The Essex Motor Car Company was established in 1906 in Boston, Massachusetts. It emerged as a late entrant in the automotive industry, particularly in the New England region, during a time when many manufacturers had transitioned to internal combustion engines or exited the market entirely.

The company produced a vehicle featuring a 15/20 horsepower four-cylinder single-acting engine. The only body style available was a five-seater tonneau, priced at $3,000, which bore a resemblance to the Serpollet design. Although there were initial plans for the vehicle to be manufactured by the Bailey Carriage Company of Amesbury, Massachusetts, the company ultimately opted to introduce an electric car instead, a decision that proved to be prudent given the evolving automotive landscape.