Oullim Motors Logo

Oullim Motors History

Oullim Motors began as Proto Motors, which was founded on June 14, 1997. The company originally focused on coach-building and custom vehicles in South Korea. Its headquarters were located in Yangjae-dong, Seoul, with production facilities in Gyeonggi-do province south of the city.

In 2007 the company underwent a major transition when it was acquired by Dong-hyuk Park of Oullim Networks. This led to its renaming to Oullim Motors, with Han-chul Kim, a former SsangYong Motors designer, serving as co-founder alongside Park. The shift marked a move toward sports car manufacturing under the new ownership structure as a subsidiary of Oullim Networks.

Oullim Motors Logo Evolution

1997 – 2007: Proto Motors Logo

The Proto Motors logo was used during the company’s early years and initial development of the Spirra project. It consisted of simple text-based lettering without complex imagery. This design reflected the firm’s original focus on coach-building before the transition to sports cars.

• Design: Text-based “Proto Motors” in sans-serif letters
• Colors: Black, grey, and blue elements
• Changes: Featured a tilted oval as the first letter o in Proto
• Context: Employed during the 1997-2007 coach-building and early Spirra development period

2007 – Present: Spirra Logo

The Oullim Motors logo was introduced in 2007 alongside the corporate renaming and the Spirra sports car launch. This new Oullim Motors car logo features a triangular shape containing a roaring tiger’s head with its mouth wide open. The emblem has remained consistent throughout the vehicle’s production run from 2008 onward.

• Design: Triangular emblem containing a tiger head
• Colors: Not specified in available records
• Changes: Replaced the earlier text-based Proto Motors design
• Context: Created to represent the new sports car manufacturer identity after the 2007 rebranding

The Spirra logo continues to serve as the primary Oullim Motors emblem for the brand’s sports car. This Oullim Motors symbol directly reflects the company’s shift from custom vehicle work to dedicated performance car production under Oullim Motors.

Oullim Motors Brand Timeline

Key milestones in the company’s development include:

• 1997: Proto Motors founded by Kim Han-chul and Choi Ji-seon
• 2001: Development begins on the domestic handmade sports car that would become the Spirra
• 2007: Company renamed to Oullim Motors after acquisition by Oullim Networks
• 2008: Spirra enters production and begins exports to markets including China, UAE, Malaysia, and the Netherlands
• 2015-2016: Original Oullim Motors entity faces bankruptcy
• 2017: Proto Motors officially dissolved
• 2023: A second entity using the Oullim Motors name appears, though without connection to the original development team

Oullim Legacy

Oullim Motors represents a chapter in South Korean automotive history focused on independent sports car manufacturing. The brand’s Oullim Motors logo history is tied closely to its product launch, with the triangular tiger emblem introduced at the moment the company pivoted to sports cars. This Oullim Motors badge has become synonymous with the Spirra model that defined the manufacturer’s identity.