VLT Automotive
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| Established | 1946 |
| Headquartered | Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg, Van Luxemburg |
| Revenue (FY 2007) | €218,085,210,000,000 |
| CEO | Ms. Kristin Becker |
| CFO | Mr. Hans Schmidt |
| Board Chairman | Ms. Kristin Becker |
| Slogan | Won fir die Welt/ Cars for the World. |
VLT Automotive Group N.V. is Van Luxemburg's prime automobile manufacturer, and owns an extensive, international network of dealerships, exporting cars to many nations around the world. Currently, profit is approaching $30 trillion USD, with car sales over 500 million units annually. Since 2007, VLT Automotive also owns Automobili Monteluci.
History
In 1946, Van Luxemburgian Transportation B.V. was created by the Van Luxemburgian Government, in order to start up a domestic automobile industry after the Second World War. While Monteluci was still finishing the gigantic orders made by the Van Luxemburgian Military, Van Luxemburgian Transportation B.V. set up a major production line at a facility in Esch-sur-Alzette. A small car, the L3, was produced in the post-war years, boasting several characterics from the Pre-war Porsche prototypes that had been transferred from Germany to Van Luxemburg Post-War.
The model range was quickly expanded. The L3 was joined by the L4 Sportcoupé in 1951, and the L5 and L7 in 1957. Meanwhile, Monteluci, a legendaric Van Luxemburgian manufacturer Pre-War, had also taken up production of their own model range again, and put up fierce competition against the Esch-based company. It is estimated that around 20 million L3's were produced for the domestic market, of which few remain today. The L4 Sportcoupé has survived the time however, and it is estimated that there are around 5,000 L4's still on the Van Luxemburgian roads today. Most L5's and L7's haven't survived the ravages of time, due to the premature rust protection at the time.
In the 1960's, Van Luxemburgian Transportation changed it's name to VLT Cars B.V., and launched the L6 in 1966 to celebrate it's 20 years of existence. The vehicle was not immensely popular, due to reliability issues, and above-average rust. However, it was an innovative vehicle, using double Weber carburettors to achieve 130 HP in it's 2.0 litre version. However, sales were not as high as expected, and the L6 was consequently dropped from the model range in 1972, with the last two years of production merely to use the part stocks that remained. In 1972, the whole programme was reintroduced, meaning completely new models of the L3, L4 Sportcoupé (which was now joined by a convertible), the L5 and L7.
Oil Crisis
Like the rest of the world, Van Luxemburg had to cope with the 1973 Oil Crisis. Unlike Monteluci, VLT had already specialised in small cars, with only one 6-cylindre available, in the L7. Other cars used the old, but reliable 2.2 litre 4-cylinder, developing 115 HP. After the failure of the L6, the 130 HP 2-litre was completely removed from all new cars, due to reliability issues, leaving only the 2.2, 1.8, 1.4, 1.0, and the unforgettable 3.0 litre 6-cylinder, delivering 171 HP. The engines were relatively economical, and could run on the small amounts of petrol handed out at the fuel pump. Thanks to this, VLT managed to cope with the few cars sold in that year, and was able to survive through the hard years.
During the late seventies, the model range was slowly changed again, but still, the basic names remained. In the meantime, VLT had reworked the 2.0 litre engine from the former L6, and improved it's reliability. The engine now developed 135 HP, and did prove it's worth in a new L5, which was launched in 1979. The vehicle was exceptionally fast for it's time, and was notorious for it's quick accelerations. In 1981, the L7 was first equipped with a new 4.2 litre V8 engine, developing around 279 HP, able to get the L7 to speeds of 225 kilometres per hour, an exceptional speed for a saloon car in the 1980's.
Mid- and Late Eighties and Today
By the mid-eighties, VLT had completely overcome the unprofitable seventies, and was back into producing high-powered cars. The L5 also became available with the 3.0 Litre V6, this time being supercharged and delivering 198 HP. Meanwhile, the L3 and L4 were also equipped with the 2.0 litre 135 HP engine, also available in a supercharged 165 HP version for the L4. In 1987, the L6 was re-introduced, this time also available with the 2.0 Litre 165HP, the 3.0 Litre V6 198 HP and the 3.0 Litre V6 Biturbo, delivering 228 HP. The vehicle was very popular, and still enjoys some form of popularity with VLTists nowadays.
However, VLT began to feel the competition again, this time not from Monteluci, but from foreign companies. For the first time since 1973, VLT began to sell less cars in 1989, and could clearly feel the foreign companies breathing in it's neck. This problem was however overcome in 1995, when VLT acquired the licenses to produce all foreign vehicles destined for the Van Luxemburgian market. Since then, VLT's profit have exponentially increased, and export of VLT models to other nations has started in 2007. Currently, VLT is possibly one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world.
Current Model Range
VLT Automotive is an ever-expanding company, including an up-to-date model range, exported worldwide. Mainstream models include:
- L2, B-segment compact hatchback
- L3, C-segment 3-door hatchback
- L4 Coupé, D-segment Coupé
- L4 Convertible, D-segment Coupé Convertible (CC)
- L5, D-Segment Mainstream Sedan
- L6, E-Segment Luxury Mainstream Sedan
- L7, F-Segment Luxury Sedan
- L8, I-segment High Luxury Sedan
- L9, T2-segment, Mainstream SUV
- L10, P3-segment, Luxury MPV (Only delivered in Van Luxemburg)
- L11, T3-Segment, Luxury SUV (Only delivered in Van Luxemburg)
- Roadster, G-segment, Sportive Roadster (Only delivered in Van Luxemburg)
