VLF Automotive

VLF Automotive was a small American specialty-vehicle and coachbuilding company formed from VL Automotive, an enterprise founded in 2012 by former General Motors vice-chairman Bob Lutz and industrialist Gilbert Villarreal. Designer and entrepreneur Henrik Fisker later joined the venture, prompting the VLF name, derived from the initials of Villarreal, Lutz, and Fisker. The company occupied a niche between low-volume automobile manufacturing, bespoke coachbuilding, and performance-car conversion rather than operating as a conventional mass-market automaker. VLF first attracted attention with the Destino, a four-door performance sedan based heavily on the Fisker Karma. The Karma had originally been developed as a plug-in hybrid electric luxury car by Fisker Automotive, but the Destino replaced its electric powertrain with a 6.2-liter V8 gasoline engine. The project was presented publicly in 2013 and was intended to give existing Karma vehicles or unfinished Karma chassis a substantially different mechanical and performance identity. Production was expected to begin in the second half of 2015 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The program faced supply and timing constraints, however: VLF reported access to only 20 Fisker Karma gliders despite reporting approximately 100 orders in 2013, and production was delayed amid the restructuring of Fisker Automotive. In 2014, GreenTech Automotive merged with VL Automotive. GreenTech had been associated with plans for alternative and specialty vehicles but produced few, if any, cars according to the cited reference material. Its subsequent bankruptcy filing in February 2018 added uncertainty to the corporate structure surrounding VLF, although the available material does not establish that VLF Automotive itself filed for bankruptcy. VLF broadened its ambitions beyond the Destino. At the 2016 North American International Auto Show, it presented the Force 1 V10, a limited-production American sports car described as a 745-horsepower vehicle based on the Dodge Viper and built through a coachbuilding approach. The planned production volume was 50 cars. The company also worked with Galpin Auto Sports on the Rocket V8, a coachbuilt Ford Mustang project announced for production in 2018. In addition, VLF contracted with AM General beginning in 2017 to offer a version of the HMMWV, commonly associated with the Hummer H1, for non-American markets. The proposed HUMVEE C-Series was intended for limited annual production of 100 units and targeted China, Europe, and the Middle East. VLF's portfolio therefore combined converted luxury vehicles, high-powered limited editions, and military-derived utility vehicles. Its identity was built around designer-led customization and small-batch performance rather than a broad dealer network or large-scale manufacturing. The reference material states that the company's website was no longer operational as of May 2025. Because current corporate activity, ownership, production continuity, and formal dissolution are not clearly established in the available sources, VLF Automotive's present status remains uncertain.

VLF Automotive emerged from VL Automotive, which Bob Lutz and Gilbert Villarreal founded in 2012. The venture was conceived as a small-scale automotive company operating in the specialty and coachbuilt-vehicle sector. Its activities centered on adapting existing platforms and creating distinctive, low-volume performance vehicles rather than developing a conventional mass-production range from scratch. The company's first major public project was the Destino. Displayed in Detroit in 2013, the sedan was heavily based on the Fisker Karma but substituted a 6.2-liter gasoline V8 for the Karma's electric powertrain. This change transformed the vehicle from a plug-in hybrid luxury sedan into a conventional high-performance automobile. VLF planned to build the cars in Auburn Hills, Michigan, with sales expected to begin in the second half of 2015. The program was constrained by the availability of unfinished Fisker Karma vehicles, known as gliders. VLF reported obtaining only 20 gliders while citing approximately 100 orders in 2013. At the 2014 Detroit auto show, the company said that production had been postponed because Fisker Automotive was undergoing restructuring. Henrik Fisker subsequently joined the business, and the company's name changed from VL Automotive to VLF Automotive. The name represented the initials of Villarreal, Lutz, and Fisker. Fisker's participation reinforced the company's design-led identity and connected it to the earlier Fisker Karma program, although VLF remained a separate specialty operation rather than a continuation of Fisker Automotive. In 2014, GreenTech Automotive merged with VL Automotive. The merger brought VLF's predecessor into a broader corporate arrangement involving GreenTech, a company described in the reference material as having produced few, if any, cars. The relationship did not turn VLF into a high-volume manufacturer. Instead, the company continued to announce highly limited vehicles and contract-based specialty programs. GreenTech later declared bankruptcy in February 2018, but the available material does not say that VLF Automotive itself filed for bankruptcy or formally ceased operations. VLF expanded its product ambitions with the Force 1 V10, shown at the 2016 North American International Auto Show. The car was described as a 745-horsepower American sports car based on the Dodge Viper and produced through a coachbuilt process. VLF announced a limited run of 50 vehicles, positioning the Force 1 as an exclusive performance product rather than a mainstream model. The program illustrated the company's practice of using established platforms as the basis for heavily customized, high-performance vehicles. Beginning in 2017, VLF also contracted with AM General to offer a version of the HMMWV, the military-derived vehicle associated with the Hummer H1, in markets outside the Americas. The HUMVEE C-Series was intended for China, Europe, and the Middle East, with proposed production limited to 100 units per year. This program extended VLF's role from luxury and sports-car coachbuilding into specialized utility vehicles. In 2018, VLF partnered with Galpin Auto Sports on the Rocket V8, a coachbuilt Ford Mustang that the two companies planned to build jointly. The project continued VLF's emphasis on modified, limited-production American vehicles. The available reference material does not document final production quantities or sustained commercial success for the Rocket V8, nor does it provide reliable information about later management, ownership, or manufacturing activity. As of May 2025, the company's website was no longer operational. VLF Automotive's ultimate legal and operating status therefore remains uncertain.

• 2018

  Rocket V8 partnership announced

  [1]VLF Automotiveen.wikipedia.org

  VLF and Galpin Auto Sports announce a plan to jointly build the coachbuilt Rocket V8 Mustang.

• 2018

  GreenTech Automotive bankruptcy

  [1]VLF Automotiveen.wikipedia.org

  GreenTech Automotive declares bankruptcy in February; the available source does not identify VLF Automotive as the bankruptcy filer.

• 2017

  HUMVEE C-Series program begins

  [1]VLF Automotiveen.wikipedia.org

  VLF undertakes a contract program with AM General for a non-American-market HMMWV variant.

• 2016

  Force 1 V10 debuts

  [1]VLF Automotiveen.wikipedia.org

  VLF presents its limited-production, 745-horsepower Force 1 V10 sports car.

• 2014

  GreenTech Automotive merger

  [1]VLF Automotiveen.wikipedia.org

  GreenTech Automotive merges with VL Automotive.

• 2014

  Destino production is delayed

  [1]VLF Automotiveen.wikipedia.org

  VLF announces a delay linked to Fisker Automotive's restructuring.

• 2013

  Destino is publicly displayed

  [1]VLF Automotiveen.wikipedia.org

  The Destino, based on the Fisker Karma and fitted with a 6.2-liter V8, is shown at the Detroit auto show.

• 2012

  VL Automotive is founded

  [1]VLF Automotiveen.wikipedia.org

  Bob Lutz and Gilbert Villarreal establish VL Automotive as a small American specialty-vehicle venture.

A designer-led American specialty automaker and coachbuilder focused on bespoke conversions, high-performance limited editions, and low-volume utility vehicles.

• Performance sedan · 2013

  VLF Destino

  The Destino was VLF's first prominent vehicle and was derived extensively from the Fisker Karma. Instead of retaining the Karma's electric powertrain, VLF fitted the sedan with a 6.2-liter V8 gasoline engine. The car was intended to be assembled in Auburn Hills, Michigan, with sales planned for the second half of 2015. Its launch was hindered by limited access to unfinished Karma gliders and by the restructuring of Fisker Automotive, which led to production delays.

• Limited-production sports car · 2016

  VLF Force 1 V10

  The Force 1 V10 was a coachbuilt American sports car based on the Dodge Viper. VLF presented it in 2016 as a 745-horsepower vehicle and announced a planned production run of 50 units. It represented the company's effort to combine an established high-performance platform with extensive bespoke design and low-volume manufacturing.

• Coachbuilt performance coupe · 2018

  VLF Rocket V8

  The Rocket V8 was a coachbuilt Ford Mustang project developed with Galpin Auto Sports. Announced in 2018, it was intended to be co-built by the two companies. The available reference material identifies the partnership and vehicle basis but does not establish final production volume or the extent of commercial delivery.

• Specialty utility vehicle · 2017

  HUMVEE C-Series

  The HUMVEE C-Series was a proposed civilian-market version of the HMMWV associated with AM General. Beginning in 2017, VLF contracted to offer the vehicle outside the Americas, targeting China, Europe, and the Middle East. The program was described as limited to 100 units per year and extended VLF's business into military-derived specialty utility vehicles.

• 2017

  Expand into non-American HUMVEE marketsStrategy

  Background

  VLF sought additional specialty-vehicle opportunities beyond luxury and sports-car conversions.

  Action taken

  It contracted with AM General to offer a limited HMMWV variant in China, Europe, and the Middle East, with proposed annual volume of 100 units.

  Aftermath

  The reference identifies the contract and target markets but does not provide verified long-term production results.

  Source

• 2016

  Develop the Force 1 V10Product launch

  Background

  VLF aimed to expand from the Karma-derived Destino into an exclusive American performance car.

  Action taken

  The company unveiled the Dodge Viper-based Force 1 V10 and announced a planned 50-car run.

  Aftermath

  The available source does not document the final production or delivery outcome.

  Source

• 2014

  Merge with GreenTech AutomotiveM&A

  Background

  VL Automotive pursued a corporate combination with GreenTech Automotive while developing its specialty-vehicle business.

  Action taken

  GreenTech Automotive merged with VL Automotive.

  Aftermath

  The combined context remained associated with low-volume and planned vehicle programs. GreenTech later filed for bankruptcy in 2018.

  Source

• 2013

  Introduce the DestinoProduct launch

  Background

  VLF sought to create a high-performance derivative of the Fisker Karma while using available unfinished Karma vehicles as a production base.

  Action taken

  The company displayed the Destino with a 6.2-liter V8 gasoline engine instead of the Karma's electric powertrain and planned low-volume assembly in Michigan.

  Aftermath

  Limited access to Karma gliders and Fisker Automotive's restructuring delayed the proposed production schedule.

  Source

1. 1VLF Automotiveen.wikipedia.org