Who do we think we are?
Prong Motors was started to bring three-wheeled transportation into the modern age. No longer are we relegated to weird and ugly 'aero-boot' trikes or 'car rear-ended by motorcycle' styling. We ain't talking about Big Wheels anymore!
Why can't a trike combine the openness of a motorcycle with the traditional position and controls of an automobile? Why can't a trike give you amazing performance as well as daily driver levels of comfort and utility? Why can't a trike have the maneuverability of a moto and the stability of an auto?
Now it can. Welcome to the 21st Century Trikeheads!
-Hong
Founder
Prong Motors, LLC
Why can't a trike combine the openness of a motorcycle with the traditional position and controls of an automobile? Why can't a trike give you amazing performance as well as daily driver levels of comfort and utility? Why can't a trike have the maneuverability of a moto and the stability of an auto?
Now it can. Welcome to the 21st Century Trikeheads!
-Hong
Founder
Prong Motors, LLC
Have a question or comment? E-mail me at hong@prongmotors.com
About Us:
Prong Motors, LLC is a Silicon Valley transportation startup dedicated to producing a lighter, faster, fun-ner, uniquely Californian vehicle. Our first vehicle is an innovative three-wheeler that gives the open-air experience of a motorcycle, with the stability and ease of use of an automobile.
Hong Quan - Founder & President
Prior to jumping into the automotive transportation industry Hong worked in Corporate Development for a video game company. Hong has held various Operations roles at Silicon Valley startups and decided to follow his lifelong passion for motor vehicles with a startup of his own. Before moving to California, Hong worked as a NASDAQ Trader and began his Wall Street career at hedge fund and 'black box' trading firm D. E. Shaw & Co.
Hong is responsible for day to day operations of the company, as well as being the Chief Architect behind the initial vehicle from Prong Motors. Hong envisioned a light weight, high performance vehicle with the agility and maneuverability of a motorcycle and the stability and safety of an automobile. Hong works with the team on every aspect of the prototype vehicle development to bring his vision to life.
Hong obtained his B.A. from Columbia College in New York City and resides in Santa Clara with his extremely supportive wife Wendy and two children, Max and Mia.
Hong is responsible for day to day operations of the company, as well as being the Chief Architect behind the initial vehicle from Prong Motors. Hong envisioned a light weight, high performance vehicle with the agility and maneuverability of a motorcycle and the stability and safety of an automobile. Hong works with the team on every aspect of the prototype vehicle development to bring his vision to life.
Hong obtained his B.A. from Columbia College in New York City and resides in Santa Clara with his extremely supportive wife Wendy and two children, Max and Mia.
Eric Gauthier - Vehicle Engineering Lead
Eric is the owner of Suspension Performance and brings decades of suspension design and automotive experience to the team. With an undergraduate degree from La Sorbonne and a Master's degree in suspension engineering from Grenoble Institute of Technology, Eric understands both the art and science of vehicle dynamics. Eric also brings a wealth of industry experience at Lotus, Jaguar and Aston Martin, including designs for active suspension for Team Lotus in Formula 1 racing (for hotshoe Mario Andretti!) and the original S1 Elise vehicle program.
As our in-house motorcycle expert Eric has ten years of professional motorcycle racing experience including two Paris-Dakar finishes and the title of French National Enduro Champion. Eric lives in Menlo Park with his wife Jeannine, their three children and approximately fifteen motorcycles (at last count).
As our in-house motorcycle expert Eric has ten years of professional motorcycle racing experience including two Paris-Dakar finishes and the title of French National Enduro Champion. Eric lives in Menlo Park with his wife Jeannine, their three children and approximately fifteen motorcycles (at last count).
Iulian Bumbu - Vehicle Design Director
Iulian has a Masters Degree in Car Design from Scuola Politecnica di Design (SPD) Milano, and also graduated from National University of Art Bucharest with a degree in Product Design. Among his professional experiences are an internship at Centro Stile Alfa Romeo and three years of experience in the video game industry as a 3D modeler and texture artist at AMC Studio.
Currently he works as a freelance Designer and hopes to build his own design studio some day.
Currently he works as a freelance Designer and hopes to build his own design studio some day.
Edward Irlanda - Chief Fabrication Officer
Eddie is the owner of Applied Welding Technology - offering precision TIG and MIG (and lesser known forms of) welding of various metals (steel, aluminum, titanium, Inconel, etc.) Eddie brings over 40 years of experience to the (welding) table, having started his career as a certified aircraft welder with the United States Navy. Having his welds tested at 1250mph (not a typo!) gives us the reassurance that Eddie's work will stand up well past our 125mph top speed.
Eddie worked for various metal fabrication shops after the military and opened his own business 15 years ago. He accepts all types of projects from heavy industrial to micro-precision welds for high tech applications. Clients include Hewlett-Packard, Applied Materials and The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Originally from Harlem in NYC, the Navy brought Eddie over to California and he's called it home ever since. Eddie lives in Palo Alto with his wife Kathy and is a proud Grandparent.
Eddie worked for various metal fabrication shops after the military and opened his own business 15 years ago. He accepts all types of projects from heavy industrial to micro-precision welds for high tech applications. Clients include Hewlett-Packard, Applied Materials and The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Originally from Harlem in NYC, the Navy brought Eddie over to California and he's called it home ever since. Eddie lives in Palo Alto with his wife Kathy and is a proud Grandparent.
Dan Bolfing - Composites Lead
Dan is the owner of Contactscale - developing light weight composites and Zystech Automation - makers of CNC routers for full scale prototyping. With nearly three decades of experience in composite construction, and having invented a lighter and lower cost CNC machine, Dan was the ideal person to bring our concept to life. Dan is able to produce millimeter accurate plugs and molds for rapid prototyping and small scale manufacturing, without the $1 million plus machines traditionally required.
A former World Cup windsurfer, Dan created his machines to be more competitive in his sport. Now they allow a startup like ours (or DP Cars) to compete with any other vehicle manufacturer's designs.
Dan's facilities at Moffett Field is appropriate given the top-secret nature of his various projects and the aerospace quality of the composites crafted in the shadow of Hanger One.
A former World Cup windsurfer, Dan created his machines to be more competitive in his sport. Now they allow a startup like ours (or DP Cars) to compete with any other vehicle manufacturer's designs.
Dan's facilities at Moffett Field is appropriate given the top-secret nature of his various projects and the aerospace quality of the composites crafted in the shadow of Hanger One.
Ducchi Quan - Counsel, VP of Business Development
Ducchi Quan serves as Counsel to the company, responsible for all legal and financial matters as well as partnerships and business relations with other companies. He possesses an entrepreneurial spirit alongside broad and deep experience with corporate, finance and international law. He is a proud alumnus of Northwestern Law.
Ducchi currently practices law in the Washington, D.C. area where he resides with his wife Virginia and their daughter Eloise.
Ducchi currently practices law in the Washington, D.C. area where he resides with his wife Virginia and their daughter Eloise.