Since the middle of the last century, Asia has been catching up with Europe and the United States regarding automobile production. The automobile industry is most developed in Southeast Asian countries, China, Japan, and South Korea. Local companies began producing middle-class cars using low-wage labor. Recently, the trend has shifted: luxury cars from local brands have entered the market. But mass-market models are still predominant.
What are Asian car brands?
Car brands produced by local companies represent the Asian car industry. It is most developed in Southeast Asia, primarily in South Korea, Japan, and China. But there are also car brands from other countries, including Vietnam, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Iran, Malaysia, the UAE, Taiwan, India, and Indonesia.
China
China is a pioneer in the automobile industry and, consequently, the leader in annual production of cars, trucks, and commercial vehicles. Although not all PRC enterprises can compete with foreign firms, the country has numerous well-known brands that are no less than their international counterparts in terms of quality or technology. The Chinese automotive industry has also mastered the production of cars that meet European environmental standards.
SAIC Motor
SAIC is an absolute record-breaker in the number of cars sold among Chinese automakers. It produces commercial and light vehicles and seeks to adapt them to contemporary trends. For example, this company was the first to study and implement intelligent technologies that should simplify the driving process.
SAIC also seeks to promote the adoption of new energy sources, which is why it is developing modern electric and hybrid vehicles. The principal models of this type are the Roewe E50 and the Baojun E100. Iveco, Volkswagen, General Motors, and other foreign manufacturers have undertaken several joint projects.
Changan Automobile
“Time-tested reliability” is the company’s name, which has existed for over 150 years and has produced high-tech cars for about 40 years. Changan Automobile is a subsidiary of the state-owned machinery corporation China South Industries Group and specializes in passenger-car production. The product range also 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. The company has 180 laboratories and several dozen factories in different countries.
Chery
In 1997, the 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 and entered markets in many countries. Moreover, car production at Chery plants began not immediately, but in 1999. Until 2001, the company was constrained by the absence of a license and could supply cabs only to local officials.
The company owes its success to its collaborations with automotive designers Cavax, Pininfarina, Bertone, Mitsubishi Automotive Engineering, and Lotus Engineering. Joint projects with the world-famous Chrysler and Fiat brands have also helped it increase sales.
Geely
The Chinese company Geely specializes in producing commercial and passenger vehicles. Its history is divided into three eras. The first began in 1997, when the company began producing minibusses. Before that, Geely’s main products were refrigerators (since 1986) and scooters (since the mid-1990s).
The manufacturer owns several major divisions and approximately a dozen brands, including Volvo, which was acquired from Ford in 2010. The company is headquartered in Hangzhou, with factories in various countries. The name Geely is a variant of the original Jílì, which means “favorable.”
Dongfeng Motor
The predecessor of Dongfeng Motor was Second Automobile Works Co., Ltd., founded in 1969 and beginning automobile production in mid-1975. At the end of 1975, Dongfeng adopted the name “East Wind.” While the company’s first vehicle was a military model, the second model, the EQ140 5t Heavy-Duty Truck, marked the transition to civilian production.
In 1987, the company succeeded, becoming one of the world’s top three truck manufacturers. In 2006, the ten thousandth Ruiqi pickup truck was assembled at its plants. The company has received awards in China and abroad for its numerous achievements. Among its latest developments are electric and natural gas vehicles.
FAW
The extended name FAW, which sounds like First Automotive Works, is fully justified, as it was with this company that the history of the Chinese automotive industry began. It established China’s first automobile plant, which began producing cars in 1958. The oldest automobile enterprise now produces cars, small cars, buses, SUVs, and trucks for various cargo applications.
BAIC
BAIC is a state-owned company with a wide range of products. It produces military vehicles, light trucks, buses, construction and agricultural machinery, and commercial vehicles. The company also produces electric and gasoline-powered passenger cars. 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 and one of the most important sectors of the economy; it accounts for more than 7% of GDP. Local manufacturers actively export four- and two-wheeled vehicles, with the share of sales abroad increasing noticeably each year. The main products are passenger cars, but there are also popular Indian commercial vehicle brands, such as Tata.
Mahindra & Mahindra
Mahindra & Mahindra has been in operation for over seven decades and operates across various industries, from aerospace to bus manufacturing. It was once an ordinary steel business founded in 1945 by enterprising entrepreneurs. Many years ago, the first Indian truck was produced under the Mahindra brand; today, the company produces modern commercial vehicles, pickup trucks, electric cars, and other modes of transportation under the Mahindra brand.
Tata
Tata Motors is owned by the Tata Group Corporation, named after Jamsetji Nasarvanji Tata. The automobile company traces its history back to 1945, when it began manufacturing locomotives. Currently, its lineup is broader, including vehicles from various brands, such as Jaguar and Land Rover. 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 automotive industry is renowned worldwide for its advanced technology and consistent quality. At the same time, five automobile corporations stand out in the country: Suzuki, Mazda, Honda, Mitsubishi, and Toyota. These are generally recognized leaders that have entered the PRC’s domestic market and established numerous subsidiaries in various countries.
Toyota
Toyota’s history began with the production of textile machinery and culminated in a small private enterprise that grew into 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 was founded in 1946 by a design engineer who conducted scientific research. The company’s first products were low-powered engines and mopeds. Cars entered the range much later: initially vans, and subsequently racing cars. Now, the model range is dominated by high-speed sports cars.
Nissan
Previously, Nissan was known as Dat Jidosha Seizo because its primary activity was producing cars under the Datsun brand. The company’s managers then refocused on producing passenger cars (in 1931) and gave it its current name (in 1934). Nissan decided not to limit the model range, offering a wide range of cars from SUVs to small cars.
Suzuki
Suzuki‘s first specialization was the textile industry, which it successfully pursued from 1909 to the early 1950s. However, as the automobile industry grew in popularity, the company shifted from producing weaving machines to producing small cars. Throughout its history, the company has changed its name several times, 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 concern’s owner decided to create it at one of the secret meetings 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. However, luxury crossovers, SUVs, and passenger cars quickly became popular worldwide.
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 assembly lines, and passenger cars did not appear until the 1960s. The Mazda model lineup was expanded to include minibusses, buses, roadsters, pickup trucks, crossovers, and sports cars, indicating its ongoing 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 serially produced automobile, the Model A, appeared in 1917. However, the war prevented Mitsubishi from continuing on its chosen path, and car production was suspended. It was resumed only in 1960. Since then, the range of vehicles has expanded significantly, encompassing a variety of cars, from compact urban sedans and hatchbacks to heavy trucks and buses.
South Korea
South Korean cars embody safety and reliability, modern technologies developed in our country, and European design. This is confirmed by numerous global rankings that recognize Asia as a leader in the automotive industry. The list of brands is relatively limited compared with China or Japan, but a large selection of models across different price categories compensates for this.
Hyundai
The first Hyundai automobile plant was built in Seoul in the late 1960s, where the company remains headquartered. Before that, the company’s primary business was shipbuilding. Car exports began in 1976 when the Hyundai brand was recognized in South Korea’s domestic market. A new era in the automaker’s history was marked by its acquisition of a stake in Kia Motors Corporation, which led to significant economic growth.
Kia
Kia Corporation is a popular South Korean automaker that produced two-wheeled vehicles in its early days: bicycles and scooters. It took more than 30 years for the company to enter the automotive industry. Its first car, which was launched in 1977, was built under Mazda’s license. In the 1990s, Kia began to experience financial problems, so Hyundai bought some of its shares.
Renault Samsung
Two corporations established the Renault Samsung brand: French Renault (the principal shareholder) and South Korean Samsung Group (through its subsidiary, Samsung Card). Renault has not always owned the joint venture; earlier, it was held by Nissan, one of the project’s co-founders. With the arrival of the French automaker, the model range has expanded considerably. It now includes not only gasoline-powered 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 well-known brands, if not internationally, then at least locally. Among them are the Indonesian brand Esemka, the Taiwanese brand Luxgen, the Emirati brand W Motors, the Malaysian brand Perodua, the Iranian brand SAIPA, and the Thai brand Rung Union Car. They are subordinate to global concerns, but they have achieved notable results in the history of the automobile industry.
Esemka (Indonesia)
The Esemka brand is named after SMK 1 Trucuk, the vocational school whose students assembled the first car. The brand is owned by PT Solo Manufaktur Kreasi, which was founded in 2007. Initially, the carmaker manufactured engine components, then shifted to producing urban and rural cars. Its annual record is approximately 12,000 cars.
Luxgen (Taiwan)
Before creating the Luxgen brand, Yulon Motor had assembled 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 to produce premium cars. Adhering to strict quality standards, Luxgen uses components from renowned global 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 and later relocated its headquarters to Dubai. It was founded by several European enterprises, which 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 combines European craftsmanship and Emirati traditions to create high-tech cars for city streets and deserts. Its exclusive supercars are named after the venomous sand snake, considered the fastest in the Arabian Peninsula. Indeed, luxury cars are regarded as among the fastest in the world.
Perodua (Malaysia)
Perodua is an acronym for Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua, which assembles cars in its factories. It does not develop the main components but borrows them from the Japanese company Daihatsu Motor. The enterprise’s head office is located in 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 had been modernizing popular Mitsubishi models. A dramatic change occurred in 1996, following its acquisition of a majority stake in the British automaker Lotus Cars Limited.
Naza (Malaysia)
The conglomerate Naza is engaged in a range of businesses, from bicycle distribution to cigarette sales. But the most developed sector is car production. A division, 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 producing Citroën, Peugeot, and Kia cars.
SAIPA (Iran)
The second largest company in Iran is SAIPA, which produces vehicles ranging from cars and trucks to buses. It was established in 1966 to assemble Citroën models, but SAIPA later acquired its cars and technological developments (engines). 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. It now encompasses the full production cycle and supplies a range of vehicles, including trucks, cars, buses, and minibusses. Iran Khodro’s main production sites are located in Tehran.
United Auto Industries (Pakistan)
United Auto Industries, established in 1999, is a leading player in the Pakistani automobile market. Its product range includes cars, 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 producing 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 in joint ventures 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 automaker, Thai Rung Union Car. It has no competitors, as it is the sole national automaker. 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 founded VinFast in 2017. The dollar billionaire laid the foundation for the Vietnamese car industry. Before that, all cars in the country’s domestic market were manufactured abroad. VinFast’s stylish crossovers and sedans are designed by Pininfarina. They combine licensed German technology and “Bavarian” design.
10 Most Popular Asian Car Brands in the USA
The U.S. car market is dominated by Asian brands, which are gradually displacing American manufacturers. The greatest demand is for Japanese brands that have proven themselves worldwide, such as Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and others. Premium models are the primary ones, as the U.S. government has imposed export restrictions on Japan, forcing Japan to supply only expensive cars to the U.S. Among South Korean brands, Hyundai and Kia are popular with Americans. All other brands in the top ten are Japanese.
Video