Proto Motors

Not to be confused with Proton Holdings.

Proto Motors

Native name	프로토자동차
Founded	1997
Defunct	2017
Headquarters	South Korea
Products	sports cars

Proto Motors (Korean: 프로토자동차) was a South Korean sports car manufacturer and coachbuilder.

History

Proto Motors was established in 1997 by the couple Han-chul Kim and Ji-sun Choi.[1] The company has forged partnerships with Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors, and GM Daewoo. In 2001, the company custom-made a convertible limousine for Cheongwadae (the Equus), the South Korean presidential residence.

Proto Motors introduced the Spirra (a production model of PS-ll) at the 4th Seoul Motor Show. In 2006, Proto Motors was acquired by Oullim Motors[1] and the development of the Spirra was continued, and in 2010 Proto Motors introduced the first Korea-made supercar.[2][3] In 2014, the Oullim Motors Spirra EV, the electric version of the Spirra, was introduced.[1]

Previously, the company specialized in redesigning existing models by developing electric cars or convertibles based on them. The company closed in 2017.[4]

Models

• RT-X (1998)
• PS-II (2000)
• Spirra (2007–2017)
• Kia Grand Carnival Limousine (2006–2017)
• SC24 (2024-Present)

See also

• List of Korean car makers

References

1. "Oullim: Yet Another All-Electric Supercar, This One From South Korea". news.yahoo.com. 6 June 2014. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
2. "The Supercar that eats 911s and Ferraris for Breakfast: Meet the Spirra EX #blogpost". Car Throttle. 15 April 2016. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
3. "Proto Motors Develops Korea's First Supercar | Car News | Auto123". auto123.com. 11 May 2005. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
4. "Proto Motors". CARTEFACTS. Retrieved 2023-09-22.