker Australian Off Road allegedly traded insolvent since 2023
Administrators say Australian Off Road traded while insolvent since 2023, leaving nearly 50 customers $2.25 million short.
Australian Off Road collapsed in September after 26 years on the Sunshine Coast. Administrators say it traded while insolvent for more than three years, starting mid-2023.
Nearly 50 customers face losing $2.25 million in deposits for caravans never built. The company owes creditors $14 million total.
Administrators DVT McLeods flagged possible crimes. These include insolvent trading, dishonesty and abuse of power by directors Russell Evans and Steve Budden.
AOR is the second local van maker to fail in a year after Zone RV. Evans wants to buy the company out of administration with $2 million.
He is offering creditors 20 cents per dollar. It is unclear whether this would cover all customer deposits.
- $2.25 million
- Customer deposits at risk
- $14 million
- Total creditor debt
- Nearly 50
- Affected customers
- 26 years
- Years operating
Why it mattersThis highlights risks for customers paying deposits to manufacturers. It exposes mismanagement that allowed a company to keep trading while unable to pay its debts.
AustraliaAustralian consumers and creditors lose millions; raises questions about oversight of manufacturing deposits and director accountability in Queensland.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 h ago
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