1955
Otto Riehle founded the ORIS company for the production of towbars.
![](https://www.oris-automotive.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Otto-Riehle-600x929.jpg)
1956
The first ORIS towbars were a permanent fixture, bolted to the car’s undercarriage.
![](https://www.oris-automotive.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Growth_1955_1-600x430.jpg)
1958
The company’s first premises in the late 1950s in Möglingen, Southern Germany.
![](https://www.oris-automotive.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Foundation-ORIS_1955_2-crop-600x949.jpg)
1960
ORIS quickly expanded its product line to include the manufacture of ski-racks for cars.
![](https://www.oris-automotive.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/History_Oris_1960-600x532.jpg)
1965
By the mid-sixties, Otto Riehle’s son Hans took over the running of the company.
![](https://www.oris-automotive.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Hans-Riehle.jpg)
1968
Within just a few years, ORIS gained a reputation for producing outstanding quality towbars, such as on this Mercedes-Benz W114.
![](https://www.oris-automotive.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Growth_Fixed-trailer-hitches_Example-of-use_1955_3-600x512.jpg)
1972
An aerial photograph of the now-regularly expanding ORIS company building in Möglingen.
![](https://www.oris-automotive.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/History_Oris_1972-600x429.jpg)
1970s
The development and market launch of the first horizontally removable towbars.
![](https://www.oris-automotive.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Growth_Fixed-trailer-hitches_1955_2.jpg)
1976
By the mid-1970s ORIS had begun regularly presenting its innovations at international trade fairs.
![](https://www.oris-automotive.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/History_Oris_1976_1-600x1212.jpg)
1978
ORIS France Sarl plant founded in Soultz, Alsace.
![](https://www.oris-automotive.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/History_Oris_1978-600x392.jpg)
1980
ORIS celebrated its 25th anniversary. To mark the occasion the company gave 25,000 DM to create a technical workshop for nearby Hanfbach School in Möglingen.
![](https://www.oris-automotive.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/History_Oris_1980-600x380.jpg)
1985
The new company building, complete with offices and a large research facility, was opened in Markgröningen.
![](https://www.oris-automotive.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/History_Oris_1985-600x606.jpg)
1989
The top-selling model of the 1980s was the vertically detachable towbar.
![](https://www.oris-automotive.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/1985-600x603.jpg)
1995
Hans Riehle at a trade fair celebrating 40 years of ORIS.
![](https://www.oris-automotive.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/History_Oris_1995-600x617.jpg)
1999
Jörg Riehle became the third generation of the Riehle family to manage ORIS.
![](https://www.oris-automotive.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/History_Oris_1999-600x625.jpg)
2000
Introduction of the world’s first swivelling towbars.
![](https://www.oris-automotive.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Img_ACPS-Automotive_Trailer-hitch_semi-electric-swiveling_edit-600x406.jpg)
2001
A patent office certificate – one of the 140 patents held by ORIS.
![](https://www.oris-automotive.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/History_Oris_2009-600x844.jpg)
2003
The new 25-acre ORIS manufacturing plant in Bessemer, Alabama was opened, producing towbars, convertible windstops and off-road parts.
![](https://www.oris-automotive.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/History_Oris_2003_x2-600x907.jpg)
2009
Continuing its extraordinary innovation, ORIS introduced the first fully electric swivelling towbar.
![](https://www.oris-automotive.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Img_ACPS-Automotive_Trailer-hitch_Fully-electric-swiveling_edit-600x383.jpg)
2015
Presentation of the world premiere of FIX4BIKE® at the IAA. The unique adapter solution impressed with a noticeable improvement in safety, stability and longevity.
![](https://www.oris-automotive.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Fixmatic-launch.jpg)
2018
ACPS Automotive (previously Bosal ACPS) became more international after a successful investment by TowerBrook Capital Partners and strengthened its presence in growth markets. As part of this change of name, the company re-introduced the innovative ORIS product brand.
![](https://www.oris-automotive.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Towerbrook.jpg)
2020
ORIS and ACPS Automotive moved to their new headquarters, just a few kilometres from where Otto Riehle founded the company.
![](https://www.oris-automotive.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Img_ACPS-Automotive_Rendering-Future-Headquaters_2019-600x338.png)