County Revokes Tax Incentive for DeLorean Motors Due to Unfulfilled Job Creation Commitment

On Tuesday, Bexar County commissioners took action to revoke a $1 million tax break previously granted to the DeLorean Motor Company, situated at Port San Antonio. This decision was prompted by the company's inability to fulfill its commitment to generate 450 well-paying jobs, as initially promised, according to county officials.

The termination of the tax break was swiftly approved as part of the consent agenda, without undergoing any deliberation or discussion by the commissioners.

Initially optimistic about DeLorean's prospects, commissioners had endorsed a 10-year, 100% tax break on county ad valorem taxes for qualified personal property in December 2022, during the tenure of longtime County Judge Nelson Wolff. The region had celebrated previous successes in the automotive sector, including securing Toyota Tundra and Tacoma truck production in 2003 and later attracting Navistar commercial truck production in 2023.

However, DeLorean faced challenges, including legal issues. A lawsuit filed by Karma Automotives accused former employees, including Joost de Vries, the CEO of DeLorean Motors Reimagined, of misappropriating trade secrets from Karma to establish DeLorean Motors Reimagined in San Antonio.

Ultimately, the lawsuit was resolved outside the courtroom, leading to its dismissal. Despite requests for comments from TPR, neither DeLorean Motors Reimagined nor Karma Automotives responded.

In response to the case's dismissal, Joost de Vries, who had left DeLorean as CEO in October 2023, expressed satisfaction, stating, "I’m happy for Karma, and I’m happy for us." Alan Yuan took over as the new CEO after de Vries.

Notwithstanding these developments, DeLorean's website continued to welcome members to its Alphas Club, offering a lifetime membership for $88. The enduring popularity of the iconic DeLorean car, notably recognized for its winged doors and featured prominently in the 1980s blockbuster film Back to the Future, has cultivated a dedicated cult following over the years.