The stars have always been a source of power and inspiration for mankind. The heavenly luminary seems to be something unattainable. Everyone knows the phrase of the ancient Roman philosopher Seneca, “Through difficulties to the stars,” where stars are associated with victories, success, and glory. Ancient peoples believed that the luminaries were gods and that Polaris was the center of the universe in general.
What are all-star car logos?
This is a list of car logos adorned with stars of different shapes, sizes, and colors. As it turns out, many car manufacturers around the world use this geometric figure in their symbolism.
Now, stars can be seen on the flags of different countries, for example, Turkey, the USA, Cuba, and Algeria. The symbolism has not bypassed the automotive industry. The use of logos with stars symbolizes the pursuit of perfection, impeccability, protection, and reliability.
Englon (China)
The brand appeared on the market relatively recently – in 2010. Englon is also a subsidiary of another Chinese manufacturer, Geely. The brand produces cars in the classic British style. The bright logo can also be seen on London cab cars, as Geely absorbed the London Taxi Company in 2013. The Englon logo is divided into two parts: blue colors with stars and a fiery palette with the image of a goddess. Also added to the top of the logo is the company’s stylized lettering in a gold font similar to handwritten lettering.
Askam (Turkey)
The Turkish company Askam was a manufacturer of trucks. In 2015, the brand went bankrupt and no longer offered its products on the market. Initially, in 1962, the company started its operations with the help of Chrysler. The famous brand supplied production cabs. The Askam logo is a star enclosed by lines inside an oval. Below, the logo was complemented by the company name. The designers made the logo three-dimensional and added reflections in the details.
Western Star (USA)
This truck manufacturer is fully imbued with the American spirit, which is reflected both in the name and in the logo. Founder William Signius Knudsen created a successful company in 1967, which is focused on the B2B segment today. He worked for companies such as General Motors and Ford, which helped it reach the heights from the beginning. The brand logo consists of a large letter “W” with a red star inside. The outlines of the figures are made like metal with a distinctive shine.
Venucia (China)
The Chinese manufacturer is a subsidiary of Dongfeng Nissan Passenger Vehicle, founded in 2010. The company’s first logo had five stars in different shades of blue and silver colors. In 2017, the company updated the image, making it more simplified. The designers kept the two visible silver stars and added one outline star on a blue background. The direct meaning of the Venucia name is “Morning Star” or “Beginning of a New Day.” The symbols of the brand symbolize the main values: creating the ideal, trust, and reaching a new world level.
Facel Vega (France)
The company’s history dates back to 1939, when the brand specialized in manufacturing products for the aviation industry during the war. Then, in 1945, Facel Vega developed coupe bodies for the world’s respected Panhard, Simca, and Ford. The history of the production of our models began in 1954, while the brand itself lasted only ten years.
The Facel Vega logo consists of a mixture of red, yellow, black, and silver colors. The colors are separated by lines and placed in a circle, as well as an abbreviation. The full name Facel Vega and six stars are printed on the bezel. The company went bankrupt, the reason being the loss of customer confidence after using a poor-quality Pont-a-Mousson engine.
Berkeley (UK)
Berkeley is a British manufacturer which was a worthy competitor of Mini and developed sports cars. The logo of the brand was bright and recognizable. Red and gray colors are inside a circle, separated in the middle by a straight line. Also, inside the circle, there was a big letter B. On the contour of the figure, there is a gray stripe with the name and five stars. The success of the company in its early years was enormous, and Berkeley developed rapidly. After experimenting with some models, the products lost demand, and in December 1960, the firm declared bankruptcy.
Subaru (Japan)
The name of the Japanese brand, like the logo, has a special meaning and an interesting history. The founder of Subaru, Kenji Kita, wanted to give his brainchild a Japanese name. He even organized a contest for the best name but never chose the right one. The choice fell on the word “Subaru,” which means “to assemble, to join.” It is also used to refer to the Pleiades – celestial bodies in the constellation of Taurus. The logo shows six stars of varying sizes in silver color on a blue background. Stars have accompanied the company throughout its history, which is not surprising due to the specifics of history. Only the colors, background, and location have changed.
Pontiac (USA)
Pontiac is a division of General Motors, which closed in 2010 after the last car was produced. The reason for the liquidation was GM’s financial problems. The brand was named after an Indian chief who led a rebellion against the British in the 18th century. Paying tribute to history and roots, the first logo featured an Indian headdress. In recent years, Pontiac has moved to a more concise version, a red arrow pointing downward. This logo is also known as the “Dart.” At the top of the arrow is a silver star.
Mercedes-Benz
One of the oldest automobile brands in history has a concise logo that is shrouded in many stories and mysteries. There are several versions of how the famous logo came to be. The first to use the future logo was Gottlieb Wilhelm Daimler, one of the founders of the brand. He sent his sons a postcard with views of Cologne. The engineer marked his house with a three-pointed star.
The manufacturer supplied its engines not only for automobiles but also for aviation and marine transportation. The three rays symbolize the founder’s profession. According to another version, Gottlieb Wilhelm Daimler decorated his house with a star, and his sons embodied his idea in the Mercedes logo.
The famous logo is depicted as a three-pointed star inside a wheel. Originally, a laurel wreath was used as a symbol of success and victory. In addition, the location of the symbol on the car itself shifted from the hood to the radiator grille to reflect the sporty style of expensive models.
Polestar
Polestar is a Swedish company that has specialized in the production of passenger cars since 1996. It is currently owned by Volvo and develops electric cars and racing models. The company is also known for producing electric motors.
The Polestar logo is presented in the form of a polar star formed by the connection of two arrows. The company has chosen gray and white shades. One half is darker to create a shadow effect. When the logo is placed on the car itself, it becomes clearer and more saturated. The brand uses a glossy texture, which gives an extra shine and looks nobler than the paper version.
Polestar is banned from using the logo in France due to a legal battle with manufacturer Citroen. In addition, the court ordered Polestar to pay a fine of 150 thousand euros.
JAC
The Chinese automaker updated its logo a few years ago and now uses its name inside an oval. JAC used to be recognizable for its red star logo. The thin five-pointed star inside a large circle was popular in its time and symbolized harmony and safety. By using white lines, we were able to make the logo more three-dimensional. In the end, the brand felt that the emblem was too large for cars and switched to a laconic version.
Initially, the Chinese company specialized in the production of trucks. In the late 1980s, JAC produced a frame chassis, which saved the company from bankruptcy. Since 2001, the brand has begun the additional production of passenger cars. JAC produces more than 500 thousand cars per year.
Jeep
The Jeep automobile brand began using the “star” logo during World War II. Before the outbreak of hostilities, a large number of cars were exported from the United States to other countries. When they came out of production, they received an identification number and a star logo. When World War II started, it was necessary to figure out how to distinguish enemy cars from American cars. So, Willys also added a circle around the star using a special stencil.
In modern realities, Jeep uses a simple logo with the name of the brand. By the way, there are several versions of the origin of the name. Three of them are related to wartime, and the fourth says that Jeep is dedicated to Eugene Jeep from the comic strip about Sailor Popeye.
Chrysler-Dodge
This brand has completely changed the logo symbolism many times and has returned to the stars several times. The star first appeared on the logo in 1962. The five-pointed symbol was created by designer Robert Stanley. Lynn Townsend, one of the company’s directors, chose from 700 options to find a logo that could convey modernity and versatility. There is a theory that the five-pointed star corresponds to the five divisions of Chrysler. But, as it turned out, there was no secret meaning in it, and the management just liked the logo.
Then, the company returned to the “star” logo in 2008. The symbol was placed in a pentagon, and the color changed to gray. The star became more prominent, and the clear lines symbolize strength, precision, and confidence. In addition, the designers added volume to the logo, and some parts of the star are drawn in a darker color. Chrysler-Dodge now uses a simple logo with the company name.
Durant Motors
Durant Motors was founded in 1921 by William “Billy” Durant and lasted only ten years. After leaving General Motors, the founder of the company decided to start his own business. One of the most famous Star logos appeared on the Star Four automobile, which the company produced from 1922 to 1928. The car was very popular and was produced with different body styles.
The logo that accompanied the successful model is presented in shades of blue, white, and gray. In the center of the image is a star with a shield and a dragon on top. The shield itself reads “Star,” and below that, “Four” and Durant Motors. The company’s main logo consisted of the same shield and dragon, but instead of blue, the color flashed red.
We can say that stars are not the most popular solution among automobile companies. A car emblem with stars causes a strong association, as this symbol is often used at the level of countries and large organizations. In any case, you can see a trend that quite popular brands, such as Mercedes and Subaru, use this image on their cars. Behind a car with a star symbol, there is often an interesting story behind it or the significance of the founders of the company itself.
FAQ
What do car emblems mean?
Car emblems often symbolize speed and supreme quality, reflect the history of the manufacturer, or are in some way connected to the company’s founder. Stars on logos symbolize striving for perfection and reaching new heights.
Which car brand has a star logo?
Polestar (Sweden), Western Star Trucks (USA), Subaru (Japan), Mercedes-Benz (Germany), and at least three brands from China feature stars in their logos: Englon, Venucia, and JAC Motors. Some companies that no longer exist also had similar symbols: Berkeley Cars Ltd (United Kingdom), Facel SA (France), Askam (Turkey), and Pontiac (USA).
Which car has a logo with a four-pointed star?
The most famous logos with four-pointed stars have been used or are still being used by Polestar (Sweden), Pontiac (USA), Subaru (Japan), and Askam (Turkey).
How many car logos are there in the world?
There is a vast number of car logos in the world. It is impossible to count them all, as new brands are constantly emerging.