Permobil Announces Panthera Acquisition

• By Laurie Watanabe
• Nov 03, 2021

Permobil is in the process of acquiring Panthera, a Swedish manufacturer of ultralightweight wheelchairs.

In a Nov. 1 announcement, Permobil said the purchase “strengthens Permobil’s offer of manual wheelchairs. Panthera’s products complement the product portfolio and strengthen the company’s competitiveness in the market.”

The announcement pointed out that both Permobil and Panthera were founded by Swedish entrepreneurs. Dr. Per Udden, an inventor and advocate for people with disabilities, started Permobil in 1967. After being injured in a roadracing accident in 1976, Jalle Jungnell began designing his own manual wheelchairs and founded Panthera in 1989.

Bengt Thorsson, Permobil’s President/CEO, said in the announcement, “We are very happy and proud to welcome Panthera to Permobil. Panthera originates from the same values always close to the users and with their needs in focus. Panthera’s employees have made a fantastic journey, and we look forward to continuing this journey together with them. Panthera’s products strengthen Permobil’s offering in the market with the world's lightest wheelchairs for active users, alongside our Progeo and TiLite ranges.”

Jungnell added, “It feels very exciting and inspiring to continue our journey together with Permobil. We have the same passion for our users and share the same values. We deliver products and knowledge, which makes everyday life easier for our users who are in focus. Both companies are started by Swedish entrepreneurs and have innovation and development as a strong driving force. We see that this will lead to a lot of positives for users around the world!”

The announcement said the acquisition is expected to be completed in early January 2022.