Koenigsegg CCXR

The initial design of the Koenigsegg CC was drawn by Christian von Koenigsegg. He then went with his sketches to Industrial Designer David Crafoord in order for him to realize the sketches into a 1:5 scale model. David then laid his personal touch to the design brief and finished the model. This model was later scaled up by Sven-Harry Åkesson in order to create the base plug for the initial Koenigsegg prototype that was finished in 1996. During the next years the prototype went through extensive testing and several new prototypes were built.

Von Koenigsegg got the idea to build his own car after watching the Norwegian puppet movie Pinchcliffe Grand Prix in his youth.^[4] However, he took his first steps in the world of business in his early 20's running a trading company called Alpraaz in Stockholm, Sweden. Alpraaz exports food from Europe to the developing world. The success of this venture gave von Koenigsegg the necessary financial standing to launch his chosen career as a car manufacturer.

Initially, Koenigsegg Automotive was based in Olofström. In 1997, The company needed larger facilities and moved to Margretetorp, just outside of Ängelholm. However, on February 22, 2003, one of the production facilities caught fire and was badly damaged. From 2003 and on Koenigsegg has converted two large fighter-jet hangars and an office building into a car factory. Since the factory is located on the still-active Ängelholm airport, clients can arrive by private jet right next to the factory. Furthermore, Koenigsegg controls and uses the former military runway for shakedown runs of production cars and high speed testing.

The Koenigsegg badge was designed in 1994 by Jacob Låftman, based on the shield of the Koenigsegg family. The shield has been the family's coat-of-arms since the 12th century when a family member was knighted by the German-based Holy Roman Empire. The phantom insignia on the Koenigsegg's rear window is a tribute to a squadron from the Swedish air force wing F 10 Ängelholm, which had the ghost as its emblem.

Koenigsegg received backing from Volvo, which provided access to a wind tunnel as well as providing financial aid. Volvo's parent company, the Ford Motor Company, supplied the original Koenigsegg with a V8 engine; however, Koenigsegg now has developed its own in-house engines that are used in their cars (see Koenigsegg CCX). The company also secured support from Norwegian entrepreneur Bård Eker, whose holding company acquired a 49 per cent share of Koenigsegg's concern.