thumb|250px|LaFayette logo
thumb|Share of the LaFayette Motors Corp., issued 15 August 1923
thumb|1921 LaFayette Four-Door Coupe
thumb|1937 Nash LaFayette 400
The LaFayette Motors Corporation was a United States–based automobile manufacturer. Founded in 1919, LaFayette Motors was named in honor of the Marquis de la Fayette, and LaFayette autos had a cameo of the Marquis as their logo.
History
LaFayette was originally headquartered in Mars Hill, Indianapolis, Indiana, and made luxury motor cars, beginning in 1920. LaFayette innovations include the first electric clock in an auto. However, the V8-powered LaFayette cars had low sales given their price of $5,000 when introduced in 1920, equal to $ today.
In 1921, Charles W. Nash became president of LaFayette. Nash was already president of Nash Motors, but for a time the two brands remained separate companies, although Nash Motors was the principal LaFayette Motors stock holder. The LaFayette was considered a halo marque.
In early 1920s, there was speculation about a merger of Pierce-Arrow with LaFayette, Rolls-Royce, or General Motors. A proposed merger with LaFayette did not occur in 1924.
In 1922, LaFayette's facilities were moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its factories were quickly put to a new, more profitable use: the manufacture of Ajax motor cars.
In 1934, Nash re-introduced the LaFayette name, this time for a line of smaller, less expensive models. Marketed at as “LaFayette Built By Nash", the cars included some Nash high-end features. However, sales of the popular-priced cars did not meet expectations due to the general economic situation during the Great Depression.