Car brands by country: who makes what
Quick answer: The best-known car brands come from Japan (Toyota, Honda, Nissan), Germany (Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Porsche), the United States (Ford, Chevrolet, Tesla), South Korea (Hyundai, Kia), Italy (Ferrari, Fiat, Lamborghini) and France (Renault, Peugeot).
Car brands by country
Major brands by home country:
- Japan: Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, Subaru, Lexus
- Germany: Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Porsche
- United States: Ford, Chevrolet, Tesla, Jeep, Cadillac
- South Korea: Hyundai, Kia, Genesis
- Italy: Ferrari, Lamborghini, Fiat, Maserati, Alfa Romeo
- France: Renault, Peugeot, Citroën
- United Kingdom: Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Aston Martin, Land Rover
- China: BYD, Geely, Chery
The largest car makers
Toyota and Volkswagen Group are the two largest car makers in the world by sales, and BYD has grown fast with electric cars.
Logos with stories
Ferrari’s prancing horse came from a WWI pilot’s plane, and Subaru’s six stars show the Pleiades star cluster.
Logo symbols
Ferrari and Porsche both use a prancing horse. Lamborghini uses a bull, because its founder was a Taurus. Peugeot uses a lion, and Alfa Romeo’s badge includes a serpent from the coat of arms of Milan.
Famous firsts
Karl Benz’s Motorwagen of 1886 is widely seen as the first practical petrol car. Ford’s Model T, launched in 1908, made cars affordable through the moving assembly line. Toyota became one of the world’s largest carmakers by volume, and Tesla made electric cars mainstream in the 2010s.
Who owns whom
Many brands belong to larger groups:
| Group | Brands |
|---|---|
| Volkswagen Group | Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, Bentley, Škoda, SEAT |
| Stellantis | Peugeot, Citroën, Fiat, Jeep, Alfa Romeo, Maserati |
| BMW Group | BMW, Mini, Rolls-Royce |
| Hyundai Motor Group | Hyundai, Kia, Genesis |
Frequently asked questions
Which country makes the most cars?
China produces the most cars of any country.
What is the most valuable car brand?
Toyota and Tesla regularly top brand value rankings.
Which car brand has a bull logo?
Lamborghini.
Which country makes Hyundai?
South Korea.
Who owns Lamborghini?
The Volkswagen Group, through Audi.
What was the first car?
Karl Benz’s Motorwagen of 1886 is widely seen as the first practical petrol car.