VLF Automotive is a small American-based automotive company formed in January 2016. It was founded as VL Automotive in 2012 by Bob Lutz and Gilbert Villarreal, then renamed after

Henrik Fisker Henrik Fisker (born 10 August 1963) is a Danish automotive designer and entrepreneur based in Los Angeles, California, US. He is best known as the founder of Fisker Automotive and Fisker Inc, and as a designer of luxury cars. After working a ...

joined the company. GreenTech Automotive merged with VL Automotive in 2014. GreenTech produced few cars, if any. It declared bankruptcy in February 2018.

Company history

The company was founded by designer and entrepreneur

, ex-

General Motors General Motors Company (GM) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States. The company is most known for owning and manufacturing f ...

vice-chairman Bob Lutz and industrialist Gilbert Villarreal. The company's name is taken from the initials of their surnames. In 2013 they displayed the Destino, its first model, based on the Fisker Karma, at the

North American International Auto Show The Detroit Auto Show, formerly known as the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), is an annual auto show held in Detroit, Michigan. Hosted at Huntington Place (formerly Cobo Center) since 1965, it is among the largest auto shows in ...

in Detroit. GreenTech Automotive merged with VL Automotive in 2014. GreenTech produced few cars, if any."Where Did $140 Million in GreenTech Money Go?,"
''Bacon's Rebellion''. It declared bankruptcy in February 2018. As of May 2025, the company website is no longer operational.

Products

VLF Destino

The VLF Destino four-door sedan was first shown in January 2013, heavily based on the Fisker Karma, but fitted with a 6.2 L V8 gasoline engine rather than the electric power of the Karma. Sales of the Destino were scheduled to commence in the second half of 2015, with cars to be built in Auburn Hills in Michigan, but the company only obtained 20 Fisker Karma " gliders" and reported 100 orders by May 2013. At the January 2014 Detroit Autoshow, the company announced that production was delayed due to the ongoing restructuring of Fisker.

VLF Force 1

The company announced production of a limited edition 745 HP American sports car Force 1 V10, limited to 50 by third quarter 2016. The car was a Coach Built

Dodge Viper The Dodge Viper is a sports car that was manufactured by Dodge (by Street & Racing Technology, SRT for 2013 and 2014), a division of American car manufacturer Chrysler from 1992 until 2017, having taken a brief hiatus in 2007 and from 2011 to 20 ...

. In 2016 they debuted the Force 1, a 745 hp American sports car at the

VLF Rocket V8

In 2018, VLF partnered with Galpin Auto Sports to produce the Rocket V8, a coach built

Ford Mustang The Ford Mustang is a series of American Car, automobiles manufactured by Ford Motor Company, Ford. In continuous production since 1964, the Mustang is currently the longest-produced Ford car nameplate. Currently in its Ford Mustang (seventh ...

that was to be co built by both VLF and Galpin Auto Sports.

HUMVEE C-Series

Beginning in 2017, VLF was contracting a version of the HMMWV/ Hummer H1 for the non-Americas market with limited run of 100 units per year via contract from

AM General AM General is an American heavy vehicle and contract manufacturer, contract automotive manufacturer based in South Bend, Indiana. It is best known for the civilian Hummer H1, Hummer and the military Humvee that are assembled in Mishawaka, Indiana. ...

. Markets include China, Europe and the Middle East. AM General had announced offering the C-Series as a kit for sale in 2012, but cancelled the project.

References

External links

* Coachbuilders of the United States Car manufacturers of the United States Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Michigan Henrik Fisker Luxury motor vehicle manufacturers American companies established in 2012 Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 2012 {{motorvehicle-company-stub