Through a new importer Carlsson began a more aggressive push into the US market in 2006 after debuting their newly modified CL500 (Euro-spec) vehicle at the 2006 SEMA Show.

The brothers, Rolf and Andreas Hartge, started a company in 1989 named Carlsson in honor of the Swedish rally driver, Ingvar Carlsson, who raced for the Mercedes Rally Team during the 1980s.
In 2012, Zhongsheng Group Holdings Limited acquired 70% of the company's stake.
In 2015, Sambo Motors Co. Ltd., a Korean company, took over with effect from December 4.