McLean, Virginia – Electric car producer WM GreenTech Automotive Corp. has merged with VL Automotive, a luxury sports car manufacturing company based in Detroit, Michigan. After the merger, WMGTA has its global engineering headquarters in Detroit, Michigan, manufacturing in Tunica, Mississippi, and U.S. corporate headquarters in McLean, Virginia.
VL Automotive was founded by Robert A. Lutz, former chairman of General Motors, and Gilbert Villarreal, automotive engineer and industrialist. Villarreal will join WMGTA's Executive team as the co-president and chief operating officer of WMGTA. Before joining WMGTA, Villarreal served various engineering leadership positions at the United States Marine Corp., Boeing, and GM.
"This merger will enable WMGTA to ramp up production of the Destino luxury sports sedan while strengthening WMGTA's electric vehicle division. As a newly formed corporation, WMGTA has proven its practical business strategy and sensible approach to product development. I truly believe in the production of the GTA MyCar as a practical, electric transportation solution for the masses," Villarreal says.
"Leveraging more than a half-century of combined experience in the automotive industry by its founders, VL Automotive has produced a world-class luxury sedan in record time. We see great synergies between the two companies and we are extremely excited for the merger to be complete. I believe that this merger will enable WMGTA to take a leap forward in engineering capability, product development and manufacturing standards, as well as production capacity," says Charles Wang, WMGTA president and CEO.
VL Automotive's luxury sedan, the Destino, will be incorporated into WMGTA's vehicle portfolio under the brand WM Destino.
"As we welcome VL Automotive into the WMGTA group of companies, we believe our brand value for elegance, performance, and environmental responsibility is aligned with VL Automotive's pursuit for excellence," Wang says.
Source: WM GreenTech Automotive Corp.