Historic Spanish Brand to Unveil EV Concept

Barcelona-based Hispano Suiza Automobiles, whose origins date back to the early 1900s, plans to unveil a concept electric vehicle at the Geneva auto show in March.

Dubbed the Carmen, after the granddaughter and former president of one of the company’s founders, the all-electric model is a grand tourer inspired by the 1938 H6 Dubonnet Xenia luxury coupe (below). The new model is built on a “super stiff” carbon fiber monocoque structure (left).

Hispano Suiza (Spanish-Swiss) is partnering with Spain’s QEV Technologies, which will provide manufacturing expertise and supply the Carmen’s electric powertrain. QEV also works with Chinese carmaker BAIC and Mahindra & Mahindra’s Formula E electric vehicle team.

Hispano Suiza says is taking pre-production orders for the Carmen on its website. The company showed several other concept cars in the early 2000s, but it never followed through with production models.

Hispano Suiza built more than 12,000 luxury vehicles—including a prototype EV—between 1904 and 1946, plus 50,000 airplane engines. The aviation division was acquired by France’s Safran Group in 1968.

Hispano Suiza Automotive now is part of Peralada Group, a Spanish conglomerate that focuses on hotels, restaurants, casinos and other entertainment-related businesses.