The history of the automobile reflects mankind’s development, best represented by the origins of this technological means. For a century and a half, the automobile has gone a long way from the first self-propelled carts and self-propelled chassis on steam and battery traction to today’s high-speed, powerful, and beautiful “iron horses” using energy obtained in various ways, based on internal combustion engines on gasoline, diesel fuel, or gas, with modern electric motors using, in particular, solar energy. These modern achievements are not solely the result of scientific discoveries and technologies. Each owes a debt to the knowledge and labor of those who shaped and developed the automobile industry over this period.
What car brands start with N?
A quick alphabetical search takes you to the page for the letter you need. Here, you can quickly find a complete answer. Each item provides brief information about brands whose names begin with the letter N. Notable automobile brands in this category include the world-renowned Nissan and its high-performance division, Nismo. You can obtain a comprehensive overview of Neoplan products and Nardi car features. Everything is convenient and tested.
To learn more about designers and brands, car features and types, history, and technology, consult specialized resources that collect and systematize all available information on car development. What gradually recedes into the depths of the centuries becomes increasingly inaccessible, lost in the fog of the past. Modernity is characterized by turmoil, requiring order and rigor in studying, recording, and preserving the smallest details to better understand the past, evaluate the present, and even anticipate the future of automobile development and humanity. Special resources facilitate this by alphabetizing all the collected information “on the shelves.” Alphabetical search saves time and streamlines the process. For example, if you ask which car brands begin with N, you can immediately go to the page that lists only those brands whose names begin with the desired letter.
Nissan
The Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., founded in 1933 by Yoshisuke Aikawa, Dan Kenjiro, and William R. Gorham, is widely known worldwide for its high-quality products. The brand is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. The company was formed through the merger of Tobata and Nihon Sangyo. In 1934, it was renamed Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Until 1980, Datsun cars were assembled under this brand; the trademark ceased to exist in 1986 and was revived in 2013. In 1958, the first cars were delivered to the United States. In 1962, the cars were introduced to the European market. In 1999, Renault bought a controlling stake in the brand.
Nismo
Nismo is an abbreviation for Nissan Motorsport. Nissan was founded in 1984 in Tokyo, Japan, to modernize and tune cars, produce sports cars, and represent the brand in motorsports. The company was formed by merging the 3rd Edition Division and the Special Vehicle Testing Division. In 1988, Nissan produced the first racing Saurus. In 1990, Nissan produced the Skyline R32 GT-R with 500 road-going Evolution examples. Nissan also released the Skyline Nismo 400R and Silvia S14 270R, following significant redesigns and the introduction of many other models.
Noble
Lee Noble founded the British automobile brand Noble in Leeds, West Yorkshire, in 1999. The company was established to produce high-speed sports cars. The products were characterized by the placement of the powertrain, either centrally or at the rear. As the company’s founder, the designer actively helped develop each model. The company created several model lines until it was sold in 2006. After the sale, the brand created its most significant model, the 2009 Noble M600 sports car. After the 2012 crisis, the company switched to producing handmade pieces.
Neri & Bonacini
Italian automobile brand Neri and Bonacini, also known as Nembo, was founded in 1959 in Modena, Italy, by Giorgio Neri and Luciano Bonacini. The company operated a car repair and bodywork workshop for Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Maserati under the Nembo brand. Over the past two years, since 1966, it has also built two car prototypes: the Neri and the Bonacini Studio GT Due Litri. Bonacini’s departure in 1967 led to the brand’s closure. Neri founded Motors-World-Machines (MWM).
Neoplan
German automobile manufacturer Neoplan Bus GmbH was founded in 1935 by Gottlob Auwerter in Stuttgart, Germany. The brand focused on producing bus and truck bodies. By 1953, it introduced partial monocoque technology featuring a tubular steel frame. The engine compartment was placed in the rear of the body. Today, the brand produces comfortable city and tourist buses, as well as trolleybuses. Among the most popular modern bus models are the Neoplan Skyliner (2006), the Neoplan Airliner for airport service, the Neoplan Skyline (2009), and the Neoplan Megaliner.
NH Buchanan Motor Co
The Australian company NH Buchanan Motor Co Pty Ltd, which produced sports cars in the mid-20th century, also made a significant contribution to automotive history. It was founded in 1956 in Annandale, New South Wales. The cars were named Buchanan after the designer and creator of the bodies, who made them from fiberglass. These were kit cars that required buyers to assemble them themselves. However, a key feature was the ability to select kit options. The brand developed several such kits, including the 1958 Repco Ricardian and the Buchanan Cobra, both of which were particularly popular. In 1961, the brand was closed.
Nationale Automobil-Gesellschaft (NAG)
As NOS, the German automobile manufacturer Neue Automobil-Gesellschaft AG was founded in 1901 in Berlin-Oberschöneweide, Germany. In 1902, NAG began producing Pkw Typ A cars and cabs. In 1907, it introduced its first electric cars. In 1908, the company produced models K6 and K8, along with double-decker omnibuses. In 1915, the brand name was changed to NAG. In 1930, NAG merged with the company Büssing-NAG Vereinigte Nutzkraftwagenwerke AG. In 1930, the brand launched its iconic model, the NAG-Protos, Typ 208. In 1931, the first series, the Model 218, was launched. Bankruptcy came in 1938.
Nagant
The Nagant brothers founded the Nagant Frères company in 1855 to manufacture precision engineering components in Liège, France, and it became known as Fabrique d’Armes Em & L. Nagant. In the late nineteenth century, it began producing automobiles. The first licensed Gobron-Brillié model appeared in 1900. It had several name variants: Gobron-Nagant and Gobron-Brillié Belge. In 1904, the production of its designs began. Special attention is paid to the 1910 and 1923 Nagant models. In 1927, Imperia bought the company.
NAMCO
NAMCO stands for the National Motor Company of Greece, founded in 1972 and based in Thessaloniki, Greece. Its founders were Gerasimos Kontogouris, Petros-Tzanetos Kontogouris, Kostas Kontogouris, and Victor Kontogouris. The technology and the right to use it, acquired in 1957, formed the basis of the first FARCO company in Thessaloniki, Greece. The project was named FARMOBIL. NAMCO did not introduce the lightweight NAMCO Pony-Citroën until 1972. NAMCO developed the 1986 Pony Super independently. It was the brand’s final development.
Nasr
Nasr (El Nasr Automotive Manufacturing Company) was founded in 1960 in Helwan and is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt. The brand was the first Arab automotive manufacturer. The company produced licensed Fiat models. In the 2000s, a Serbian-licensed Zastava vehicle was observed in Florida. In the mid-80s, the company expanded into truck and agricultural machinery production. The most popular model of the 70s was the Nasr 128 GLS.
National Motor Vehicle Company
National Motor Vehicle Company, founded in 1900 by Arthur C. Newby in Indianapolis, Indiana, was an early 20th-century American automobile manufacturer. Initially, the company made electric cars. However, the transition to internal combustion engines ended this brief period of environmentally friendly production. The company produced several passenger models and numerous racing models. The company’s lineup comprises the popular 1913 passenger National Series V-N3 Tonneau and the 1910 racing National 40. In 1916, the company changed its name to National Motor and Vehicle Corporation. In 1923, the company merged with Dixie Flyer and Jackson to form Associated Motor Industries, which closed in 1924.
Navistar
Navistar International Corporation was created in 1986 by the American company International Harvester as a truck and engine brand. International Harvester traces its history back to 1902. The new holding company, headquartered in Lisle, Illinois, USA, sold remnants of its predecessor’s products until 1990. From 1980 to 1990, the brand manufactured school bus chassis. In 2000, the company relocated from Chicago to Warrenville, Illinois. The acquisition of American Transportation Corporation (AmTran) enabled the company to expand its production capabilities to include body manufacturing. In 2004, the company again produced the International XT (Extreme Truck) series of retail vehicles under the brand. Production was discontinued in 2015.
NAZ Naxçıvan Avtomotive Plant
Nakhchivan Automobile Engine Plant (NAZ) was founded in 1993 in Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan, as NAZ-IMPEX LLC. In 2006, the brand was renamed Naxçıvan Avtomobil Zavodu (NAZ). The enterprise received a second life through a cooperation agreement with the Chinese brand Lifan in 2009. The plant’s capacity enabled annual production of 1,000-15,500 cars of this brand. The Lifan model range included the 320, 520i, 520, 620, and X60. Today, it is the country’s leading car manufacturer and continues to develop its products.
Neorion
Neorion is the oldest Greek heavy-industry company, based in Ermoupolis on the island of Syros. The brand was officially founded in 1861. But since 1820, it has been mentioned as the largest Greek shipyard. In the 1860s, the company produced boilers, pumps, steam engines, steamships, and heavy artillery. In the 1970s, the brand merged with Enfield Automotive to form Enfield-Neorion EPE, which began automobile production. However, the brand produced cars until 1974, when the famous Neorion Chicago was produced; only two copies were built. In 1976, the brand ceased to exist.
NIO
The Chinese automotive industry has the most manufacturers globally, and NIO stands out for its advancements in electric vehicles. Founded by William Li in 2014, the company is based in Shanghai, China. The production facilities are located in suburban areas. Several companies supported the brand, including Tencent, Temasek, Sequoia, Lenovo, and TP, which invested in its development. The first car was the NIO EP9, a sports model that debuted on the company’s opening day. The NIO EC6, ES6, ET7, ES8, and EP9 models comprise the brand’s lineup.
Norsk Automobil & Vagnfabrik AS
The Norwegian automobile industry was also the origin of the automobile industry. In 1908, Norsk Automobil & Vagnfabrik AS was established in Oslo (Norway). It existed for only three years. It aimed to produce affordable, small, lightweight cars with a single-cylinder engine, as well as heavy touring cars powered by a powerful 4-cylinder engine. The brand produced 10 cars before its closure in 1911.
NSU
The German automobile company NSU Motorenwerke AG has been known since 1873. Its main direction was knitting machines. Initially, the brand’s facilities were in Riddlingen; in 1884, they moved to Neckarsulm. In 1892, the company produced only bicycles. The name NSU is a monogram of the Neckar and Zulm rivers. In 1900, it produced its first motorcycle. In 1905, it began producing automobiles. In 1932, FIAT acquired an automobile production facility. In 1957, car production resumed, but the company closed in 1969. The company developed nine models, including the NSU Prinz I, II, 30, Sport Prinz III, and Spider.
Nyayo
The Kenyans have also made significant contributions to the history of automobile manufacturing. Her automobile company, Nyayo Car, was established in 1986 as a government project. President Daniel Arap Moi founded the company at the University of Nairobi. Within a few years, the company built five Pioneer Nyayo Car prototypes. The models entered mass production at the Nyayo Motor Corporation, which was established for this purpose. However, the process stalled because of a lack of funding. The brand was renamed Numerical Machining Complex Limited, and it began producing metal structures.
19 Nikola
Among the American automakers founded in the 21st century is Nikola Corporation, founded in 2014 by Trevor Milton in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Until 2020, the brand released several zero-emission concept designs. In 2016, the company committed to releasing 5,000 trucks on these platforms. Nikola developed the Nikola One, Nikola Two, Nikola Tre, and NZT UTV truck models. In 2020, the brand merged with VectoIQ Acquisition Corporation (VTIQ), resulting in Nikola’s NASDAQ listing (NKLA).
NEVS
The NEVS brand is an electric-vehicle manufacturer based in Trollhättan, Sweden, founded in 2012 by the bankrupt Saab company. In 2015, NEVS signed a contract with the Chinese company Panda New Energy. At the company’s direction, the brand delivered 150,000 NEVS Panda 9-3 sedans. In 2019, the Chinese conglomerate Evergrande Group acquired the brand through its Evergrande Health Industry Group subsidiary. The brand’s representative offices are in Guangzhou, China, and Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Nanjing Automobile
Nanjing Automobile (Group) Corporation (also known as Yuejin Motor Group Corporation) is one of the oldest Chinese automakers, founded in Shanghai in 1947. A distinctive feature of the company is the exclusive right to use various automobile brands, including Austin, Rover, MG, and Vanden Plas. In 2007, the brand became a part of SAIC Motor. In the course of its business, the brand has maintained and restored defense equipment. Since 1950, the company has produced NJ130 trucks based on the GAZ-51, with several modifications. In the 80s, the company began developing commercial vans based on the Iveco Daily. In the 90s, it bought the rights to the SEAT Ibiza. In 2005, MG Rover Group was bought.
Nota
Aviation engineer Guy Buckingham founded the Australian automobile company Nota in 1952. Using his practical experience, the company’s founder designed and developed sports cars with a triangular space frame. This design was first used in Australian racing cars. In 1958, the company produced a series of Streamliners, followed by Mazengarbs. The company assembled eleven cars over two years. At the same time, the company produced the Formula Junior series. Since 1963, the Mini series has been produced. In 1964, Nota Sapphire. In 2003, Nota produced the Le Mans model.
Nardi
The Nardi company began operations in Turin in 1932 at the initiative of engineer Enrico Nardi. From the early years, the enterprise specialized in preparing sports cars and upgrading vehicles for manufacturers such as Maserati and Alfa Romeo. In the late 1930s, Nardi developed several models of his own, including the Nardi-Danese, created in collaboration with engineer Augusto Danese. These cars competed in the Mille Miglia and Targa Florio, which brought the company recognition in racing circles. After World War II, the enterprise shifted its focus to producing steering wheels and aluminum and wood interior components for sports cars. The high-quality craftsmanship made Nardi products popular worldwide. Today, the company continues to manufacture accessories aimed at owners of classic and collector vehicles.
Nash
Charles W. Nash founded the Nash Motors Company in 1916, after serving as president of General Motors. The production facilities were located in Kenosha, Wisconsin. From its early years, the company established itself as a manufacturer of reliable mid-priced cars. In the 1930s, Nash introduced aerodynamic bodies and independent suspension, giving it a technical advantage over competitors. After World War II, the company released new models, the Nash Ambassador and Nash Rambler, which gained popularity in the American market. In 1954, it merged with the Hudson Motor Car Company to form the American Motors Corporation (AMC). Production under the Nash brand continued until the late 1950s, after which the name was discontinued.
Nazzaro
The Nazzaro brand was founded in Turin in 1911 by Italian racing driver Felice Nazzaro. From its inception, the enterprise produced sports and touring cars equipped with four-cylinder engines. The vehicles were renowned for their robust design and technical reliability, enabling them to compete in major events, including the French Grand Prix and the Targa Florio. In 1913, the company introduced the Nazzaro Tipo 2 model, which achieved commercial success and strengthened the brand’s market position. After World War I, production resumed, but financial difficulties and declining demand led to the company’s closure in 1923. Despite its brief existence, Nazzaro made significant contributions to Italian motorsport in the early twentieth century.
Norton
James Norton founded Norton Motors Ltd in Birmingham in 1898. Initially, the company produced bicycle components and later began manufacturing motorcycles. The first motorcycle bearing the Norton name appeared in 1902, and five years later, the company participated in the Isle of Man TT races. Over time, the brand gained a reputation for its reliable sports models, including the ES2, Dominator, and Commando. After World War II, the company produced equipment for both civilian and military use. In the 1970s, the company faced financial difficulties and ownership changes. In the 21st century, the Norton brand was revived, and hand-built motorcycle production resumed in the United Kingdom. Today, the company continues to produce models that reflect the traditions of British motor engineering.
Nysa
The automobile enterprise Fabryka Samochodów Nysa was founded in 1958 in the Polish city of Nysa. From the outset, the plant concentrated on manufacturing light commercial vehicles, minibusses, and ambulances. The first successful model, the Nysa 501, was developed from the Warszawa. The vehicles were known for their simple design, durability, and ease of maintenance, which made them popular in both urban and rural areas. The company exported the products to Eastern European countries and maintained stable demand. In the 1980s, the company introduced an updated series, the Nysa 522, which retained the main technical features of previous generations. With Poland’s transition to a market economy in the early 1990s, production volumes began to decline. In 1994, vehicle manufacturing ceased, and the Nysa brand remained a symbol of Polish automotive production in the second half of the twentieth century.