A SERVEDIO ELECTRIC MOTORS INC

What A SERVEDIO ELECTRIC MOTORS INC does

Zelectric Motors LLC, operating under the legal entity A SERVEDIO ELECTRIC MOTORS INC, is a privately held, founder-owned boutique electric vehicle conversion atelier based in San Diego, California. Founded in 2012 by David Benardo and Bonnie Rodgers (who have partnered since 1986), the company transforms vintage air-cooled Volkswagen models (Beetle, Microbus, Karmann Ghia, Thing) and early Porsche 356/911/912 chassis into bespoke high-performance electric vehicles. The core technical offering is a custom powertrain built around Tesla-sourced battery modules (delivering 80-180 miles of range depending on configuration), AC drive units (2-3x original horsepower, up to 400kW in Tesla P85 Porsche builds), CAD-engineered 6061-aluminum battery enclosures and motor mounts, regenerative braking, drive-by-wire throttle, and a proprietary no-cut, no-weld installation process that preserves stock appearance and allows reversibility to original ICE configuration. The Selective Torque feature, achieved by retaining the rebuilt original manual transmission, is unique in the EV market.

The company's business model is direct-to-consumer and build-to-order: each retrofit requires a non-refundable $5,000 reservation deposit followed by a 50% payment when work begins, with the remaining balance due on delivery. Pricing tiers start at $86,000 for a base Beetle/Karmann Ghia/Porsche retrofit, $96,000 for a Microbus, $124,000 for a Tesla-motor Porsche 911/912, and $134,000 for a Tesla-motor Microbus, with each build involving over 300 hours of hand assembly. Customers typically purchase the source vehicle separately, though Zelectric offers a Vehicle Sourcing Service that locates investment-grade classics and an occasional turnkey ZelectricBug inventory starting around $120,000. The waiting list currently stands at 18-24 months, with production booked into 2026.

Zelectric serves vintage automotive enthusiasts, classic car investors, style-conscious EV adopters, and environmentally conscious drivers — all B2C segments in North America — via earned media (Wall Street Journal, CNN, BBC, Robb Report, MotorTrend), concours event presence (Pebble Beach, Petersen Museum, LA Auto Show, Electrify Expo), and high-leverage endorsements including Jay Leno's Garage, CBS Innovation Nation, and Omaze fundraising campaigns with Willie Nelson. The company is wholly bootstrapped with no disclosed institutional funding, no parent company, and a stated headcount of 1-10 employees that is actively being expanded in-house.

Name

A SERVEDIO ELECTRIC MOTORS INC

Legal name

Zelectric Motors LLC

Website

https://zelectricmotors.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Zelectric Motors is a San Diego-based, founder-owned boutique atelier that converts vintage Volkswagen and Porsche vehicles into high-performance, no-cut/no-weld electric drivetrains using Tesla-sourced battery and motor components, selling each bespoke build for $86K-$134K on an 18-24 month production calendar.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Classic Car EV Conversion Services

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturing (33632), Motor and Generator Manufacturing (335312)

SIC

Motors & Generators (3621)

akta.pro primary industry

EV Power Electronics & Drivetrain Electrification Service (Inverters, DC-DC, eAxles) (TLAKAMAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Electric Drive Unit / E-Axle Manufacturing (Motors/Inverters/Gearboxes) (IMACACAC), Aftermarket Battery, Charging & Power Accessories Manufacturing (12V Batteries/Jump Starters/Chargers/Inverters) (IMACANAL)

Keywords

• Electric vehicle conversions
• Vintage VW electrification
• Classic Porsche retrofits
• Bespoke EV powertrains
• Custom automotive engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Bespoke Vehicle Conversion Services: Zelectric retrofits vintage VW and Porsche vehicles with electric powertrains. Base retrofit pricing: Beetle/Karmann Ghia/Porsche starts at $86,000; Microbus at $96,000; Tesla-powered Porsche 911/912 at $124,000; Tesla-powered Microbus at $134,000. Over 300 hours of skilled craftsmanship per build. Payment structure: $5,000 deposit to secure place on calendar, 50% due when work begins.
2. Vehicle Sourcing Services: For customers who don't already own their desired vehicle, Zelectric locates and acquires investment-worthy vintage VW and Porsche models on their behalf. Facilitates the entire purchase process including inspection and shipping coordination.
3. Turnkey Vehicle Sales: Occasionally Zelectric has fully completed vehicles available for sale. Turnkey ZelectricBug sedans start at approximately $120,000. Rare availability.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Zelectric Motors performs bespoke electric powertrain conversions on vintage air-cooled Volkswagen (Beetle, Microbus, Karmann Ghia, Thing) and Porsche 911/912/356 vehicles. Each project involves removing the original internal combustion drivetrain and installing a modern electric drive system — initially a proprietary AC induction motor and now a remanufactured Tesla Model S drive unit paired with lithium-ion battery packs — along with custom mounting, battery management, charging, and integration engineering. The company also offers a vehicle sourcing service for buyers who do not already own a donor car, and occasionally sells fully completed turnkey Zelectric vehicles.

Product overview

Zelectric Motors offers a bespoke electric retrofit service that transforms vintage midcentury Volkswagen and Porsche automobiles into high-performance electric vehicles. The core offering is the Zelectric Retrofit, a comprehensive conversion that includes a custom lithium battery pack (Tesla-sourced modules), AC electric motor with 2-3x original horsepower, regenerative braking, and upgraded mechanical components. The company operates as a build-to-order atelier, retrofitting client-owned vehicles or sourcing appropriate candidates. Tesla Motor Upgrades are available as an add-on for Porsche 911/912 and Microbus models, featuring Tesla Model S drive units. Vehicle Sourcing Services assist clients in finding investment-worthy vintage vehicles. Specific product lines include dedicated conversions for VW Beetle (including ragtop), Microbus, Karmann Ghia, Thing, and Porsche 356/911/912 models. Base retrofit pricing ranges from $86,000 (Beetle/Karmann Ghia/Porsche) to $96,000 (Microbus), with Tesla-powered options starting at $124,000 (Porsche) to $134,000 (Microbus). All work is performed in San Diego, California, with current production booked 18-24 months out.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ZelectricBug: The original Zelectric brand name for VW Beetle electric conversions
• Tesla Porsche

Products and services

• Zelectric VW Beetle Conversion
• Zelectric VW Microbus Conversion Custom electric conversion of vintage VW Microbus (Type 2) vehicles. The 300+ hour build replaces the original air-cooled flat-four with a Tesla-based electric drivetrain (Tesla-drive-unit pricing starts at $134,000), preserving the iconic Microbus silhouette while delivering modern EV drivability.
• Zelectric Porsche 911/912 Conversion Custom electric conversion of classic Porsche 911 and 912 sports cars, with base conversion starting at $86,000 and a Tesla-drive-unit upgrade option starting at $124,000. Each build requires 300+ hours of hand assembly at the San Diego shop and is targeted at collectors who want period-correct Porsche styling with modern electric performance.
• Zelectric VW Karmann Ghia Conversion Custom electric conversion of classic Volkswagen Karmann Ghia vehicles, replacing the original air-cooled engine with a Zelectric electric drivetrain while preserving the car's distinctive Italian-styled coachwork. The 300+ hour build is performed at the San Diego facility.
• Zelectric VW Thing Conversion Custom electric conversion of vintage Volkswagen Thing (Type 181) vehicles, replacing the original air-cooled engine with a Zelectric electric drivetrain. Each build is hand-assembled at the San Diego shop and preserves the distinctive Thing styling.
• Vehicle Sourcing Service Standalone vehicle sourcing service that locates and acquires appropriate donor classic VW or Porsche vehicles for clients who want a Zelectric conversion but do not already own a suitable project car. Sourced vehicles are then put through the standard Zelectric conversion process.
• Turnkey Zelectric Vehicles Occasional sale of fully completed, turnkey Zelectric-converted vehicles (for example, the ZelectricBug sedan) for buyers who want a finished EV-converted classic without commissioning a custom build. Inventory varies and is limited.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 3x original horsepower, typically 100+ HP vs original 30-50 HP
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, notable and minor.

• EV WestcoreTechnology or IntegrationEV West provided the electrical engineering design for the prototype ZelectricBug. They are builders of the record-setting BMW M3 that remains the fastest street-legal electric vehicle to take the International Pike's Peak Hill Climb. Continued to provide electrical engineering on builds including the Tesla Porsche 912 drive unit.
• OmazeflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerOmaze featured Zelectric vehicles as headliners for high-profile fundraising campaigns including the Planetary Society (1958 Beetle, 2019) and Reverb (1966 Microbus, 2021, raised $400,000+). Also featured Irish Green Porsche 912. Provides premium customer acquisition and brand exposure.
• ICON CustomsnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with ICON Customs on the 'Wild Thing' build - a 1974 VW Thing featuring 210 hp racing motor, custom gearbox, upgraded suspension, and 90-mile range. Combined Zelectric's electric powertrain expertise with ICON's modification capabilities.
• Jay Leno's GarageflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerJay Leno's Garage YouTube channel featured Zelectric's Tesla-powered Porsche 912. Leno's enthusiastic endorsement ('Best electric car I have ever driven') provides significant credibility and reach to automotive enthusiasts worldwide.
• Petersen Automotive MuseumnotableGTM or Marketing PartnerPetersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles displayed the Irish Green Zelectric Porsche 912. Zelectric also facilitated sale of the museum's 1969 Porsche 912 on behalf of the museum. STEAM-focused educational programs were beneficiaries of the Omaze campaign.
• CBS Innovation NationnotableGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured on CBS Innovation Nation with Mo Rocca, showcasing Zelectric builds and engineering to mainstream television audience.
• Willie NelsonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLegendary musician Willie Nelson promoted the Zelectric Microbus Omaze campaign, helping raise awareness and funds for environmental cause.
• Wayne Baker RacingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWayne Baker Racing performed braking and suspension system upgrades (3/20) on the Irish Green Porsche 912 using 75-77 911S Porsche parts.
• TeslacoreTechnology or IntegrationTesla supplies battery packs (Model S, Model 3) and motors (P85 Drive Unit) used in Zelectric conversions. Enables high-performance builds with 120-180 mile range and up to 500+ horsepower in Porsche applications.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Everrati Automotive: UK-based specialist in electric conversions of classic Porsche 911 (964/965), Mercedes-Benz, and Land Rover. Directly comparable in targeting premium classic-car collectors with high-performance electric drivetrains.
• Lunaz Design: UK-based classic luxury EV conversion company (Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Jaguar, Range Rover). Operates same bespoke upcycling model for high-net-worth classic-car collectors, with broader marque coverage than Zelectric.
• Moment Motor Company: Austin, Texas-based boutique shop performing bespoke electric conversions of vintage Mercedes, Porsche, and other classic vehicles. Same bespoke build-to-order model and similar premium positioning targeting classic-car enthusiasts.
• EV West: San Diego-based EV conversion shop that provided the original electrical engineering design for Zelectric's prototype ZelectricBug. Directly comparable classic-EV conversion specialist sharing geographic market and drivetrain integration expertise.
• Electric Classic Cars: Wales-based bespoke EV conversion specialist converting classic cars (including Porsche) to electric drivetrains. Same custom build service model with comparable premium pricing for vintage vehicles.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Zelectric
• YouTubeyoutube.com/zelectricbug
• Facebookfacebook.com/Zelectric
• Instagraminstagram.com/zelectricbug
• Pinterestpinterest.com/zelectricbug
• TikToktiktok.com/@zelectric

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 A SERVEDIO ELECTRIC MOTORS INC