Cars Brands that start with I

For a century and a half of the automobile’s existence, just a huge number of firms, designers, and companies participated in its creation, development, and promotion, creating even more brands and trademarks. For those who are interested in the history of the automobile industry, it is especially important to get detailed and accurate information on this topic, which is not so easy to do. Especially when the questions concern the origins and information about those who stood at the origins of the automobile industry. Today, when modern companies are constantly looking for economically favorable conditions for their existence, merging or uniting, and going under the management of others, it is not so easy to keep track of this information.

What car brands start with the letter “I”?

The letter “I” is rich in the names of car brands that use it at the beginning of their name. Among them, you can find both those that no longer exist and those that today produce new cars. Similarly, the names of 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 iXX.

Special resources, located in a convenient alphabetical order by brand names, are of great help in obtaining the ordered information. With their help, you can select any of the necessary letters of the alphabet and find all the names beginning with it, for example, the letter “I” or any other. Here, you can select the desired brand to familiarize yourself with its history, direction in the automotive industry, the main models and their features, the situation with current activities, and much more. Saving time and an easy selection process opens great opportunities for collectors and marketers, engineers, and those who are facing the choice and purchase of a car for their own 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 representatives of the brand 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 basis for sedans, coupes, and crossovers of the brand is Nissan FM. 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. is the first registered automobile company in Tokyo, Japan, founded in 1916. The brand got its name thanks to the Isuzugawa River. During its existence, the brand has produced trucks, SUVs, buses, and automobile engines to this day. Vehicles are assembled both 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, which was formed as a result of an agreement between FIAT and Klockner-Humboldt-Deutz on the transfer of its Magirus-Deutz division to the latter. The concern included Magirus-Deutz and FIAT with its Italian divisions OM, Lancia, and FIAT France SA. Acquisition of automobile companies from different countries actively continued until 1992, which contributed to obtaining the latest at that time technologies for the production of the world’s best trucks.

IDA-Opel

In 1977, the IDA-Opel automobile company was founded in Kikinda, Serbia, on the basis of an iron foundry that had been in operation since 1908. The establishment of the company was facilitated by a joint venture agreement with Adam Opel AG (Opel). Until the plant closed in 1992, it produced components for German brand cars and assembled finished cars. Until 1992, the plant produced 38700 cars – Opel Kikinda, Opel Omega A, Opel Vectra A, Opel Kadett, 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 from Santa Isabel, Cordoba, 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 attract the interest of the Argentine president himself to the venture. As a result, the company joined the IAME alliance. The latter served as a base for the formation of IKA. The most popular models of cars of this brand were the Torino TS and the Argentine Kaiser Carabela. Having existed until 1970, the company 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 central office of the brand was located in Tehran, Iran. The brand develops and manufactures its own passenger cars, Iran Khodro Samand, Runna, Dena, Arisun, etc., as well as assembling 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 – the Ilinga company. It was founded in 1974 by Tony Farrell and Daryl Davis specifically 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. Having received 15 orders for their model, the brand created only two cars. The car was realized only in a two-door body with original additional solutions. Real sabotage by competitors and component supply companies, as well as the oil crisis, led to the impossibility of continuing the project and the closure of the company a year later.

Imperia Automobiles

Belgian brand Imperia Automobiles was founded in 1906 in Nessonvaux (Liege). The company existed until 1948. The first cars were the projects of engineer Paul Henze. In 1907, the company moved to Nessonvaux (Trooz), housed in the Pieper factory. In 1910, it merged with the Springuel company. In 1916, the production of Imperia-Abadals models began under license from Abadals. Until 1921, three models were produced. Then came the Couchard model with a sunroof. From 1934 to 1948, the brand produced Adlers, which had front-wheel drive. The bodies were designed and created by the company.

Imperial

In 1955, Chrysler created the Imperial division in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA, which produced cars under the same name until 1975. Chrysler Imperial was replaced by the Imperial division. Imperial became the successor of Chrysler Imperial. The models were characterized by high price, equipment perfection, and prestige. In 1957, a car was created under this brand, the first in the world equipped with cruise control. In 1961, a model was developed and released, which became the last one 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 among automobile brands that produce buses. The company was founded in 1889 in Ormeistegui, Spain. Among the most advanced models of special interest are the Century 1991 and Irizar PB series 2002, which attracted attention at the Hannover Motor Show of the same year. 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 first automobile of the brand was the Traction Truck, and at the same time, the production of light trucks, SUVs, and pickup trucks, necessary for rural residents, began. These lines were maintained until the brand closed in 1985. Before nationalization in 1924, the company was located in Lyubertsy (Russia). In 1984, the company was acquired by Tenneco, and production was closed down.

Intermeccanica

The automobile company Intermeccanica was founded in Turin (Italy) in 1959. Its founder was Frank Reisner. Initially, the company was involved in car tuning and the production of kits for Renault, Simca, Peugeot, and DKW fast cars. In 1960, a Formula Junior single-seater racing car was produced. Subsequent developments led to the creation of Intermeccanica- Puch (IMP). Among the models of this brand are the Apollo GT and the Veltro prototype. From 1966 to 1972, the Italia GT sports car was produced. Later – Murena GT, Indra and Squire. In 1975, the brand moved to the United States, and in 1982, to Vancouver, Canada, where the Roadster RS model was developed. Since 2015, the brand has become a “subsidiary” of Electra Meccanica and develops 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 the year of its foundation. In 1928, a successful sports car model was released. After the release of several successful models came the Invicta S in 1931, after the release of which the brand moved to Chelsea, London, England, in 1933. From 1946, the brand moved to Virginia Water, Surrey, England, where it remained until its abolition in 1950. It was there that the iconic Black Prince model was introduced. The company was bought by Fraser Nash. In the 2000s, the brand was revived by Briton Michael Bristow with the Invicta S1 model.

Isdera GmbH

Ingenieurbüro für Styling Design und Racing (Isdera GmbH) is a German automobile manufacturing company founded in Hildesheim, Germany in 1969 by Eberhard Schulz. He formed his company to work on a closed series of Mercedes-Benz C111 luxury concept cars. In 1969, the Erator GTE car based on the Ford GT40 was developed. In 1978, the Mercedes-Benz Studie CW 311 concept car was developed in collaboration with B&B Automobiltechnik. In 1983, the brand was registered and received its logo. The flagship product of the company is the 2016 Autobahnkurier AK116i. All vehicles are assembled by hand.

Iso

In 1938, an automobile brand was created in Italy, the task of which was to create sports cars to close the existing niche in the domestic market of the country 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 after the fuel crisis of 1973. But in the 21st century – in 2017 – it was revived to create modern sports cars and zero-emission vehicles, the designs of which have already been presented to the public.

Isotta Fraschini

The Italian company Isotta Fraschini produced executive cars and trucks. It was founded by Cesare Isotta and the Fraschini brothers in 1900 in Milan under the name Societa Milanese Automobili Isotta Fraschini & Cia. The company began by importing and assembling French automobiles. In 1903, the two-seater Tipo 1902 was released. In 1904, the Isotta-Fraschini Tipo D appeared. Since 1906, the production of trucks has opened, among which the GM3 stands out. During World War II, the company switched to defense production, which led to its collapse in 1949. The company was nationalized under the name Isotta-Fraschini Motori.

Itala

Itala, based in Turin, manufactured automobiles from 1904 to 1934. The founder of the company was Matteo Ceirano. During its existence, the company produced three models – Itala 18, 24 and 50. In 1905, the production of successful racing cars began. After World War I, the pre-war Tipo 50 25/35 hp and Avalve were produced. In 1924, the Tipo 61 was produced. In 1925, the improved Itala 11 racing car appeared. In 1929, the brand was acquired by Officine Metallurgiche di Tortona, a company producing trucks. In 1935, the whole thing was bought by Fiat.

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 of Russian arms and the manufacturer of the most famous motorcycles and cars in the USSR. The Izhmash plant, which became Izhmash in Soviet times, produced its first car, the Moskvich-408, in 1966 after the construction of new buildings at the plant. The components came from AZLK. The production of the first and only Izh-2125 (“Izh-Combi”) started on the background of the production of “Moskvich-412”.

Innocenti

In 1947, in Milan (Italy), entrepreneur and former blacksmith Ferdinando Innocenti founded a company for the production of scooters and cars. Thanks to a patent for a scaffolding connection, the entrepreneur gained fame that remains to this day. The company’s success was brought by Lambretta scooters and the Mini compact car. Car production was one of the three directions of the brand. 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 own car – Innocenti 950 Spider. The production of the car was stopped in 1975.

Icona

The Italian automobile brand Icona Design Group was founded in 1986 in Turin, Italy. The brand’s mission was to create a contemporary design that incorporates the forms of the future, allowing for evolution and the discovery of new trends. The complete cars were characterized by futuristic interior trim, dashboard, lighting elements, and additional components. The brand developed and presented a prototype of the Icona Vulcano, a supercar of the future, 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 is engaged in design and engineering at the Petra factory in Trchov Stepanov. The brand received the National Award of the Design Center of the Czech Republic in 1993 for its design. The Innotech Mysterio was developed using American technology, which ensured simple and cheap maintenance of the model. The vehicle was the only model of the brand.

Ikarus

Ikarus is a world-famous brand of buses produced by the Hungarian brand 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, renaming 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 1949, and created a bus plant of the same name. The brand existed until 2003.

Intrall

The Russian-British automobile company Intrall was founded in 2003 with headquarters in Poland. After the purchase of facilities in Lublin from Daewoo Motor Poland, the brand was renamed Intrall Poland. FSC Lublin and Honker models are produced under the Intrall brand. In 2006, the company received the rights for Czech trucks Praga, on the basis of which a completely new vehicle was created – a commercial van Intrall Lubo. In 2007, due to changes in legislation, production was stopped. In the same year, it was closed by court order.

Iroquois

At the origin of the American automobile industry was 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 the early years of its existence, the brand specialized in the production of bodies for various chassis, including small touring cars. At the same time, the only car of its own, called Iroquois, was a gasoline-powered unit and belonged to the category of light touring cars. In 1907, the founder sold the brand, which was closed by the new owner.

IAME

IFR Aspid

IHI Corporation

Indian Motorcycles

Ioniq

Iota

Irmscher

Isatis

Italdesign