Tag: FakeDMC

Humble-based [fake] DeLorean faces $4.6 million judgment over electric car Alpha5

An Italian automobile design company has asked a federal judge in Houston to enforce a $4.6 million judgment against Humble-based [fake] DeLorean Motor Company, over claims that DeLorean failed to pay for work done to reimagine the famed car as an electric vehicle called Alpha5. The firm, Italdesign Giugiaro S.p.A., last year received the judgment in its favor from an international arbitration court and on Jan. 2 filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, asking Judge Keith P. Ellison to confirm the decision and have it enforced. The lawsuit seeks payment from the [fake] DeLorean Motor Company, the Humble-based business that since the ’90s has ‘owned’ DeLorean’s name and branding, and has operated mostly as a repair shop for the classic cars. The lawsuit doesn’t name DeLorean Reimagined LLC, the spin-off company based in San Antonio that advertised itself as the business behind the new Alpha5 model. Joost de Vries, the one-time CEO of DeLorean Reimagined, and Stephen Wynne, the founder of [fake] DeLorean Motor Company, were both involved in the litigation in Europe, according to public records and the arbitrator’s report. Representatives for Italdesign and [fake] DeLorean didn’t respond to a request for comment on Monday. [fake] DeLorean hadn’t filed a response to the claim as of Monday. An initial conference has been scheduled for April. Alpha5, [fake] DeLorean’s electric vehicle project – Italdesign was hired in 2022 to design an electric version of the DeLorean. In news releases announcing the partnership, the companies said the new four-seat sports car, the Alpha5, would feature the brand’s iconic gull-wing doors and be able to reach speeds of 155 mph. The Alpha5 was supposed to mark a rebirth for the company. Executives made appearances around San Antonio, hinted at the creation of a Texas-based factory and teased the car in a 15-second Super Bowl commercial. Italdesign’s founder, Giorgetto Giugiaro, designed the original iconic DeLorean DMC-12 in the 1970s. The Alpha5’s sleeker design was said to be based on a concept for a model the [real] DeLorean Motor Company had before going bankrupt in 1982. Despite initial claims that the car would be in production by 2023, a final model and official pricing have not been announced. Filings included in the complaint show that the dispute over payments began months after the public announcement of the new design. The company said it was hired to create scale models, show cars and styling models, to conduct pre-concept development and provide event support, according to the lawsuit. In July 2022, the design company billed [fake] DeLorean €4.3 million for the concept models that were revealed at the California car show. [fake] DeLorean made an initial payment of $500,000, according to the arbitrator’s report, which was included in court records. In September, de Vries emailed the firm promising full payment by October. The promises continued for months after that deadline, according to the report. In December 2022, de Vries wrote that he was hoping to receive good news regarding an investment. In February 2023, he reported that the company received “a couple of hundred thousand.” “Not enough to make a meaningful payment against our debt,” he wrote. A week later, he promised Italdesign that “big checks” were coming. They apparently never did. Italdesign took the motor company to court in early 2023. During the years-long process, [fake] DeLorean argued that it had never admitted to the debt “in full” and claimed it was unable to find documents related to its debts, according to the report. The car company’s arguments failed. The arbitrator in April 2025 decided in Italdesign’s favor, writing that the firm is the “undoubted victor” and “certain winner” under the law. [fake] DeLorean was ordered to pay its debts, along with interest. It’s unclear if [fake] DeLorean has taken any steps to pay the company since last year’s decision. The dispute over payments came amid other public struggles for [fake] DeLorean. In the years since the Alpha5’s announcement, the company scaled back its promises on how many cars it would initially build and was criticized for not updating customers who had made deposits for the Alpha5. In a sign of the times, early buyers were given NFTs, or nonfungible tokens, as their proof of purchase, rather than a receipt. De Vries stepped down as CEO in October 2023. In April 2024, the company closed its offices at Port San Antonio – where it had once received incentives to move amid promises of creating hundreds of jobs. The company’s new lead said it now planned to be a niche automobile maker, rather than a competitor to Tesla and other larger companies. Since then, there have been no new public updates on the development of the Alpha5. from January 12, 2026 – HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM, by John Wayne Ferguson, Staff Writer

FakeDMC does NOT have the support of the DeLorean family

If you’re a DeLorean owner, you shouldn’t be shocked that FakeDMC doesn’t have the support of the DeLorean family. Especially Kat DeLorean, John Zachary DeLorean’s daughter. We couldn’t be happier that she has come out (more than once) to remind people of at least 3 simple facts: FakeDMC is NOT associated with the DeLorean family. FakeDMC is not 40 years old. They started in 1995, and bought one of the DeLorean trademarks. John DeLorean did NOT like FakeDMC, nor did he support them in any way. FakeDMC has tried, and in far too many cases they have succeeded in bullying and intimidating individuals and small businesses who DO support and love the DeLorean community. The DeLorean car came from the mind of a brilliant automotive engineer – John DeLorean – who Elon Musk can easily be compared to – someone who fought the system and built their own car against all odds. The difference is, JZD had governments working against him to bring him down, while Musk simply made something that the people wanted. And since politicians could personally line their pockets from Musk’s business(es) they weren’t as inclined to try to shut him down. JZD’s legacy is greater than just producing the stainless steel car – and it certainly has nothing to do with the new company who does everything in their power to take advantage of what someone else built.   There are MANY DeLorean owners who are afraid to speak up about #FakeDMC for fear that they’ll be ‘blacklisted’ from buying parts or getting service – and we understand. But know this – there are A LOT of us. It’s important to support the independent shops and people who DO care about the car, and the owners. They are part of the community – they own cars – they love sharing the car with the public. THEY are part of JZD’s legacy. The next time you need parts or service for your DeLorean, don’t go to FakeDMC if at all possible – just ask around about their “customer service.” Hopefully one day Kat will do an episode of DeLorean Talk to share her memories of her father, and talk about her experience with DeLorean owners and the community… and hopefully will be willing to share her disdain with how FakeDMC has tried to take advantage of JZD’s name and legacy. Here’s our comment on her post: “Thank you for sharing your feelings Kat. #FakeDMC has proven time and again that they don’t care about the REAL DeLorean car, or the owners – it’s all about taking advantage of the name. We support business and entrepreneurs, but FakeDMC has bullied and intimidated owners – and the public – for far too long. They do everything they can to make people believe they ARE the original DMC company – without actually saying it. FakeDMC is untrustworthy, and they are not there to serve their (potential) customers. We highly recommend supporting independent parts & labor shops, as well as individuals who love the REAL DeLorean car, and JZD’s legacy. If you ever care to, or feel comfortable talking about this, please contact us at www.DeLoreanTalk.com” More: John DeLorean’s Daughter Doesn’t Approve The New Alpha5 John DeLorean’s Daughter Isn’t Happy About The New Alpha5 John DeLorean’s Daughter Didn’t Know About New DeLorean Brand Revival