Vehma International was founded in 1988 by Toronto-based Magna International Inc. group, one of the most important suppliers to the automotive industry. 

Development of the Vehma Torrero began in 1986, a vehicle with which Magna intended to prove its capabilities. It was a luxurious sport and leisure model off-roader. The ideas were presented to Charles Pelly and Steve Winter of Designworks in California who developed the prototype. The Vehma Torrero was presented as a concept car at the Geneva Motor Show in 1989.

The car featured a four-wheel-drive and was powered by an 8.1-liter, aluminum, four-overhead-cam, 32-valve, dual-spark V8 engine coupled with a Chrysler three-speed automatic transmission. The Torrero remained a pure one-off.