Wiesmann
Wiesmann is a German luxury sports car manufacturer founded in 1988 in Dülmen, producing handcrafted, low-volume vehicles including the all-electric Project Thunderball convertible, serving ultra-high-net-worth individuals through direct-to-consumer sales.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersDülmen, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Wiesmann does
Wiesmann Sports Cars GmbH is a German luxury sports car manufacturer founded in 1988 and headquartered in Dülmen, Germany. The company produces handcrafted, low-volume vehicles marketed under the tagline of combining German engineering with British-inspired design, and has historically built models such as the MF3 Roadster and MF5 (using BMW-sourced powertrains since 1994). Each vehicle is reported to require approximately 350 man-hours of handcrafting, supporting a boutique positioning distinct from volume automakers.
The company's current strategic centerpiece is Project Thunderball, unveiled in April 2022 and positioned as the world's first all-electric convertible sports car. It uses twin electric motors producing 680 hp, an 800V electrical architecture, and a claimed 500 km range, with a 1,000-unit total production cap and a starting price near €300,000. Reservations are taken via a $3,500 deposit, and first-year allocation has been reported as sold out. In parallel, the company has launched the MF5 Tributo, a five-unit limited ICE edition debuted at Pebble Beach in August 2026, monetizing heritage during the electric transition.
Wiesmann operates a direct-to-consumer sales model with no dealer network, selling bespoke commissions to ultra-high-net-worth individuals. The company entered insolvency and ceased production in 2014 before being acquired in February 2016 by Contec Global (led by Roheen Berry), which recapitalized the firm, reopened the Dülmen factory, and re-recruited the original master engineering workforce. Headcount is reported at 11-50 employees, and Wiesmann remains a privately held niche luxury manufacturer with no publicly disclosed revenue.
Wiesmann firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wiesmann
- Legal name
- Wiesmann Sports Cars GmbH
- Website
- https://wiesmann.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Wiesmann is a German luxury sports car manufacturer founded in 1988 in Dülmen, producing handcrafted, low-volume vehicles including the all-electric Project Thunderball convertible, serving ultra-high-net-worth individuals through direct-to-consumer sales.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wiesmann industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Luxury Sports Cars
- NAICS
- Motor Vehicle Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturing (336320)
- SIC
- Motor Vehicles & Passenger Car Bodies (3711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Passenger Vehicle Body-in-White & Closures Manufacturing (ICE) (IMACAAAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Passenger Vehicle Electrical & Electronics Manufacturing (ICE) (IMACAAAK), Passenger Vehicle Engine Systems Manufacturing (ICE) (IMACAAAF)
Keywords
Where Wiesmann is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dülmen
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Wiesmann business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Vehicle Sales: Primary revenue from the sale of hand-built luxury sports cars. Each vehicle is bespoke and sold directly to customers. Project Thunderball electric roadster is priced from approximately €300,000, with historic combustion models commanding premium prices. Production is limited with each car taking 350 man-hours to complete.
- Vehicle Reservations: Customers pay fully refundable reservation fees to secure priority availability for vehicles. Project Thunderball reservations require a €3,000 deposit. The reservation fee is deducted from the final purchase price when the vehicle is ready.
- Customization and Bespoke Options: Revenue generated from extensive customization options offered to customers. Owners are highly involved in the specification and build process, enabling personalized vehicles reflecting individual tastes and personalities.
- Service and Maintenance: Ongoing service revenue from maintenance, repairs, and specialist retrofitting advice for existing Wiesmann vehicles. The company offers routine servicing and general maintenance through its expert team.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Project Thunderball Reservation Deposit |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | MF5 Tributo Reservation |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Project Thunderball Full Vehicle |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Wiesmann product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wiesmann manufactures hand-built, bespoke luxury sports cars at its Dülmen, Germany factory, with each vehicle requiring approximately 350 man-hours of craftsmanship. The current core product is Project Thunderball, the world's first all-electric two-seater convertible sports car featuring twin electric motors, an 800V architecture, and full customization. The company also maintains a heritage portfolio of combustion-powered models and provides dedicated service and maintenance for existing owners, distributing exclusively through direct-to-consumer channels.
Product overview
Wiesmann Sports Cars GmbH is a German luxury sports car manufacturer established in 1988, known for hand-built, bespoke vehicles combining German engineering with British elegance. The current product portfolio centers on Project Thunderball, the world's first all-electric convertible sports car featuring twin motors producing 680hp, alongside a heritage lineup of combustion-powered models including the MF5 (twin-turbo V10, 555 HP), MF4 (V8 configurations up to 420 HP), and MF3 (BMW M3-derived inline-six, 343 HP). The company operates through direct sales with factory reservations and provides dedicated service maintenance for its vehicles. Production takes place at the company's Dülmen, Germany facility.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Project Thunderball The world's first all-electric two-seater convertible sports car, featuring twin electric rear-mid motors producing 500kW (680hp) and 1,100 Nm torque, 0-100 km/h in 2.9 seconds, 800V architecture with 92kWh battery, 500+ km WLTP range target, 300kW DC fast charging, and the proprietary Wiesmann Intelligent Regenerative Braking System. Built on an aluminium spaceframe with carbon fibre bodywork at the Dülmen factory for individual customers seeking an exclusive, hand-built electric sports car.
- Project Thunderball Reservation A fully refundable €3,000 reservation deposit that secures priority availability for a Project Thunderball and is deducted from the final vehicle purchase price; customers may cancel at any time. First-year reservations sold out.
- Wiesmann Service Expert maintenance, repair, routine servicing, and specialist retrofitting advice for Wiesmann vehicles, delivered by highly skilled engineers at the Dülmen factory for existing Wiesmann owners.
- MF5 Tributo A limited five-unit revival of the historic MF5 model nameplate, announced for production with reservations open for $3,500 in the US market, representing a strategic return to combustion power alongside the electric Project Thunderball.
Quantifiable outcome
- 0-100 km/h in 2.9 seconds (Project Thunderball)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Wiesmann
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Wiesmann technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature4 records
Wiesmann partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- BMWcoreBMW has been supplying M-Series engines to Wiesmann since 1994, representing a continued technological partnership that provides proven high-performance powertrain technology. This partnership has been instrumental in delivering the exceptional performance characteristics of Wiesmann's combustion vehicles, with BMW M engines powering models including the MF3 (S54 from M3), MF4, and MF5.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Wiesmann competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Morgan Motor Company: Morgan hand-builds bespoke British sports cars in limited volumes for enthusiast and collector customers. Its craftsmanship, scarcity, and direct customer model closely mirror Wiesmann, although Morgan offers a broader product range.
- Apollo Automobil: Apollo Automobil develops limited-series hypercars for a small global customer base. It is comparable through low production volumes, advanced performance engineering, and premium direct-to-consumer positioning, although its brand and product scale differ.
- Pagani Automobili: Pagani produces very low-volume, highly customized hypercars with premium materials and hand assembly. It is comparable to Wiesmann on ultra-luxury positioning, bespoke engineering, and collector demand, though at a higher price and scale.
- Koenigsegg: Koenigsegg develops limited-run, high-performance hypercars with advanced engineering and a strong enthusiast following. It matches Wiesmann's scarcity, performance orientation, and premium collector focus.
- Automobili Pininfarina: Pininfarina's Battista is a limited-series electric hypercar positioned at the ultra-luxury end of the market. It is comparable to Project Thunderball on electric performance, scarcity, and affluent customers, although Pininfarina is a newer EV-led proposition.
- Zenvo Automotive: Zenvo builds niche, low-volume high-performance cars with bespoke engineering and premium pricing. It shares Wiesmann's limited-production, collector-oriented model and high-end performance positioning.
- Lotus: Lotus is a performance sports-car marque with lightweight dynamics and an expanding electrified lineup. It overlaps with Wiesmann in enthusiast positioning and the transition from combustion sports cars to electric performance, but serves a broader market.
Emerging players
- Caterham Cars: Caterham hand-builds lightweight sports cars in low volumes for driving enthusiasts. It is a partial peer because of craft production and enthusiast customers, but its products are substantially less luxurious and lower-priced than Wiesmann's.
- Ariel Motor Company: Ariel produces bespoke, hand-assembled performance cars focused on driving engagement. It is comparable on small-scale craft manufacturing and enthusiast buyers, but differs through its track-focused positioning and minimalist, non-luxury cabin.
Broad incumbents
- Aston Martin: Aston Martin sells luxury sports cars and convertibles to affluent global customers, with both combustion and electrified models. It is a broader incumbent comparator for Wiesmann's premium design, brand heritage, and ultra-high-net-worth buyer base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses6 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Wiesmann social profiles
Digital presenceWiesmann financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wiesmann leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Wiesmann funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wiesmann M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Wiesmann
What does Wiesmann do?
Wiesmann manufactures hand-built, bespoke luxury sports cars at its Dülmen, Germany factory, with each vehicle requiring approximately 350 man-hours of craftsmanship. The current core product is Project Thunderball, the world's first all-electric two-seater convertible sports car featuring twin electric motors, an 800V architecture, and full customization. The company also maintains a heritage portfolio of combustion-powered models and provides dedicated service and maintenance for existing owners, distributing exclusively through direct-to-consumer channels.
Is Wiesmann a public or private company?
Wiesmann is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Wiesmann founded?
Wiesmann was founded in 1988. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Wiesmann based?
Wiesmann is headquartered in Dülmen, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Wiesmann make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Vehicle Sales are the primary driver. The others are vehicle Reservations, customization and Bespoke Options and service and Maintenance.
Who are Wiesmann's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Morgan Motor Company, Apollo Automobil, Pagani Automobili, Koenigsegg, Automobili Pininfarina, Zenvo Automotive and Lotus. Emerging players are Caterham Cars and Ariel Motor Company. Aston Martin is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Wiesmann have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wiesmann.
What industry is Wiesmann in?
Wiesmann's product category is Luxury Sports Cars. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMACAAAC, Passenger Vehicle Body-in-White & Closures Manufacturing (ICE), with a secondary code of IMACAAAK, Passenger Vehicle Electrical & Electronics Manufacturing (ICE). Its NAICS code is 336320 and its SIC code is 3711.