African car brands are not represented globally in huge numbers, but it is not true that the continent has no car industry. Indeed, there is not much experience in automobile design in Africa. However, this does not mean that all African car manufacturers are subsidiaries or inconspicuous small enterprises. The dozen and a half companies and their logos below are a vivid example of the fact that the car industry on the African continent, nevertheless, has its interesting history and modernity.
Mobius Motors
This car manufacturer produces two models of off-road vehicles. These cars are just what you need for Africa and its off-road. However, these cars are quite expensive. We can say they are a real luxury for the local population.
If we analyze the brand’s logo, we will see the Mobius strip. It is depicted with three corners, used dark gray color. This emblem looks laconic and effective. Its outlines convey the severity, persuasiveness, and solidity typical of these SUVs.
The company itself is quite young. It has been on the market since 2010. However, the confident position of the company today motivates to see good prospects for it. At least the cars offered by the African manufacturer to its customers are well adapted to the landscape of the continent.
Saroukh El-Jamahiriya
Here we are talking about a prototype of the Libyan car, which was presented in 2009. The car was planned as a luxury limousine. It was supposed to decorate such an event as the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Libyan revolution.
The car’s color scheme was not chosen by chance, as green is associated with the mentioned revolutionary events. However, the production was not a success. It simply fell apart since it was not well thought out.
At the same time, the logo, which looks like a coat of arms, was included in this selection because it is part of history. The eagle on the logo looks very confident. The presence of a large concentration of golden hue in the emblem suggests that this must have been a prestigious product intended for status customers. It’s a shame that all of this has remained only at the level of grand plans.
Proforce
The story of this manufacturer is much more optimistic, as it is still operating in its industry today. Founded in 2008, until now, the company has significantly increased its turnover and has been able to provide its target audience with the kind of product that is really in demand.
Proforce specializes in protected and armored cars. The range includes both civilian and military vehicles. In short, the range is extensive and interesting, so customers have the opportunity to choose what they need.
The company’s logo uses a combination of burgundy and gray. This color scheme looks contrasting, but at the same time, it is quite restrained.
The stylization of the second letter “o” somehow resembles a target. This could hint that the company has managed to hit the request of its target audience and offer such cars, for which there is high demand.
Kantanka
The company with such a sonorous and recognizable name is located in Ghana. It was founded in 1994. Consequently, its path in this industry is somewhat more solid than that of the competitors discussed above.
Even though the company cannot boast of any impressive in-house developments, its stability and sustainability in the market are achieved through one quite deliberate factor. Thus, the company specializes in the assembly of cars, which other brands design. Mainly it is about Chinese enterprises.
This system of cooperation has ensured Kantanka’s steady and consistent development. And there is nothing strange about it because the company does not risk testing developments and takes what is already proven into production.
The product line of produced vehicles is quite wide. It includes luxury SUVs practical trucks and is popular in the mass market segment base sedans. In short, the range is extensive, interesting, and diverse.
By the way, the engineers of the Kantanka brand have developed a worthy vehicle by themselves. This is the Otumfuo SUV.
The company’s logo has an image of a star in a round frame and the brand’s name on a blue background. For the main elements of the composition, metallic color was used. The use of this shade in the visual identity of automobile brands is a fairly common technique. In principle, this color scheme is associated with the automotive industry. The star can hint at the high quality and prestige of the cars produced, and it looks organic against the blue background. In addition, blue evokes certain associations with seriousness and a well-thought-out business approach.
Wallyscar (or Wallys)
The manufacturer, registered in Tunisia, entered its market segment in 2006. It specializes in SUVs. If you analyze this fact and compare it with the description of several companies discussed above, a certain tendency can be seen. African car manufacturers are trying to produce vehicles that will be practical and applicable in the context of the real landscape of this continent.
The Wallys manufacturer is a small-scale producer. In simple terms, this means that only a few hundred vehicles a year are produced by this company. Nevertheless, its stable position on the market shows that the company knows and covers the needs of its target audience.
As in the previous case, we see a combination of metallic color and blue shade on the brand emblem. Metallic is chosen for the badge itself, while blue is for the company name below it. The emblem itself is quite concise, clear, and, at the same time, relevant. We can see the large letter “W,” which is a capital letter in the brand’s name.
Menara (or CANAM)
If we look at the “age” of this company from the point of view of the world automotive industry, it is quite young. But if you compare with previous examples, Menara company could be called a real veteran of its industry, as it was founded in 1972.
Most of the range of this manufacturer are retro cars. The product range of the company is quite modest. As for the flagship cars in the brand’s production line, it is only Menara WSC. Nevertheless, this car, inspired by Casablanca, is luxurious and prestigious.
The company logo uses a stylish combination of metallic shade and gold color. Much has already been saying about the first of these in the above examples. Let’s analyze in more detail its combination with the golden color. Here, the typical automotive color scheme is complemented by notes of luxury and chic. This fills the brand’s visual identity with more credibility and gives associations with prestige.
The golden letter “M” is in a square silver frame with embossed corners. The wings diverge to either side of the center of the composition, hinting at how fast and dynamic the car is on the road. In short, the logo looks luxurious, solid, and convincing.
Kiira
And this car brand comes from Uganda. Its history began relatively recently – in 2014. A government initiative created the company. Its specialty is the production of buses. However, there are several standard car models in the manufacturer’s assortment.
The history of the company and its origins quite explain the stylistics of the logo. The emblem uses the colors of Uganda, and inside the logo is the national bird of that state.
Let’s say you step back from such a deep analysis and evaluate the logo only from a visual point of view. In this case, it looks quite bright, which makes it memorable, recognizable, and expressive.
Laraki
This car manufacturer was founded in 1999—the homeland of this brand in Morocco. Even though the company’s product line is quite modest in terms of diversity, the quality of produced vehicles is reliable enough for the company to feel confident in the car market of its continent.
The basis of the company’s range is fast sports cars. If we talk about the peculiarities of the production process, it is worth noting that it almost always uses motors of foreign origin.
The emblem of the company is a wing located inside a round frame. One sharp end of the wing goes on the border of the frame. As for the color scheme, it combines metallic shade with black. The emblem looks traditional for its industry. It is credible, concrete, and clear in its symbolism, which is important for a company that uses its logo to communicate with its customers.
Birkin
The South African company, specializing in sports cars, was founded in 1982. The manufacturer is a small-scale producer. Nevertheless, the small production scale does not prevent the company from working confidently in its niche and producing quality vehicles.
The range is based on variations of old Lotus models. There are few modifications of such cars, but they are in demand among their customers. For most of these cars, the Lotus Super 7 became the basis.
It is worth noting that since the 1980s, the company has gradually expanded. Therefore, it produces cars sold not only on the African continent but also exported to other countries. For example, these cars are sold through dealers in Japan, the U.S., and European countries.
In July 2013, the range of the brand received a wide-bodied version. The car became 3 inches longer and 4 inches wider.
The company’s logo combines metallic colors with black. Inside the round emblem on a black background, you can see a triangle with rounded corners. And inside it – a stylized capital letter of the name of this company. These are traditional motifs in the stylistics of the logo, as evidenced by the color scheme involved in the logo from the above examples. Such a visual solution is justified because it is read to which sphere the logo belongs.
Harper
This South African company was created in Botswana. This event happened in 2004. Further production facilities have been transferred to South Africa. Even though the cars in the range of this brand can be used in urban areas, they were originally designed for racing. At the heart of the range are sports racing vehicles.
Such specificity of the range is reflected in the logo. Even though it is made in minimalist motifs, the sloping font indicates an association with speed, which is relevant to sports cars. At the same time, the black font looks solid, convincing, and concise. This is a good solution for a company that wants to hint at the seriousness with which it approaches its own business.
Paramount
Speaking of this company, it is worth noting that it refers to the history of the African automobile industry, but not to the modernity of this sphere. The peak of production was in the 50s of the last century. It has produced small 2-seater roadsters.
The company did not manage to distinguish itself by the scale of production. There were only two models of cars in the product line and made them less than 100 units.
The logo combines white, red, and black colors. The last is barely visible and is used as an outline for the main composition. Inside the image of mountains with two peaks is an oblique capital letter from the brand name. And at the bottom – the full name of the company. The emblem looks quite bright and effective. It is a pity that it can only be analyzed in the context of the history, and not the present, of the automotive industry in Africa.
Bailey
This South African machine manufacturer has a more optimistic history than the previous company in this selection. Bailey was founded in 2003. The peculiarity of the production is that this company does not produce its cars. It is focused on replicas of classic racing cars. For example, it is Rover P4 and Ford GT40. By the way, the company produces cars and spare parts for them.
The logo of this company stands out among other emblems of automobile companies. It looks bright and fun. Inside the round emblem, you can see a whole composition, for which many colors are used.
Around the perimeter on a white background is the company name. And in the central part, there is an image of the road against a picturesque natural landscape. Such a combination visually distinguishes this logo from others. And though it is far from minimalism, the composition does not look cluttered or overloaded in terms of visual accents. It looks quite stylish and harmonious.
IVEMA
This South American company was founded in the 90s – specialization – military vehicles. The production line includes both combat vehicles and armored tactical vehicles. The manufacturer refers to small-scale production. Annually it produces hundreds of cars literally. Nevertheless, the company is stable in its field and produces vehicles in moderate demand.
The company’s logo is designed in a minimalist style. The straight black font gives it specificity. And the light green element at the top of the logo flattens the overall composition a bit, making it fresher in the color scheme.
URI Purposely Built Vehicles
In this case, too, we are talking about a South African company. The company was founded in 1995. The basis of the production line is practical cross-country vehicles, which are applicable in local conditions. There are also pickup trucks in the company’s range.
The symmetrical visual composition of bright yellow color forms the basis of the logo. Underneath it is the company name, for which a straight black font is used.
Such was the selection of logos of African automobile manufacturers. Even though some of them have already ceased to exist, their emblems have become part of history. And many of the companies, despite the small production volumes, firmly hold a position in their industry.
