Car brands and logos list and who owns which car brands?

The fate of legendary automakers is complex and unpredictable. In the last millennium, leading American automobile executive Lido Anthony Iacocca predicted the disappearance of many car manufacturers. Those predictions were for the early 21st century. And the legendary former manager of Chrysler and Ford was not mistaken: only the most resilient players remain in the automobile market now.

At the turn of the century, independent companies began to close or merge into alliances and groups. Some could not withstand the competition and declared bankruptcy, while others acted aggressively, seizing control of anyone who could prevent their dominance on the world stage.

Hundreds of automobile brands sold in different countries do not exist autonomously but belong to certain manufacturers. In addition, there are just over a dozen large conglomerates. Among them are those who successfully overcame the crisis, anticipated customers’ needs, and promptly eliminated competitors from their path.

So, who are they, the legendary pillars of the automotive industry? Let’s delve into the intricacies of the global market to discover which companies own the most famous automobile brands.

American Automobile Concerns

With its rich history and enormous influence, the American automotive industry has long been a global pioneer in transportation innovation. With histories of more than a hundred years, American automobile companies have names that convey power, ingenuity, and cultural significance. From the roaring engines of muscle cars to the quiet hum of electric vehicles, American automobile concerns have been at the helm of innovation, design, and cultural transformation. Their legacy is a testament to American ingenuity, ambition, and resilience.

General Motors

General Motors, also known as GM, held leadership in the global automobile market for many years but lost the top spot to Japan’s Toyota Motor Corporation in 2008. It should be noted that the current company was legally established only in 2009, following a major reorganization. Its predecessor officially appeared in 1908. At the same time, it acquired its first brand, Buick. Now, it is one of GM’s four largest divisions, along with Cadillac, GMC, and Chevrolet.

In addition, General Motors holds stakes in several Chinese brands, including Baojun and Wuling Motors. It also owns 60 percent of the US company DMAX. But the automaker was not without losses. It lost Pontiac, Holden, Plymouth, Oldsmobile, Saturn, Hummer, Saab, and Opel.

• GM is now focusing on the remaining brands:
• GMC is the North American brand of vans, pickup trucks, SUVs, and trucks.
• Chevrolet mid-priced cars are positioned as both quality and affordable.
• Cadillac is a luxury car brand popular in Canada and the United States. It is considered one of the world’s oldest.
• Buick is a premium car brand that started the North American automobile industry. It is widely represented in the United States and China.

Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company is one of the most successful, popular, and profitable automobile manufacturers in the United States. It is second only to General Motors in the country’s domestic market. The company’s history began in 1903, and for more than a hundred years, it has been under the constant control of the same family.

Ford included divisions that produced cars in different price ranges, from budget to luxury. These included brands such as Aston Martin, Land Rover, Lincoln, and Jaguar. However, after incurring losses, the manufacturer sold some of them to survive the 2008 financial crisis.

Ford Motor Company Brands:

• Ford is the flagship brand of the company of the same name. It produces cars, buses, tractors, and military vehicles.
• Lincoln is a division that produces luxury cars. Its products are popular not only in America but also on other continents.

Previously, this list also included the following companies:

• FPV was an Australian car brand that operated from 2002 to 2014.
• Troller is a Brazilian manufacturer of SUVs. In 2021, it closed its factory and was liquidated.

European Automobile Concerns

European automakers have a rich history of fierce competition and impressive collaboration. These brands have defined luxury, performance, and innovation and shaped global automotive standards. With their legacies and contributions, these European automotive giants have played a pivotal role in shaping the global automotive market. From luxury sedans cruising the streets of Paris and London to supercars hurtling through the Italian and German countryside, European automobile concerns are all about innovation, luxury, design, and history.

Volkswagen Auto Group (VAG)

Volkswagen AG is among the leaders in the automotive market, remaining in the top ten for many years. This German conglomerate owns the flagship Volkswagen brand and many others. In 1965, it acquired Auto Union, from which the Audi brand was later separated. The next major acquisition came in 1986 when the target was a controlling stake in SEAT.

In the early 1990s, the Czech company Škoda, which originated from Laurin & Klement, became part of the VW Group. A few years later, the conglomerate absorbed Bentley, saving the French brand Bugatti from bankruptcy. It also acquired the popular Italian brand, Lamborghini. In 2008, Volkswagen AG acquired a significant stake in bus and truck maker Scania; in 2012, it acquired nearly 50% of Porsche.

The largest German concern does not rest on its laurels; it continues to expand its list of owned brands and increase production volumes. Therefore, its plants operate in more than 20 countries worldwide, including Asia, America, and Africa.

Volkswagen AG owns:

• Volkswagen VAG’s flagship brand, known for its “people’s cars.”
• Ducati is a motorcycle brand that has been part of Audi AG since 2012. It produces powerful and high-speed motorcycles.
• Scania is an international corporation based in Sweden that produces buses, heavy trucks, and other commercial vehicles. It is part of the Traton group.
• Skoda is a well-known Czech brand of passenger cars, including electric crossovers, subcompact crossovers, city compacts, and golf-class cars.
• SEAT is a Spanish automaker with a history dating back to 1919. It owns the SEAT, Cupra, and Cupra Racing brands.
• Porsche is one of the most successful German automobile companies. It produces SUVs and luxury cars designed for comfort lovers.
• Bugatti is a French brand of racing cars, hypercars, supercars, and luxury cars. Offers the most expensive and luxurious models.
• Lamborghini is a brand of luxury SUVs and sports cars with Italian roots.
• Bentley is a British company that started with racing cars and then moved into luxury passenger cars.
• Audi is one of the best-selling luxury car brands, competing with Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

The list previously included MAN, one of Europe’s largest truck manufacturers. It disappeared in 2021 after merging with Traton.

FCA Concern

The transnational company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. existed from 2014 to 2021, after which it merged with PSA Group to form Stellantis Automotive Corporation. Before the full merger and acquisition, the FCA Group was known in the US and Italy, where its main divisions operated.

FCA US, which became Stellantis North America in 2021, owned brands such as Ram Truck Division, Jeep, Dodge, and Chrysler. FCA Italy (Stellantis Italy from 2021) included the passenger car brands Lancia, Fiat Professional, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, and Abarth.

Thus, the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. group, which became Stellantis N.V. in 2021, included both American and Italian brands:

• RAM is a truck and van brand that emerged after the launch of the Dodge Ram full-size pickup truck.
• Lancia is a company known for its innovation and bold experimentation. It is also famous for winning numerous world rally championships.
• Ferrari is an Italian brand that produces fast cars and often participates in races.
• Maserati is a brand of sports cars and luxury vehicles for business professionals. It has produced exclusive cars since 1914.
• Jeep is a legendary off-road vehicle based on an American military vehicle.
• Dodge is a brand of mid-priced commercial and passenger cars.
• Chrysler is the flagship brand of Chrysler Group LLC.
• Alfa Romeo is a brand of expensive, premium-level cars. Its main advantages are stylish design and technological innovation.

Groupe PSA

Like the Italian-American Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, the French Groupe PSA existed until 2021. The two groups then merged to form the multinational corporation Stellantis. Before its merger with FCA, PSA was considered one of the largest European automakers after Volkswagen. It owned a vast list of car brands after buying companies worldwide, from India’s Hindustan Ambassador to Britain’s Vauxhall Motors.

The first major acquisition was bankrupt Citroën. It was after its 1976 merger with Peugeot SA that Groupe PSA was formed. In 1978, the company acquired Chrysler Europe for $1 and subsequently replaced it with the Talbot brand. Another major milestone in PSA’s history was the formation of an alliance with General Motors in 2012.

Before the disappearance of Groupe PSA, giving way to Stellantis, it owned:

• Vauxhall is one of the UK’s oldest car brands, and it is twinned with Opel. It produces passenger cars and commercial vehicles.
• Opel is a German car brand sold in more than 60 countries.
• DS is a French manufacturer of refined, technologically advanced cars for premium enthusiasts.
• Peugeot is a leader in the French automotive industry, offering a wide range of hatchbacks, sedans, station wagons, crossovers, plug-in hybrids, and electric cars.
• Citroën is an innovative car brand from France, celebrating over a century of innovation.

Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance

The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance is not a conglomerate but an agreement between three independent automakers. As a result of their strategic partnership, there has been no merger or takeover: Renault (France), Nissan (Japan), and Mitsubishi (Japan) still exist separately and cooperate as equal partners. However, it should be noted that Nissan owns a controlling stake in Mitsubishi. The companies have joined forces to lead the global market together.

The large Japanese-French alliance controls several automobile brands:

• Samsung Motors is a brand officially called Renault Korea Motors as of August 2022. It produces a variety of vehicles, including crossovers and electric cars.
• Renault, Groupe Renault’s flagship brand, is known for its hatchbacks, station wagons, SUVs, pickup trucks, minivans, and commercial vehicles.
• Mitsubishi’s moderately priced cars were originally designed for the Japanese market only.
• Nissan is a brand of commercial and passenger vehicles known for its wide range of models.
• Infiniti is a high-end luxury car brand originating in Japan that is entering the global market.
• Dacia is Romania’s largest car company and was part of Renault’s Dacia-Lada business unit from 2021 to 2022.

Previously, this included the Lada brand, which focused on the budget segment. Renault parted ways with it in 2022 after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Russian government now owns Lada.

Datsun, a Nissan subsidiary producing budget cars, is the second brand to disappear from the list. It was shut down in April 2022.

Mercedes-Benz Group (Daimler Group)

The Mercedes-Benz Group was known as Daimler AG until 2022; before that, it was DaimlerChrysler AG. The group was founded in 1926 and is based in Germany. It owns a wide range of automobile brands, from premium to budget. The company manufactures passenger and commercial vehicles in various countries worldwide. Recently, it has decided to focus on producing electric vehicles.

Mercedes-Benz Group’s main brands are:

• Setra German large and extra-large buses, including touring, intercity, urban, and commuter models.
• BharatBenz is an Indian brand of trucks and buses.
• Thomas Built Buses is an American bus brand specializing in school transportation and, at times, producing intercity models.
• Mercedes-Benz is one of the most recognizable brands in the world. Its best examples are premium cars.
• Western Star manufactures heavy trucks with payloads over 15 tons.
• Smart compact cars are designed for urban conditions.
• Freightliner is the largest American brand of tractors, covers, and conventional trucks.
• M-Maybach is a sub-brand of Mercedes-Benz, which produces ultra-luxury cars based on the S-Class chassis.
• Mercedes-AMG is a division specializing in high-performance cars. It produces powerful production models with improved handling and stability.
• Mercedes-Benz Vans is a full-service supplier of campers and light-duty vehicles. It specializes in electric vans.
• Daimler Trucks manufactures trucks and buses, one of the key divisions of the Mercedes-Benz Group.

BMW Group

German corporation Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, better known as BMW, manufactures cars not only in Germany but also in other European countries, as well as in South and North America, Asia, and Africa. With assembly plants on five continents, the company is constantly producing luxury cars.

The company, founded in 1916, acquired several brands over the years. However, in 2000, it was forced to sell its Land Rover division, which was acquired in 1994.

BMW currently owns:

• BMW Motorrad is a brand of motorcycles for touring, sport, off-road, and everyday use. There are also dual-purpose models.
• Mini is a British B-segment car brand. Most hatchbacks are known for their high practicality, but other body variants exist.
• Rolls-Royce is an icon of luxury cars. The entire lineup is produced by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited, a division of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, founded in 2003 and unrelated to the original Rolls-Royce Motors.
• BMW is Bayerische Motoren Werke AG’s flagship brand.

Asian Automotive Concerns

Asia, with its rapidly developing markets and extensive production centers, has become a significant player in the global automotive arena over the past few decades. Asian automakers have successfully combined innovation, affordability, and reliability. These Asian automobile giants have made a mark in the global market by focusing on consumer needs, technological advancements, and adapting to the changing automotive world. From rugged SUVs designed for the Australian outback to electric sedans for urban European streets, Asian automakers demonstrate adaptability, innovation, and a keen understanding of global markets.

Mahindra & Mahindra Limited

Mahindra & Mahindra Limited (M&M) forms the backbone of the Mahindra Group conglomerate and leads the Indian tractor and truck market. In addition, this company manufactures buses, dump trucks, cars, motorcycles, and other types of vehicles. In 2010, Mahindra Electric Mobility Limited established an electric vehicle division.

M&M owns:

• Mahindra is a brand known for its agricultural equipment and commercial vehicles.
• BSA is a revitalized scooter and motorcycle manufacturer of Mahindra Two Wheelers.
• Automobili Pininfarina is a luxury electric car brand hailing from Germany.

As for South Korea’s SsangYong, which was until recently owned by Mahindra & Mahindra, it was acquired by KG Mobility, a consortium led by KG Group, in November 2022.

Tata Motors

Tata Motors Limited is the automobile division of the ‘father of Indian industry’, the Tata Group. It started by manufacturing locomotives, then shifted to commercial vehicles, and later, it produced its first passenger car. In 2004, the company acquired the Daewoo Commercial Vehicles brand and merged it with Tata to form Tata Daewoo. The next major acquisitions were Land Rover and Jaguar Cars, which were transferred to Tata Motors in 2008.

The automaker currently owns:

• Tata Daewoo is a South Korean truck brand.
• Tata is a brand of passenger cars manufactured under a joint venture with Stellantis.
• Jaguar – luxury cars from the UK. Tata Motors plans to make them all-electric.
• Land Rover is a brand of four-wheel drive SUVs.

Honda Motor Company

The Japanese conglomerate Honda invests heavily in research and development, enabling it to produce innovative cars. In 2001, this manufacturer ranked second among all Japanese automakers; in 2015, it ranked eighth globally.

Honda’s main products are four-wheeled and two-wheeled cars. But the company does not stop there. It produces robotics, generators, jet skis, marine engines, and garden equipment.

As for car brands, Honda does not have many of them:

• Acura is a division specializing in high-performance luxury cars. It was created in 1986.
• Honda is the flagship brand of light trucks, SUVs, and cars. The company’s history dates back to 1963.

Toyota Motor Corporation

Japanese automaker Toyota produces about 10 million cars a year and is considered one of the world’s largest automakers. The corporation has many subsidiaries in different countries; for example, it has separate divisions in South Africa, Thailand, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Australia. In addition, Toyota owns a small share in Yamaha Motor Corporation, Isuzu, Suzuki, and Mazda, as well as 20% of Subaru Corporation and 25% of Denso.

As of 2022, the company fully owns only four brands:

• Toyota has dozens of models in various classes, mostly passenger sedans.
• Lexus is a luxury car brand designed to compete with Infiniti and Acura.
• Hino is a Japanese truck and bus brand that is used for various purposes.
• Daihatsu is a well-known Asian manufacturer of kei vans, kei trucks, and kei light trucks.

Mazda Motor Corporation

Japan’s Mazda, formerly Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., manufactured container stoppers. It produced its first automobile in 1931, a three-wheeled rickshaw. In 1974, the company started collaborating with Ford. They had many joint projects until 2015 when the manufacturers went their separate ways.

Now, Mazda Motor Corporation owns:

• Mazda is the flagship brand of passenger cars, and it offers a favorable price-to-quality ratio.

Subaru Corporation

Subaru Corporation was established in 1953 and was known as Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd. until 2017. It is a leading supplier of railroad, aerospace, and military equipment in Japan. However, passenger cars and commercial vehicles account for most of its sales.

The automotive division of Subaru Corporation is currently represented by only one brand:

• Subaru is a reliable, safe, and dynamic vehicle assembled in Japan.

Suzuki Motor Corporation

Suzuki is another major Japanese automaker. It leads in sales in both domestic and global markets, producing fuel-efficient cars that meet all safety requirements. However, the company’s automobile division did not appear until 1961. Before that, it produced only engines, bicycles, and looms.

Suzuki Motor Corporation includes:

• Suzuki is the flagship brand leading the market in affordable, high-quality automobiles.
• Maruti is one of the largest automobile brands in India.

Hyundai Motor Group

Hyundai Motor Group is a South Korean chaebol involved in automotive, railroad manufacturing, mining, finance, and other business sectors. It was established in 1998 when Hyundai Motor Company acquired a controlling stake in Kia Corporation. Kia is now owned by Hyundai, only one-third.

The conglomerate is based on the following automobile brands:

• Hyundai: reliable, ergonomic transportation for everyday use.
• Kia is an automobile brand developed by Hyundai, but with its own unique features.
• Genesis is a luxury brand recognized as the most reliable and innovative in the North American auto market.
• Ioniq – an electric car sub-brand being developed in 2020.

Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd (ZGH)

The Chinese company known as Geely originally made refrigerators and motorcycles. In 1998, it began producing vans and passenger cars, but it wasn’t until 2002 that it started producing them. Since then, ZGH has sold them under its trademarks: Zeekr, Maple, Geometry, and Geely Auto.

The holding gained fame in 2010 when it bought Volvo Cars of Sweden. Seven years later, it acquired British sports car brand Lotus (51% stake) and Malaysian Proton (49.9% stake).

Zhejiang Geely Holding Group now owns the following companies:

• Geely Auto – the original ZGH brand. In 2014, it merged cars previously produced under the Shanghai Maple, Gleagle, Englon, and Emgrand brands.
• Zeekr is a premium electric car brand. Founded in 2021 to compete with Tesla.
• Maple is an electric car brand based on Geely’s gasoline-powered cars. Relaunched in 2020.
• Geometry is a brand of electric crossovers, sedans, and SUVs. The Chinese name is Jihe.
• Volvo was a brand owned by Ford Motor Company until 2010. It has announced its intention to switch completely to electric cars by 2030.

Which brand belongs to whom?

The automotive industry is sensitive to developments worldwide, from the discovery of new energy sources to economic crises. Global events affect both small manufacturers and large corporations, forcing them to adapt to modern realities. They actively sell and buy brands or merge to stay afloat.

Aston Martin Lagonda: Aston Martin and Lagonda.

BMW Group: BMW, Rolls-Royce, and Mini.

Ferrari N.V.: Ferrari.

Ford Motor Company: Ford and Lincoln.

General Motors: GMC, Chevrolet, Buick, and Hummer.

Honda Motor Co: Honda and Acura.

Isuzu Motors: Isuzu.

Groupe PSA: Peugeot, Citroën, Opel et DS Automobiles.

Hyundai Motor Group: Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis.

Mazda Motor Corporation: Mazda.

McLaren Automotive: McLaren.

Mercedes-Benz Group: Mercedes-Benz and Smart.

NIO Inc.: NIO.

Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance: Renault, Nissan, Mitsubishi, and Infiniti.

Rivian Automotive: Rivian.

SAIC Motor: MG, Maxus, Roewe, and Yuejin.

Stellantis: Alfa Romeo, Dodge, Chrysler, Fiat, Maserati, Jeep, Ram, Citroën, Opel, Vauxhall, Peugeot, DS Automobiles, and Abarth.

Subaru Corporation: Subaru.

Suzuki Motor Corporation: Suzuki.

Tata Motors: Jaguar and Land Rover.

Tesla Inc: Tesla.

Toyota Motor Corporation: Toyota, Lexus, and Daihatsu.

Volkswagen Group: Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, Seat, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, MAN, Scania, and Porsche.

Zhejiang Geely Holding Group: Volvo, Polestar, and Lotus.