For a century and a half, many firms and designers shaped, developed, and promoted the automobile, creating even more brands and trademarks. For those interested in the history of the automobile industry, obtaining detailed, accurate information is especially important yet difficult. This is especially true when the questions concern the origins and the people who shaped the automobile industry. Today, as modern companies constantly seek economically favorable conditions for their existence, merge, are acquired, or come under others’ management, it is not easy to keep track of this information.
What car brands start with the letter “I”?
The letter “I” is home to many car brands. Among them, you can find both those that no longer exist and those that today produce new cars. Similarly, many automobile brands whose manufacturers do not have a name beginning with “I” begin with this letter. For example, BMW’s i Series, Mitsubishi’s i-MiEV, Jaguar’s i-Pace, and Hyundai’s iX.
Special resources, arranged alphabetically by brand name, make it easy to find the information you want. With their help, you can select any letter of the alphabet and find all the names that begin with it, for example, the letter “I” or any other. Here, you can select your desired brand to learn about its history, direction in the automotive industry, main models and their features, current activities, and more. Saving time and an easy selection process open up great opportunities for collectors, marketers, engineers, and those purchasing a car for their needs.
Infiniti
The Infiniti automobile brand, owned by the Japanese company Nissan Motor, was founded in 1989 in Yokohama, Japan. Today, the network of official brand representatives covers the USA, Canada, Mexico, the Middle East, Korea, and Taiwan. Since 2006, the brand has been sold in Russia, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine. The company assembles premium-class cars in Japan, North America, and China. Today, the Nissan FM platform underpins the brand’s sedans, coupes, and crossovers. However, the QX80 SUV is assembled on the Nissan F-Alpha platform, and the Q30 hatchback and QX30 crossover are based on the Mercedes-Benz A-Class.
Isuzu Motors
Isuzu Motors Ltd., founded in 1916, is the first registered automobile company in Tokyo, Japan. The brand got its name thanks to the Isuzugawa River. The company has produced trucks, SUVs, buses, and automobile engines. The company assembles vehicles in Japan and abroad. The company closely cooperates with Russian manufacturers. In particular, Simbirsk Automobile Plant produces buses on Isuzu chassis.
Iveco
In 1975, Giovanni Agnelli founded Iveco Concern in Turin, formed by an agreement between FIAT and Klockner-Humboldt-Deutz to transfer the latter’s Magirus-Deutz division to the former. The concern included Magirus-Deutz and FIAT with its Italian divisions OM, Lancia, and FIAT France SA. Acquisitions of automobile companies from different countries continued until 1992, helping it acquire the latest technologies for producing the world’s best trucks.
IDA-Opel
In 1977, the IDA-Opel automobile company was founded in Kikinda, Serbia, on the site of an iron foundry that had operated since 1908. A joint venture agreement with Adam Opel AG (Opel) facilitated the company’s establishment. Until the plant closed in 1992, it produced components for German brand cars and assembled finished cars. Until 1992, the plant produced 38,700 cars: Opel Kadett, Opel Omega A, Opel Vectra A, Opel Rekord, Opel Ascona, Opel Senator, Opel Corsa. After 1992, the company was reorganized.
IKA
Industrias Kaiser Argentina S.A. (IKA) is an automobile company based in Santa Isabel, Córdoba, Argentina, founded in 1956. The brand was a subsidiary of the American Kaiser-Frazer Corp., whose founders, Henry John Kaiser and Joseph Washington Frazer, left for Argentina due to pressure from Detroit’s Big Three. An effective solution was to bring the Argentine president into the venture. As a result, the company joined the IAME alliance. The latter served as a base for the formation of IKA. This brand’s most popular car models were the Torino TS and the Argentine Kaiser Carabela. The company, which existed until 1970, was closed.
IKCO
The Iranian automobile manufacturing company IKCO, also known as Iran Khodro and Iran National, was founded in 1962. It was a family business of brothers Ahmad and Mahmoud Khayyam. The brand’s central office was located in Tehran, Iran. The brand develops and manufactures its passenger cars, including Iran Khodro Samand, Runna, Dena, and Arisun, and assembles various Peugeot model lines under license. The company also manufactures buses and trucks under license from Mercedes-Benz.
Ilinga
Among Australian car manufacturers, one can find mention of the “one car” brand, Ilinga. Tony Farrell and Daryl Davis founded it in 1974 to develop a concept car for the Lux category. Having realized their AF-2 project, the founders exhibited the prototype at the Melbourne Motor Show in 1975. After receiving 15 orders for the model, the brand built only two cars. The car was offered only in a two-door body, with original additional features. Competitor sabotage and supply-chain disruptions, along with the oil crisis, made it impossible to continue the project and led to the company’s closure a year later.
Imperia Automobiles
Belgian brand Imperia Automobiles was founded in 1906 in Nessonvaux (Liege). The company existed until 1948. Engineer Paul Henze developed the first cars. In 1907, the company moved to Nessonvaux (Trooz), where it was housed in the Pieper factory. In 1910, it merged with Springuel. In 1916, it began producing Imperia-Abadals models under license from Abadals. Until 1921, it produced three models. Then came the Couchard model with a sunroof. From 1934 to 1948, the brand produced front-wheel-drive Adlers. The company designed and built the bodies.
Imperial
In 1955, Chrysler created the Imperial division in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA, which produced cars under the same name until 1975. The Imperial division replaced Chrysler Imperial. Imperial succeeded Chrysler Imperial. High prices, top-notch equipment, and prestige characterized the models. In 1957, the brand introduced the world’s first car equipped with cruise control. In 1961, a model was developed and released, which would be the last for Virgil Exner as a stylist. The model was characterized by extravagance, with “fins” at the rear. The 1964-66 generation was designed by former Lincoln employee Elwood Engel, making the lineup similar to the Lincoln Continental. Falling interest in the brand led to the closure of production in 1975.
Irizar
The Spanish brand Irizar stands out for its long history as a bus manufacturer. The company was founded in 1889 in Ormeistegui, Spain. Among its most advanced models are the Century 1991 and the Irizar PB series 2002, which drew attention at that year’s Hannover Motor Show. Today, the third generation is in production in modular design with different body sizes for Scania, Mercedes-Benz, MAN, Volvo, IVECO, and DAF chassis.
International Harvester
In 1902, Cyrus McCormick gave a fresh start to his company by creating a brand by merging McCormick Harvesting Machine Company and Deering Harvester Company and naming it IH – International Harvester. In 1834, the company patented the threshing machine, and in 1847, it opened its production in Chicago. The brand’s first automobile was the Traction Truck, and it also began producing light trucks, SUVs, and pickup trucks for rural residents. The brand maintained these lines until it closed in 1985. Before nationalization in 1924, the company was located in Lyubertsy (Russia). In 1984, Tenneco acquired the company, and production ended.
Intermeccanica
Intermeccanica was founded in Turin (Italy) in 1959. Its founder was Frank Reisner. Initially, the company focused on car tuning and producing kits for Renault, Simca, Peugeot, and DKW fast cars. In 1960, it produced a Formula Junior single-seater racing car. Later developments led to the creation of Intermeccanica-Puch (IMP). This brand produced models such as the Apollo GT and the Veltro prototype. From 1966 to 1972, Italia GT sports cars were produced. Later models included the Murena GT, Indra, and Squire. In 1975, the brand moved to the United States, and in 1982, to Vancouver, Canada, where it developed the Roadster RS model. Since 2015, the brand has become a “subsidiary” of Electra Meccanica and has developed electric vehicles.
Invicta
British sports car manufacturer Invicta was founded in 1925 in Cobham (Surrey County, England) by two enthusiasts, Sir Noel McLean and Oliver Lyle. The brand produced its first car with a six-cylinder engine in its first year. In 1928, the company released a successful sports car model. After several successful models, the brand introduced the Invicta S in 1931 and moved to Chelsea, London, England, in 1933. In 1946, the brand moved to Virginia Water, Surrey, England, where it remained until it was abolished in 1950. There, it introduced the iconic Black Prince model. Fraser Nash bought the company. In the 2000s, Briton Michael Bristow revived the brand with the Invicta S1 model.
Isdera GmbH
Ingenieurbüro für Styling Design und Racing (Isdera GmbH) is a German automobile manufacturer founded in 1969 in Hildesheim, Germany, by Eberhard Schulz. He formed his company to work on a limited series of Mercedes-Benz C111 luxury concept cars. In 1969, the Erator GTE car, based on the Ford GT40, was developed. In 1978, Mercedes-Benz developed the Studie CW 311 concept car in collaboration with B&B Automobiltechnik. In 1983, the brand was registered and adopted its logo. The company’s flagship product is the 2016 Autobahnkurier AK116i. All vehicles are assembled by hand.
Iso
In 1938, an Italian automobile brand was created to produce sports cars to fill the existing niche in the country’s domestic market and win the trust of potential buyers. Its lineup included grand tourers and economy-class road passenger sedans. The brand ceased to exist in 1974 following the 1973 fuel crisis. But in 2017, in the 21st century, it was revived to create modern sports cars and zero-emission vehicles, whose designs have already been presented to the public.
Isotta Fraschini
The Italian company Isotta Fraschini produced executive cars and trucks. Cesare Isotta and the Fraschini brothers founded it in 1900 in Milan as Società Milanese Automobili Isotta Fraschini & Cia. The company began by importing and assembling French automobiles. In 1903, it released the two-seater Tipo 1902. In 1904, the Isotta-Fraschini Tipo D appeared. Since 1906, truck production has expanded, including the GM3. During World War II, the company switched to defense production, which led to its collapse in 1949. The company was nationalized as Isotta-Fraschini Motori.
Itala
Based in Turin, Itala manufactured automobiles from 1904 to 1934. Matteo Ceirano founded the company. During its existence, the company produced three models: Itala 18, 24, and 50. In 1905, it began producing successful racing cars. After World War I, the company produced the pre-war Tipo 50 25/35 hp and Avalve. In 1924, they produced the Tipo 61. In 1925, the improved Itala 11 racing car appeared. In 1929, Officine Metallurgiche di Tortona, a truck manufacturer, acquired the brand. In 1935, Fiat bought the whole company.
IZh
The history of the IZH brand began in the Russian Empire in June 1807, when the Russian Emperor Alexander I laid the foundation stone for the future Izhevsk Gun Factory, built on the Izh River. The plant was destined to become a legend in Russian arms and to manufacture the USSR’s most famous motorcycles and cars. The Izhmash plant, which became Izhmash in Soviet times, produced its first car, the Moskvich-408, in 1966 after constructing new buildings. The components came from AZLK. Production of the first and only Izh-2125 (“Izh-Combi”) began alongside that of the “Moskvich-412”.
Innocenti
In 1947, in Milan (Italy), entrepreneur and former blacksmith Ferdinando Innocenti founded a company to produce scooters and cars. Thanks to a patent for a scaffolding connection, the entrepreneur gained fame that remains to this day. Lambretta scooters and the Mini compact car brought the company success. Car production was one of the brand’s three directions. It was based on licensed models of the British Motor Corporation. The Innocenti A40 model, based on the Austin A40, was a success. In 1961, the brand released its car, the Innocenti 950 Spider. Production stopped in 1975.
Icona
The Italian automobile brand Icona Design Group was founded in Turin, Italy, in 1986. The brand’s mission was to create a contemporary design that incorporates future forms, allowing for evolution and the discovery of new trends. The complete cars featured futuristic interior trim, dashboards, lighting elements, and additional components. The brand developed and presented a prototype of the Icona Vulcano, a future supercar, at Auto Shanghai 2013. The model used a V12 powerplant.
Innotech
Czech car brand Innotech was founded by Zdeněk Mrkvica in 1990 when, together with Václav Kralj, the idea of an open-body MTX Tatra V8 speedster was developed. The company designs and engineers at the Petra factory in Trchov Stepanov. The brand received the National Design Center of the Czech Republic Award in 1993 for its design. The Innotech Mysterio was developed using American technology, ensuring simple, low-cost model maintenance. It was the brand’s only model.
Ikarus
Ikarus is a world-famous bus brand produced by the Hungarian company of the same name, founded in 1895 by Imre Uri as a blacksmith and carriage workshop in Budapest, Hungary. In the 1920s, the brand began producing bodies. In 1933, the founder’s sons joined the company and renamed it Uri Brothers LLP. In 1939, the 1000th bus rolled off the assembly line. In 1948, it merged with the nationalized company “Ikar,” founded in 1916, and in 1949, it created a bus plant of the same name. The brand existed until 2003.
Intrall
The Russian-British automobile company Intrall was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Poland. After purchasing facilities in Lublin from Daewoo Motor Poland, the brand was renamed Intrall Poland. Intrall produces the FSC Lublin and Honker models under the Intrall brand. In 2006, the company received the rights to the Czech truck Praga, from which it created a completely new vehicle: the commercial van Intrall Lubo. In 2007, legislative changes halted production. That same year, a court order closed it.
Iroquois
The American automobile industry began with the small Iroquois Motor Car Company, founded by John S. Leggett in Syracuse, New York. The company later moved to Seneca Falls, New York. In its early years, the brand specialized in producing bodies for various chassis, including small touring cars. At the same time, its only car of its own, the Iroquois, was gasoline-powered and classified as a light touring car. In 1907, the founder sold the brand, and the new owner closed it.
IAME
IFR Aspid
IHI Corporation
Indian Motorcycles
Ioniq
Iota
Irmscher
Isatis
Italdesign
FAQ
What car starts with I?
Infiniti is known for its luxury vehicles that combine performance, style, and advanced technology. Founded in 1989 as Nissan’s luxury division, the brand has become a major player in the high-end car market.
International Trucks specializes in heavy-duty trucks. These trucks are durable and efficient, making them essential for industries requiring reliable transportation of goods and services.
ISO, an Italian car and motorcycle manufacturer, gained attention in the 1960s with the launch of the ISO Rivolta and ISO Grifo luxury sports cars.
Isuzu is well known for its commercial vehicles and diesel engines. This Japanese brand is trusted for rugged, reliable vehicles popular in regions that need sophisticated transportation solutions.
Iveco, short for Industrial Vehicles Corporation, is an Italian company that produces trucks, buses, and diesel engines.
Which Japanese car brands start with “I”?
Infiniti and Isuzu are Japanese car brands that start with “I.” Infiniti, established by Nissan in 1989, is recognized for its luxury vehicles. The brand offers sophisticated, high-performance sedans, coupes, and SUVs. Isuzu, founded in 1916, is known for its commercial vehicles and diesel engines, and it produces passenger vehicles. These vehicles are built to handle harsh conditions, making them ideal for businesses that need robust, reliable transportation solutions.
What supercar starts with I?
Supercars that start with “I” include brands such as Innotech and models such as the BMW i8.
Innotech is known for producing high-performance vehicles that combine traditional craftsmanship with modern technology. These cars appeal to those who value speed and a unique driving experience.
The BMW i8 is an electric-hybrid supercar from BMW. It features a futuristic design and advanced technology, making it efficient and powerful. With its lightweight design and fast engine, the i8 appeals to those who want an eco-friendly option without sacrificing performance.
What car has the I logo?
The letter “I” appears in the logos of several vehicle brands, each representing different aspects of the automotive and transport industry. International Harvester features this letter in its emblem and is known for trucks and agricultural equipment. Similarly, Innocenti, an Italian company, includes an “I” in its logo and is recognized for compact cars and scooters.
Invicta, a British car manufacturer, uses the “I” in its badge and is famous for high-performance luxury vehicles. Isotta-Fraschini, another historic Italian luxury car brand, features the letter “I.”
The “I” logo isn’t exclusive to cars; it also appears in the branding of Irizar, a European bus manufacturer known for comfortable, technologically advanced buses.
What expensive cars start with the letter I?
Expensive cars starting with the letter “I” include Imperial, Infiniti, and Isotta Fraschini.
Imperial was a Chrysler division that specialized in luxury cars designed to compete in the luxury market. Known for their large size, Imperial cars symbolized luxury in their time.
Infiniti, Nissan’s luxury brand, produces models such as the M series and the Q70. These cars are known for powerful performance, sleek design, and advanced technology. The M Series combines power and luxury, while the Q70 offers sophisticated style and comfort.
Isotta Fraschini, a famous Italian brand, is known for the Tipo 8A and Monterosa models. The Tipo 8A symbolized early-20th-century luxury and was made for the wealthy. It was known for its superior performance and became one of the most prestigious cars of its era.