Wiesmann

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.

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

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

• Luxury sports cars
• Handcrafted vehicles
• Electric convertible sports cars
• Bespoke automotive manufacturing
• German engineering sports cars

Headquarters

HQ city

Dülmen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core 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

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• BMWcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1994BMW 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/wiesmanncars
• Facebookfacebook.com/WIESMANNsportscars
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wiesmann-sports-cars-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wiesmann