Dacora Motors to launch ‘ultra-luxury’ American EV
As well as purportedly being the first brand to launch a ‘made in USA’ ultra-luxury vehicle “in nearly a century”, Dacora Motors also claims to be the first female-founded and led automaker “in history”. It was founded by MIT-trained engineers Kristie D’Ambrosio-Correll and her partner Eric, with the former serving as CEO and the latter as CTO. Thanks to their debut model, they could have another claim to fame: that of one of the world’s most expensive consumer EVs, with prices starting at $500,000 USD.
While the debut Dacora is still unnamed, but the company certainly hasn’t spared any expense when it comes to design. Created in collaboration with the Pininfarina Group, the vehicle is based on a 1930s Streamline Moderne and looks like something out of The Great Gatsby or the board game Monopoly. Details on battery and drivetrain are yet to be shared; however it boasts an all-electric range of over 400 miles, 800+ horsepower, and 45-inches of rear legroom. A lot of attention has gone to the interior, which features sculpted woodwork, a semi-transparent non-touchscreen display, and tactile mechanical controls. In a press release, Dacora hammered this home by stating: “No plastic interiors – only hardwoods, woven wool, and hand-stitched leathers, all selected for breathability, longevity and tactile richness.”
The other USP of the vehicle seems to be personalisation, which is no surprise given the target audience and price point of this EV. Dacora stated: “Interiors are fully modular and can be reconfigured or refreshed seasonally, offering a tactile, emotional, and evolving relationship with the car over time.” In practice, this means swappable upholstery that can be changed seasonally (i.e. “wool for winter, linen for summer”); modular seating configurations of between 3 and 7 seats; adjustable floor system; even personal wood options.
Dacora states that each vehicle will be ‘handcrafted’ and assembled in the Hudson Valley, New York, and that reservations already exceed 150-per cent of the company’s planned first-year production capacity. In 2026, Dacora will open its 100-acre Hudson Valley Garage, which it calls an ‘automotive campus’ featuring production facilities, a “design atelier”, plus accommodation for guests and other events. The company is yet to announce a date for vehicle deliveries, or its annual production targets.
Ms D’Ambrosio-Correll said: “At Dacora, we believe true luxury is about connection – between driver and machine, tradition and technology, form and function. We set out to build a car that doesn’t compromise between beauty, power, and personalization. We’re inspired by timeless design and driven by a belief that the future of luxury is deeply personal, deeply connected, and unmistakably human.”
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