Asian Car Brands

Since the middle of the last century, Asia has been catching up with Europe and the United States in terms of automobile production. The automobile industry is most developed in Southeast Asian countries – China, Japan, and South Korea. Local companies began to create middle-class cars using cheap labor. Recently, the trends have changed: luxury cars produced by local brands have appeared on the market. But mass-market models are still predominant as before.

What are Asian car brands?

The Asian car industry is represented by car brands produced by local companies. It is most developed in Southeast Asia – primarily in South Korea, Japan, and China. But there are also car brands from other countries: Vietnam, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Iran, Malaysia, UAE, Taiwan, India and Indonesia.

China

China is one of the pioneers of the automobile industry and, consequently, the leader in the number of cars, trucks, and commercial vehicles produced annually. Although not all PRC enterprises can compete with foreign concerns, there are quite famous brands in this country that are not inferior to competitors in terms of quality or technology. The Chinese car industry has also managed to master the production of cars that meet European environmental standards.

SAIC Motor

SAIC is an absolute record-breaker in the number of sold cars among Chinese automakers. It not only produces commercial and light cars but also tries to adapt them to modern trends. For example, this company was the first to undertake the study and implementation of intelligent technologies that should simplify the driving process.

SAIC also tries to popularize the use of new energy sources, for which it develops modern electric and hybrid cars. The main models of this type are Roewe E50 and Baojun E100. There are also several joint projects with Iveco, Volkswagen, General Motors, and other foreign manufacturers.

Changan Automobile

“Time-tested reliability” is the name of the company, which has been in existence for more than 150 years and has been producing high-tech cars for about 40 years. Changan Automobile is part of the state machinery corporation China South Industries Group, which specializes in the production of passenger cars. In addition, the product range includes SUVs and trucks.

It is a leading Chinese manufacturer known for its technological developments. One of the latest innovations is a car with a state-of-the-art autonomous driving system. In total, the company has 180 laboratories and several dozen factories in different countries.

Chery

In 1997, Chery automobile company was founded in the small provincial town of Wuhu. In just a few years, the small company grew to the scale of a major automaker, which entered the markets of many countries. Moreover, the production of cars at Chery plants began not immediately but in 1999. Until 2001, the company was restricted due to the lack of a license and could only supply cabs for local officials.

The company owes its success to its collaboration with automotive designers Cavax, Pininfarina, and Bertone, as well as with Mitsubishi Automotive Engineering and Lotus Engineering. And joint projects with the world-famous Chrysler and Fiat brands have helped it increase sales.

Geely

The Chinese company Geely specializes in the production of commercial and passenger vehicles. Its history is divided into three eras. The first began in 1997 when the company started producing minibusses. Before that, Geely’s main products were refrigerators (since 1986) and scooters (since the mid-1990s).

Now, the manufacturer owns several major divisions and about a dozen brands, including Volvo, acquired from Ford in 2010. The company is headquartered in Hangzhou, with factories located in various countries. As for the name Geely, it is a variant of the original name Jílì, which translates to “favorable.”

Dongfeng Motor

The predecessor of Dongfeng Motor is Second Automobile Works Co., Ltd., which was founded in 1969 and started producing automobiles in mid-1975. At the end of 1975, Dongfeng received a new name, which means “East Wind.” While the company’s first vehicle was a military vehicle, the second model EQ140 5t Heavy-Duty Truck marked the transition to the production of civilian vehicles.

In 1987, the company achieved success, becoming one of the top three leading manufacturers of trucks in the world. In 2006, the ten thousandth Ruiqi pickup truck was assembled at its plants. For its numerous achievements, the company has been honored with awards both in China and abroad. Among its latest developments are electric and natural gas vehicles.

FAW

The extended name FAW sounds like First Automotive Works and fully justifies itself because it is with this company that the history of the Chinese automotive industry began. It built the first automobile plant in China, which began producing cars in 1958. Now, the oldest automobile enterprise produces cars and small cars, buses, SUVs, and trucks of various tonnage.

BAIC

BAIC is a state-owned company with a wide range of products. It produces military vehicles, light trucks, buses, construction and agricultural machinery. In addition to commercial vehicles, the company produces electric vehicles and passenger cars with gasoline engines. BAIC’s subsidiary brands include Foton Motor, BJEV, Beijing Automobile Works, and BAIC Motor.

India

The automobile industry in India is the sixth largest in the world. In this country, the automotive industry is one of the most important sectors of the economy: its share in GDP is more than 7%. Local manufacturers actively export four-wheeled and two-wheeled vehicles, with the share of sales abroad growing noticeably every year. The main products are passenger cars. But there are also popular Indian brands of commercial vehicles, such as Tata.

Mahindra & Mahindra

Mahindra & Mahindra has been around for more than seven decades and covers a wide range of industries – from aerospace to bus manufacturing. It was once an ordinary steel business started in 1945 by enterprising entrepreneurs. Many years ago, the first Indian truck was produced under the Mahindra brand, and now modern commercial vehicles, pickup trucks, electric cars, and other types of transportation are produced.

Tata

Tata Motors is owned by the Tata Group Corporation, which was named after Jamsetji Nasarvanji Tata. The automobile company traces its history back to 1945 as a manufacturer of locomotives. Nowadays, its lineup is much wider and includes cars of various brands, including Land Rover and Jaguar. Tata is known as the creator of the prototype air car and the developer of the world’s cheapest car, the Nano subcompact hatchback.

Japan

The Japanese car industry is famous all over the world for its high technology and constant quality. At the same time, five automobile corporations stand out in the country: Suzuki, Mazda, Honda, Mitsubishi, and Toyota. These are generally recognized leaders who have entered the PRC’s domestic market and opened many subsidiaries in different countries.

Toyota

The history of Toyota began with the production of textile machinery and ended with a small private enterprise growing to the scale of a global automobile concern. More than 85 years have passed since the first automobile was produced. Today’s models use much more technology, but the main thing remains the same: Toyota’s desire for progress and prestige.

Honda

Honda is another old Japanese concern. This automaker appeared in 1946 thanks to the efforts of a design engineer who engaged in scientific activities. The company’s first products were low-powered engines and mopeds. Cars entered the range much later: they were vans and, after that – racing cars. Now, the model range is dominated by high-speed sports cars.

Nissan

Previously, the company Nissan was called Dat Jidosha Seizo because the main direction of its activity was the production of cars under the brand name Datsun. The company’s managers then refocused it to produce passenger cars (in 1931) and gave it its current name (in 1934). Nissan decided not to limit the model range, so it offers a wide range of cars – from SUVs to small cars.

Suzuki

The first specialization of the Suzuki company was the textile industry, which it successfully engaged in from 1909 to the early 1950s. However, with the growing popularity of the automobile industry, the company moved from the production of weaving machines to the production of small cars. During its history, the company managed to change several names, acquired a subsidiary, Maruti Suzuki India, and increased its production volumes to record levels.

Lexus

Lexus is a successful project of Toyota Motors Corporation; the decision to create it was made by the owner of the concern himself at one of the secret meetings. It happened in 1983. Lexus was conceived as a luxury car brand under which prestigious Toyota models would be produced for export, mainly to the United States. But luxury crossovers, SUVs, and passenger cars quickly became popular all over the world.

Mazda

Founded in 1920, Mazda initially specialized in cork production. But it changed its priorities, and 11 years after its debut on the domestic market, it began producing three-wheeled scooters. In the postwar period, trucks began to come off the assembly lines, and passenger cars appeared only in the 1960s. The Mazda model lineup was replenished with minibusses, buses, roadsters, pickup trucks, crossovers, and sports cars, which shows its constant development.

Mitsubishi

The Mitsubishi automobile concern in the past was a ship repair and shipbuilding company since the automobile industry did not yet exist at the time of its appearance (1873). The manufacturer’s first serial automobile, Model-A, appeared in 1917. However, the war did not allow Mitsubishi to continue the chosen path, and the production of cars was suspended. It was resumed only in 1960. Since then, the range of vehicles has significantly expanded and includes a variety of cars – from compact urban sedans and hatchbacks to heavy trucks and buses.

South Korea

South Korean cars are the embodiment of safety, reliability, modern technologies of our development, and European design. This is confirmed by many world ratings, which recognize Asia as one of the leaders in the global automotive industry. The list of brands is quite limited compared to China or Japan, but this is compensated by a large selection of models in different price categories.

Hyundai

The first Hyundai automobile plant was built in the late 1960s in Seoul, where its headquarters is located now. Prior to that, the company’s main business was shipbuilding. The export of cars began in 1976 when the Hyundai brand was recognized in South Korea’s domestic market. A new era in the history of the automaker was marked by the purchase of a stake in Kia Motors Corporation, which led to significant economic growth.

Kia

Kia Corporation is a popular South Korean automaker that, in its early days, was in the business of producing two-wheeled vehicles: first bicycles and then scooters. It took more than 30 years before the company moved into the automobile business. Its first car, launched in 1977, was built under license from Mazda. In the 1990s, Kia began to experience financial problems, so some of its shares were bought by Hyundai.

Renault Samsung

The creators of the Renault Samsung brand are two corporations: French Renault (the main shareholder) and South Korean Samsung Group (through its subsidiary Samsung Card). Moreover, Renault has not always been the owner of the joint venture: earlier, its place was occupied by Japanese Nissan, which was one of the co-founders of this project. With the arrival of the French automaker, the model range has expanded considerably. Now, it includes not only gasoline cars but also modern electric cars.

Other

Not all Asian automakers are based in China, India, Japan, and South Korea. Other countries also have their own brands that are known, if not internationally, then at least locally. Among them are Indonesian brand Esemka, Taiwanese Luxgen, Emirati W Motors, Malaysian Perodua, Iranian SAIPA, and Thai Rung Union Car. They are inferior to the world’s concerns, but they have achieved sufficient results in the history of the automobile industry.

Esemka (Indonesia)

The Esemka brand is named in honor of the vocational school SMK 1 Trucuk, whose students assembled the first car. The brand belongs to a private company, PT Solo Manufaktur Kreasi, which was founded in 2007. At first, the carmaker was engaged in the manufacture of engine components and then switched to the production of urban and rural cars. Its record is about 12,000 cars per year.

Luxgen (Taiwan)

Before creating the Luxgen brand, Yulon Motor was engaged in the assembly of prestige cars for Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Mitsubishi, and Chrysler for many years. In 2009, he decided to realize his ambitions and opened a new division for the production of premium cars. Adhering to strict quality principles, Luxgen uses components of famous world brands.

W Motors (United Arab Emirates)

W Motors cars are the most famous sports cars from the UAE. The company that produces them was originally founded in Lebanon but then moved its headquarters to Dubai. It was founded by several European enterprises, having invested millions of dollars in a joint project. W Motors products are presented in the luxury segment of the car market. The exception is the Ghiath model, designed only for the Dubai Police and not for sale.

Zarooq Motors (United Arab Emirates)

Zarooq Motors, combining European craftsmanship and Emirati traditions, creates high-tech cars for city streets and deserts. Its exclusive supercars are named after the venomous sand snake, which is considered the fastest in the Arabian Peninsula. Indeed, the luxury cars are positioned as some of the fastest in the world.

Perodua (Malaysia)

Perodua is an acronym for Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua, a company that assembles cars in its factories. It does not develop the main components but borrows them from the Japanese company Daihatsu Motor. The head office of the enterprise is located in the city of Rawang. The cars are sold mainly in Asian countries, although Perodua exports them to the UK market.

Proton Holdings (Malaysia)

Proton Holdings is a successful parastatal Malaysian company. It began developing its cars in the 1990s and, until then, had been modernizing popular Mitsubishi models. A dramatic change, of course, occurred in 1996 after it bought a majority stake in British automaker Lotus Cars Limited.

Naza (Malaysia)

The conglomerate Naza is engaged in various types of business – from the distribution of bicycles to the sale of cigarettes. But the most developed sector is the production of cars. A division called Naza Automotive Manufacturing is responsible for this. It was established in 2002 to produce cars under several brands, including Naza. Currently, the company specializes in the production of Citroën, Peugeot, and Kia cars.

SAIPA (Iran)

The second largest company in Iran is called SAIPA and is engaged in the production of vehicles ranging from cars and trucks to buses. It was established in 1966 to assemble Citroën models, but then SAIPA got its cars and technological developments (engine). The company currently produces South Korean cars.

Iran Khodro (Iran)

About 70% of all Iranian cars are produced by Iran Khodro, founded in 1962 and previously engaged only in car assembly. Now, it takes over the full cycle of production and supplies a wide range of vehicles: trucks and cars, buses, and minibusses. Iran Khodro’s main production sites are located in Tehran.

United Auto Industries (Pakistan)

The Pakistani automobile market is represented by United Auto Industries, which was established in 1999. Its product range includes cars and trucks, auto-rickshaws, motorcycles, scooters, and forklifts. The vehicles are manufactured under the UNITED brand name. The manufacturer plans to cooperate with Chinese companies to produce passenger cars.

Micro (Sri Lanka)

The name Micro speaks for itself. This company specializes in the production of compact cars: SUVs (Actyon), sedans (Impreza), and hatchbacks (Panda). At the same time, it has mid-size (Rexton II) and full-size (Chairman W) cars produced jointly with the South Korean firm Ssangyong Motors. The lineup also includes Duo Deck buses, assembled from Chinese components.

Thai Rung Union Car (Thailand)

Thailand also has its own automaker – Thai Rung Union Car. It has no competitors, as it is the only national automaker in the country. Its creators and owners are members of the Phaenchoke family. The company is not limited to assembling foreign cars (Chevrolet, Nissan, Toyota, Isuzu) and produces its own models under the Thai Rung brand.

VinFast (Vietnam)

Vietnam’s richest man has founded VinFast. The dollar billionaire established it in 2017 and thus laid the foundation for the Vietnamese car industry. Before that, all cars available in the country’s domestic market were manufactured abroad. VinFast’s stylish crossovers and sedans are Pininfarina’s work. They combine licensed German technology and “Bavarian” design.

10 Most Popular Asian Car Brands in the USA

The US car market is dominated by Asian brands, which are gradually displacing American manufacturers. The greatest demand is for Japanese brands that have proven themselves around the world: Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and others. They are represented by premium models, as the U.S. government has imposed restrictions on exports from Japan, forcing the Asian country to supply only expensive cars to America. Among South Korean brands, Hyundai and Kia are popular with Americans. All other brands in the top ten belong to Japan.

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