The degree of human development is determined by the complexity of its environment and the products it produces. The history of the development of the automotive industry, in this case, is one of the most effective ways to get the required result, to be able to assess the past and the current state of the automotive industry, to analyze its possible future, and the real prospects of both production and the car itself. In addition, this direction of history will raise the intellectual level of those interested. It will be necessary for those who choose the automobile industry and the automobile itself, which are the meaning of their lives and their main hobby.
What brands of cars begin with the letter A?
The question is so extensive that it is almost impossible to give a short answer. There are dozens of brands, including Audi, Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, and Apollo. Which of them are the oldest or the most significant, the modern brands or the leading ones? But our work will allow you to somewhat expand your horizons in this matter. We advise you to familiarize yourself with it.
The automotive industry is already more than 120 years old. And this is a figure large enough that there are no longer living witnesses to its birth. While making an alphabetical list of brands, I have already encountered names for which information has been lost, as well as the appearances and characteristics of many car models. There is no information left. How many more forgotten manufacturers, especially those who broke through in this field, created something original and could not continue their activities for various reasons? The alphabetical list will not only facilitate familiarization and search for the brand of interest, but also help with brand recognition. But it will also allow you to keep historical, interesting, and important information about the car and the person who created it.
Audi
The most famous German automaker, Audi AG, founded in 1909 by August Horch, today develops, produces, and sells cars. The company is headquartered in Ingolstadt, Germany. In 1966, it joined the Volkswagen Group to expand its capabilities, becoming its subsidiary. Having reached the world’s leading position in product sales, the brand formed two subsidiaries, Lamborghini and Audi Sport GmbH. Both companies are known worldwide for their first luxury and expensive supercars, sports cars, and SUVs. Today, Audi is the best-selling luxury technology brand.
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo Automobiles SpA, founded in 1910 in Milan as A.L.F.A., is among the most famous Italian brands. Its first racing cars in 1911 took leading positions in competitions. The brand’s name comes from the full name Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili, an abbreviation, and from Nicola Romeo, who ran it from 1915. Transferred in 19932 to the state Institute of Industrial Engineering (Istituto per la Ricostruzione Industriale), it remained in state ownership until 1986, when it was sold to Fiat. After 21 years, the brand became Alfa Romeo Automobiles SpA, a subsidiary of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Italy.
Acura
Acura, a Japanese brand founded by Honda Motor Company in March 1986, has become a luxury brand in the Japanese automotive industry. The brand’s headquarters is in Minato (Tokyo, Japan), and production bases are in the United States and Canada. The brand’s techniques are characterized by luxury, original design, and high performance. The company’s production technologies are innovative and pioneering. This allowed the company to begin producing the flagship Legend almost immediately after opening, and it quickly became a leader in its class. Its appearance pushed the leading Japanese brands, Toyota and Nissan, to create competitive luxury models, Lexus and Infiniti.
Aston Martin
The luxury cars category includes products from the British brand Aston Martin, founded in 1913. Founded by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford, the brand focused on producing luxury sports cars and urban luxury models. Having a rather complicated development history, having gone through bankruptcy in the 70s of the last century, and having experienced long periods of success and stable work from 1947 to 1972, when David Brown owned the company. From 1994 to 2007, the brand repeated its rise under Ford Motor Company’s control, America’s largest automaker.
Alpine
French Alpine was founded by racer Jean Redelay in 1955. Using a Renault 4CV for his modernization, Rédélé won several races and set out to create his own racing car, which he realized through his brand. Today, Alpine is a racing and sports car manufacturer that joined Renault in 1976. The brand is headquartered in Dieppe, France. After the founder died in 2007, production ceased. However, in 2016, the brand unveiled a new concept model of the Vision coupe in Monte Carlo. Renault renamed its Formula 1 team Alpine to support the brand’s revival.
Ariel
Ariel is a British automaker with a very long history. Founded in 1991 by Simon Saunders, the company is based in Crewkerne, Somerset, UK. Not to be confused with Ariel Motorcycles 1870, which has been manufacturing motorcycles since 1902. Today, this small company comprises seven people and produces sports cars in small numbers. Its capacity is 100 cars per year. In 2001, the brand was renamed Ariel Motors. In the brand’s production, a particularly light car is characterized by high technical characteristics and a powertrain and gearbox from the Honda Civic Type R, a second-generation sports model.
Abarth
Another Italian automaker, Abarth, is known for producing high-speed racing and off-road cars. Founded by Austro-Italian racing driver and designer Carlo Abarth, it began producing its first products in 1949. The first to appear were the mufflers and the exhaust system. The sports car, based on the Fiat, appeared in 1956. After the agreement with Fiat, the brand modernized its vehicles and created small urban versions, the leader among which in the 60s was the Abarth 850TC, based on the Fiat 600 chassis. The last car was released in 1971. In 2007, Fiat decided to revive the brand.
Audi Sport
1983 was the year Audi Sport GmbH, originally called Quattro GmbH, was founded to produce high-performance cars and components. The company is headquartered in Neckarsulm, Germany. As a division of Audi, part of the Volkswagen Group, the brand, in addition to producing equipment, also offers individual customizations tailored to the requirements of the future owner. The brand took its name as a tribute to the all-wheel-drive road and rally car, the Audi Quattro, first demonstrated at the 1980 Geneva Motor Show.
ABT Sportsline
Germany is home to many world-renowned automotive brands that have had a significant influence on the global automotive industry. ABT Sportsline’s profile is motorsport and tuning of vehicles of Volkswagen AG subsidiaries Audi, Seat, Škoda, and Volkswagen. It is based in Kempten im Allgäu (Germany) and has its own racing team. Its production provides modernization of individual car brands, sports suspension units, fine-tuning of electronics, aerodynamic shapes, and external body elements. The family’s history begins in 1896, when the brand was called Auto-Abt and was a blacksmith shop. The company reoriented to modern production in 1991, changing its name to Abt Sportsline GmbH.
Alpina
The German company Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH & Co. KG, founded in 1956, produces modified cars on BMW chassis. The brand was founded by German industrialist Burkard Bovensiepen, who revived the family technology business that had failed in the 60s and immediately refocused on the automotive industry. The company’s office is located in Buchloe, Germany. Initially, the company supported BMW by ordering rebuilds of carburetors and cylinder blocks from the Kaufboyerne workshop. As the company grew, it moved to Buchloe and, in 1983, began producing cars under the Alpina brand.
Arash
In 1999, Briton Arash Farboud founded Farboud Limited, which was renamed Arash Motor Company seven years later. Based in Suffolk, England, UK, the brand ushered in a new era of British sports cars with the introduction of the Farboud GT. The model embodied everything unusual, avant-garde design, perfect aerodynamics, and a maximum speed of 327 km/h. Aiming to develop and produce exclusive design, power, and comfort models, the company produced the Farboud GT and Farboud GTS for 5 years, constantly modernizing them from 2006 to 2011. The result was the unique Arash AF-10. The brand continues to create exclusives today.
Artega
The German automaker, the brainchild of German designer Klaus Dieter Frers, was founded in 2006 and lasted only six years. The reason for its inclusion in this list is the vast array of know-how and advanced technologies in the automotive industry. After the brand’s bankruptcy in 2012, all the ideas were acquired by Volkswagen, which successfully applies them today. The brand’s office was located in Delbrück, Germany. However, over such a short period, the company developed and produced one model, the Artega GT, with 300 hp and a 6-cylinder engine. Also, two launch models were created, one of which had a hybrid engine.
Ascari
Britain is the home of sports car manufacturer Ascari Cars Ltd. Founded in 1995 by Dutchman Klaas Zwart, the brand was based in Banberry, UK. It was named after the first two-time Formula One world champion, Alberto Ascari. The brand’s main production profile is sports cars and supercars. During its existence, which ended in 2010, the brand developed and launched five road car models and four racing versions of the Ascari. Today, the brand owns a race track, Race Resort Ascari, 5,425 meters of pure adrenaline with modern surfaces and unique natural surroundings.
Arrival
The Arrival brand was founded by Russian Denis Sverdlov in London, UK, in 2015. As a former director of the Russian mobile operator Yota Group, he invested in developing his hobby and, after stepping down, his core business. Currently, the brand focuses on producing light commercial vehicles, making it one of the main directions for the electrification of commercial vans and buses, including city buses, for use in the busiest cities, with design features that ensure passenger comfort over long distances amid the coronavirus pandemic. The company is based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, with a new factory in Bicester. A second North American headquarters opened in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.
Arrinera
Polish automobile brand Arrinera, founded by Lukasz Tomkiewicz, was established in 2008. Its headquarters are in Warsaw, the country’s capital. The main activity is the production of supercars, exemplified by the Arrinera Hussarya model from 2008. In 2015, the finished version was presented at the Poznan Motor Show. Then, it was also announced that by the fall of 2015, the Arrinera Racing would see the light of day, and in 2016, the civilian version would be released. However, the constant changes to the terms, along with their similarity to the Lamborghini Murcielago and Lamborghini Reventon models, raised doubts among investors. In 2016, the brand was shut down.
Arcfox
Chinese electric car and crossover brand Arcfox is based in Beijing, the capital of China. It is a subsidiary of BAIC Group, which launched a new electric-car brand in 2017. The first representative of the brand’s products was the premium microcar, the Lite. However, the models shown at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show differed radically from the Lite. The second model was the GT supercar. The emphasis was on the original design, which was to demonstrate the capabilities of the brand’s designers. It was presented at the exhibition in both trim variants.
Aixam
In 1983, in Aixam-les-Bains (Savoie, France), the automotive industrial group Aixam-MEGA began operations, producing cars and trucks. Today, the production aims to replenish the unexploited market segment with incomplete vehicles and light ATVs for rural areas, which are especially in demand in urban areas and do not require a driver’s license. Since 2003, production has been supplemented by electric cars, and in 2007, sales volume reached 155,000 cars. Two years later, however, production dropped slightly to just 12,000 units.
Apollo Automobil
Roland Gumpert, former director of Audi Sport, founded the Apollo Automobil GmbH brand in 2004, originally called Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur GmbH. The company, headquartered in Denkendorf, Bavaria, Germany, is focused on producing sports cars. Its opening was due to Roland Gumpert’s preparations to produce a new generation of sports cars for the race track and the city. In 2008, Apollo Sport was featured on the British program Top Gear and went on to become a leader on the track. But in 2013, the brand went bankrupt. Three years later, the Hong Kong consortium Ideal Team Venture acquired its rights, giving the brand a new name: Apollo Automobil GmbH.
Autobacs
In 1947, Toshio Sumino, from Toyosu, Koto, Tokyo, Japan, founded Autobacs Seven Co., Ltd., a company specializing in auto parts and accessories. Over time, the brand expanded its capabilities. The company acquired its name in 1980, opening branches in Asia and several stores in France. In 2001, Autobacs acquired Tommykaira Sportscar Tuning Laboratory, creating the ASL (Autobacs Sportscar Laboratory) division and the Garaiya RS-01, the sports car designed by Tommykaira engineer Kikuo Kaira. It was immediately announced that customizations could be made for each customer.
Aspark
Masanori Yoshida founded the Japanese brand Aspark in Osaka, Japan, in the fall of 2005. Today, it is Asia’s leading engineering services company in the automotive, electronics, and industrial sectors. It is based on the all-electric luxury supercar, the Aspark, which laid the foundation for mass production of vehicles in this category, with its development center in Japan and the Owl development and production center in Turin, Italy. Currently, the brand has 25 representative offices worldwide in Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, and Switzerland.
AC Cars
AC Cars Ltd was the first British company created solely to design and manufacture sports cars. It was founded by John Weller and John Portwine in 1902. The first Weller Four Seat Touring sports model was released in 1903, and the AC Sociable passenger model in 1907. In 1911, the brand was renamed Autocarriers LTD, but in 1922, it was returned to its former name. From 1919 to 1925, the brand participated in almost all races and championships with its cars. In the ’60s, the company created a unique characteristics model, the AC Cobra. After developing many original sports models, the brand was discontinued in 2008.
Alvis
From 1919 to 1967, Alvis Car and Engineering Company Ltd. operated in Coventry, England, United Kingdom. Founded by Thomas George John, it produced civilian and racing cars, armored fighting vehicles, and aircraft engines. After the brand was bought by Rover in 1965, it continued to produce armored personnel carriers. The company then became part of British Leyland and, in 1982, was acquired by United Scientific Holdings, which changed its name to Alvis plc immediately after the purchase. Alvis Car and Engineering Company Ltd ceased to exist.
Atalanta Motors
The modern Atalanta Motors, England, UK, was another, hardly more successful attempt to revive the Atalanta of the 1930s. The latter is known for producing the original 21 cars, which pre-war car enthusiasts much appreciated. However, after the war, the brand was abolished and could not continue production. There were several attempts to revive the company. Yet the idea of revival was only realized by Martin Corfield in 2011, who announced it in 2012 with a retro-design Sports Tourer model. He unveiled the second at the 2014 Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace.
Abadal
The Spanish car brand Abadal was named after its founder, Francisco Abadal, nicknamed Paco. Paco was a racing driver in the Barcelona-based Hispano-Suiza team. His desire to create cars led him to found his own company in 1912. However, the owner’s knowledge and skills were sufficient only to produce one luxury car of the same name. This situation led to a change of direction. Abadal reached an agreement with the Belgian car manufacturer Imperia to sell its products in Spain under its brand. In 1923, Francisco Abadal received a favorable offer from General Motors to represent its interests in Spain, which halted its production. In 1930, the brand was shut down completely.
Abbott-Detroit
The American automobile manufacturer Abbott-Detroit, founded in 1909 by Carlo Abbatt in Detroit, Michigan, USA, lasted only 10 years. Produced until 1919, the car was in the “luxury ” category and was powerful and practical. It was equipped with one of the best Continental engines of the time. Production began in Detroit and was moved to Cleveland, Ohio, reducing the name to one word, Abbott. Having expanded production capacity due to the move, the brand could roll out modifications to the model produced, creating seven modifications up to and including 1912.
Alta
Alta, a Greek brand from Athens, was founded in 1962 and disbanded in 1978. Production was focused on light trucks, lacquer cars, and motorcycles. The main difference in automotive products was the three-wheel base. A 50-cubic-inch Sachs power unit was used. The first truck in the A700 series, with a BMW engine and an 800 kg payload, was produced in 1967. It became the most successful in this truck group nationwide. The following year, the passenger car Alta A200 with a 200 cm3 Heinkel engine was presented. But its success was average. The expanding production moved to Elefsin. However, after the production of Alta A200 in 1974, financial problems arose, leading to the brand’s closure four years later.
AMC
AMC is an American automobile manufacturing company founded by George W. Mason in 1954 and headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, United States. The American Motors Corporation brand was formed through the largest merger in the United States, the Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and Hudson Motor Car Company, initiated by George W. Mason. The production of small cars created competition with the automobile industry’s giants: Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler. In the ’60s-’70s, sports models Javelin and AMX were produced, and after the purchase of Kaiser Jeep, production of off-road vehicles began. In 1980, cooperation with Renault began. However, in 1987, the company’s shares were sold to Chrysler.
ARO
Romanian SUVs ARO (Auto Romania) by Câmpulung-Muscel were produced in 1957. The brand existed for almost half a century until 2003. The company’s heyday was during the Soviet period, and its decline occurred during the EU period. Models with Daihatsu units were in great demand in Spain and were produced in Portugal, such as Hisparo and Portaro. Italian company ARO-Ciemme equipped the vehicles with Volkswagen engines and produced them under the ACM brand. After production in Romania was closed in 2003, ARO was restored in the Czech Republic as a small batch. Production began at Auto Max Czech (AMC)’s facilities.
Askam
The Turkish company Askam, a subsidiary of iftçiler Holding, produced trucks and commercial vehicles in Istanbul, Turkey, from 1962 to 2015. The company was established with Chrysler’s joint participation. Originally, the company was named Chrysler Sanayi. But in 1964, Askam replaced it, and production of trucks, Fargo Trucks, DeSoto, and Dodge under license began. In 1978, Turkish partners bought out Chrysler’s share. Since the early 90s, licensed Japanese subcompact trucks have been produced. 2002 was the year of rebranding. The company was renamed Askam Kamyon Imalat ve Ticaret AŞ. But in 2015, production was phased out.
Auburn
Auburn is one of the oldest American automobile manufacturers. It was founded in 1900 by brothers Frank and Morris Eckhart in Auburn, Indiana, United States. It split off from the Eckhart Carriage Company, a well-known horse-drawn carriage company at the time. Eckhart, Jr. spun off the production of two small workshops in Indiana and set about realizing his idea for a touring car. In 1919, after the war, the brand was bought out by a group of Chicago investors, including Ralph Austin Bard. In 1924, it was acquired by Errett Lobban Cord, who went on to create a luxury car, the L-29. The famous Duesenberg Model J, the Auburn Speedster [en] 1935-1937, and the Cord 810/812 were created. The Great Depression led to the company’s closure in 1937.
Austin Motor
British-born Herbert Austin founded the Austin Motor Company in 1905. The company produced cars under the Austin brand at its Longbridge plant in England, UK, until 1952. Its first product was the Austin 18/24HP Endcliffe automobile, produced in the spring of 1906. Russian princes, Vatican bishops, British nobles, and Spanish leaders bought the products. The brand offered various categories of cars, including passenger limousines, coupes, ambulances, and utilitarian commercial vehicles. In 1952, the British Motor Corporation Holding was formed.
Autobianchi
The Italian automobile brand Autobianchi was founded in 1955 by three leading brands: Bianchi, Pirelli, and Fiat. It was created to produce family-type and subcompact cars, such as the Autobianchi A111 sedan, which were in great demand and outsold even the popular Fiat models of the time. The most famous were the 1969 Autobianchi A112 hatchback and the Autobianchi Y10 with the FIRE system. The integration of the brand with Lancia in 1989 halted the development of new models under the Autobianchi name. With the Y10’s production ending in 1995, Autobianchi ceased to exist.
Axon
A representative of British automakers, Axon Automotive of Northampton (Northamptonshire), focuses on the production of automobiles and components. In 2008, having formed its headquarters in Wellingborough, UK, it unveiled its first hatchback at the Sexy Green Car Show. Including design and development in material technology, the brand had broad development prospects. The company was developing lightweight structural composites for the automotive industry and had a staff of experienced people to design, analyze, and bring its innovations to production. But in 2020, it announced its closure.
Aeolus
Aeolus (Dongfeng Fengshen) is a Chinese automobile brand of Dongfeng Passenger Vehicle Company, part of Dongfeng Motor Group. The company began operations in 2009 under the name Fengshen, later adopting the official English name, Aeolus. The Chinese version of the name is an homage to the company’s Yunbao Automobile model. After becoming an official partner of the Yunbao joint venture in the 90s, the Nissan brand launched the Yunbao Fengshen 7200. In 2009, the company released the first four-door sedan, the class A Fengshen S30. In 2011, a five-door mid-size version of the Fengshen H30 appeared. In 2012, the brand expanded beyond China, starting sales in Venezuela.
Aiways Automobiles Company Ltd
Fu Qiang (Samuel), former head of sales for Volvo Cars in China, and Gary Gu founded the Airways car brand in Shanghai in 2017. The brand is headquartered in Shanghai, China, with its European and R&D centers in Munich, Germany. The company’s first model, the Aiways U5, was launched in 2018. It was certified to meet the EU market requirements. In 2019, it became a 50% owner of Jiangling Holdings. This opened the door for the brand to produce electric vehicles and expand its capacity with a plant in Jiangling. The first models on sale in the EU were shipped by rail in 2020, reducing delivery time from 6 weeks to 16 days.
Almac
New Zealand has also contributed to the history of the global automotive industry. Its brand is Almac Cars, an automotive component manufacturer founded in 1984 in Upper Hutt. It is part of Almac Reinforced Plastics Ltd, founded by Alex MacDonald in 1971. After moving to New Zealand, the founder began developing a sports car similar to the 1974 Lotus Elite on a Volkswagen chassis in 1976. This was the only model. It was marketed as a racecar for the Phil Derby. Next came the Almac 427, a replica of the Shelby Cobra 427, of which 17 were sold in 1984. Its body was made of fiberglass. But so far, the brand has not created a single car.
Alternative Cars
Another New Zealand automaker is Alternative Cars Limited, founded in 1984 by Russell Hooper as Kit Kars Limited. Initially, it was in the business of supplying medical supplies. It was not until 1996 that it took the name it is known by today, after it began manufacturing car components. The first cars of the brand were created based on the fiberglass body of the MG TF model of the 50s. At this time, the workshop moved from its home garage to a workshop in Auckland. Released in 1996, the T Mark 5 was delivered to the Australian market. By 2000, left-hand drive designs were introduced. Today, TG covers the US, Canadian, UK, and Australian markets.
AM General
AM General is an American heavy-vehicle and contract-model manufacturer representative based in South Bend, Indiana. Its best-known models are the civilian Hummer and the Army Humvee, assembled at its plant in Mishawaka, Indiana. The brand began its history as the 19003 Standard Wheel Company, which, after numerous mergers and ownership changes, was acquired by American Motors Corporation (AMC) in 1970. In 1971, the brand adopted the name AM General as a subsidiary. From 1972 to 1979, the company produced city buses. By the time they closed, two lines of trolleybuses had run out of stock. In 1992, the HMMWV automobile entered the civilian market. In 2002, the Hummer H2 appeared.
Amuza
The Australian stretch limousine brand Amuza was founded in 1997 by Ventura. The company’s headquarters is located in Perth. Its most famous car is the Grand Chauffeur, introduced in Tokyo in 2003. Its realization occurs in several countries, including Japan, Australia, and Singapore. The brand’s entire line of limousines is based on American Ford models Falcon, Fairmont, and Futura. Recently, the brand has offered a new sports car, a prototype for the future mass model range. The amphibious car project is in the design stage.
Anteros Coachworks
Since 2005, a private company has produced sports cars in San Jose (California, USA). Its founder was designer Roger Hector. In 2006, he designed a luxury sports car, Anteros, based on the C6 Corvette, with a 500-hp turbocharged engine. It was a limited-edition, hand-assembled item to ensure high build quality. It featured carbon fiber, leather, and wood in the trim. The interior had a customized design. The model allowed the buyer to order customized furnishings and was produced until 2009.
Apex Motors
Apex Motors is a joint Hong Kong-British automobile company. It was founded in 2016 by brothers Jason and Gary Leung based on the Elemental RP-1. Production was based in Hong Kong, and the AP-1 sports car was launched for open-road and track use, powered by a 2.3-liter Ford powertrain producing 400 hp. In the spring of 2020, the brand made a new model available to the general public by presenting a concept electric car, the Apex AP-0, which will be a real competitor to Tesla. Its serial production is scheduled for 2022 and will be in England.
Aptera Motors
American startup Accelerated Composites, now Aptera Motors Inc., was founded in 2005 to produce high-performance cars. It was disbanded in 2011. But in 2019, its founders, Chris Anthony and Steve Fambro, revived it with a slight name change, becoming Aptera Motors Corp. The venture is based in San Diego, California. Aptera Motors Corp. was a three-seat version of the two-seat Aptera 2 Series. By 2019, it was upgraded to a solar-powered version. In 2020, a new Aptera EV prototype was unveiled.
Arash Motor Company
Newmarket, Suffolk, England, is the headquarters of British automobile manufacturer Arash Motor Company. Founded by Arash Farboud in 1999 as Farboud Limited to produce super and hypercars, it changed its name seven years later. Today, the brand is known for four models: the AF-LM, dedicated to Le Mans; the Farboud GTS and AF-8 supercars; and the AF-10, the first hypercar. Currently, only the AF-8 and AF-10 are produced. The new model will be announced at the end of 2021. As for production volumes, the brand is focused on ultra-low volumes. Today, this figure is 2-3 cars per year. Accordingly, no targets are set to increase sales, which are currently below 80 units per year.
Arcimoto
Arcimoto is a new American automotive company specializing in advanced electric vehicles, headquartered in Eugene, Oregon. Founded in 2007 by Mark Frohnmayer, it manufactures and sells the Fun Utility Vehicle (FUV), a tandem electric vehicle for two people. The company also sells specialty vehicles, such as Rapid Responder vans for emergencies and the Deliverator for complex last-mile delivery. In 2020, the brand partnered with Sandy Munro to optimize its manufacturing and design processes.
AC Schnitzer
AC Schnitzer, a separate division of the Schnitzer Motorsport brand based in Aachen, focuses on aftermarket car tuning. The company focuses on BMW brand vehicles. As the brand has evolved, it has expanded its capabilities. Some time ago, Land Rover also took on the job. The company makes customized parts to improve the device’s performance. AC Schnitzer offers custom chassis options, custom wheels, and performance enhancements. The interior and exterior are remodeled.
Allard Motor Company
Allard Motor Company, a small British car manufacturer based in London, was founded by racing driver Sidney Allard in 1945. Allard’s main task was to find a design solution to accommodate large American V8 engines in the small bodies of British models, which were, in turn, lightweight. The cars he built were particularly efficient but crude in their design and shape. As a racing driver, he aimed to provide speed rather than beauty. The brand ceased to exist in 1958.
Arden
One of the representatives of German engineering was mechanical engineer Jochen Arden, who founded a tuning car dealership under his name in 1972. The company’s creation was the need to realize and legitimize his ideas for refining the Jaguar XJ V12. The resulting model, Arden AJ1, radically differed from the original in shape and design, had better characteristics, and increased performance. The success prompted the continuation of the transformation of the Jaguar brand, which began on a massive scale in 1986. In addition, the brand tried its hand at Bentley, Land Rover, and Mini.
Auto Union
From 1932 to 1969, the German automobile concern Auto Union, headquartered in Zwickau (Germany), operated. Its founders are Audi, DKW, Horch, and Wanderer, reflected in the logo’s four crossed rings. Each of the founders contributed to the concern, each with its own features. Horch is a premium-class car, DKW is a group of socially accessible cars, and Audi and Wanderer are middle-class cars. However, the main activity of this concern was the development and production of racing cars under a single brand name. Rebranding in 1969 led to the concern’s abolition. Its main successor was Audi AG.
AAC
Auto Avio Costruzioni (AAC) is the world-famous Italian automobile brand, the Ferrari of Modena, founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929. It was created to modify and improve various elements of Alfa Romeo cars. Enzo Ferrari was involved in motor racing, headed the Alfa team, and competed at the European level during this period. The first and only car produced under this brand was the Auto Avio Costruzioni Tipo 815. Enzo Ferrari himself, along with engineers Alberto Massimini and Vittorio Bellentani, took part in its creation. It reached 175 km/h and produced 72 hp. In 1947, the brand was named after its founder, Ferrari. In 1957, the AC was officially abolished.
Adrenaline Motorsport
Founded in 2005 by Daniel Jefferson Muir, Tom Richard Taylor, Neil Yates, and Martin Sutherland, Adrenaline Motorsport evolved into the Adrenaline, Minari, and Toniq brands. Originally headquartered in St. Columb Major in County Cornwall, the company moved to Bodmin in 2008. Before this, the Murtaya was launched in 2006, based on the all-wheel drive Subaru Impreza 93-2000. The name was made up of the three founders’ surnames. From 2007 to 2009, 45 cars were produced. However, the financial difficulties led to the company’s relocation to Lutterworth, Leicestershire, and its subsequent bankruptcy in 2010. Production totaled 57 rally cars.
A.D. (Advanced Design Tramontana)
Spanish automaker A.D. (Advanced Design Tramontana) produces sports cars. It was founded by Joseph Rubau, who invited designer Pere Giri, bodybuilder Xavi Lopez, and engineer Jordi Baltasar, A.D., to focus on producing supercars. The main features of its developments are the use of modern technologies in car production, in line with the traditions of the 30s of the last century, and the creation of almost all components for modern high-speed cars. The brand is known for creating unique cars and designing them according to individual specifications.
Aeon Sportscars Limited
British automobile manufacturer Aeon Sportscars Limited began operations in 2000 in Marden, Kent. Its directors were Keith Wood and John Timothy Hewat. In 2003, the brand began producing automotive components and the original GT3 Coupé. It is characterized by gull-wing doors and a front three-seat layout, with the driver’s seat in the middle. In 2004, the GT3 Spyder model debuted. In 2009, the Epona model was introduced at the show. Exceed Autocraft, a lightweight sports car, has been in development since 2011. Two variants are planned: coupe and roadster.
Alba Engineering
The Italian automobile manufacturer Alba Engineering was founded in 1983 by Giorgio Stirano to develop and manufacture racing cars. The brand was created to meet the specified requirements and consistently drive drivers to victory in the junior events of the C2 World Endurance Championship. Within two years, the brand had created racing machinery that met the specified requirements and consistently drove drivers to victory. Particularly successful results were achieved in the AR2 class. One of the most efficient models was the Alba AR5, which was presented during the Final 3 Hours of Daytona.
Amilcar
Joseph Lamy and Emile Acar founded the French brand Amilcar in 1921. While producing passenger cars, it focused on sporty models. Initially based in Paris, rue Schmen-Vere, the company lacked space, prompting a move to a workshop in Saint-Denis. The first engineering product, a two-seater CC sidecar, was unveiled at the Moscow Motor Show in 1921. The most successful model was the 1926 Amilcar CGSS. In 1928, the brand demonstrated a completely new generation of cars with various modifications. At the same time, truck production began. The brand’s production was discontinued in 1939.
ARK Performance
ARK Performance is an American automobile brand based in Ontario, California, USA. The main direction is auto-tuning and the development of world-class automotive components. The brand is actively involved in co-production. Several project vehicles have been created in close partnership with Hyundai Korea, including the Alpine Edition Veloster, AR550 Hyundai Genesis, Legato Concept, and Danza. Continuing its development, the company is now considering new redesign and co-design agreements for new models with the world’s leading premium car brands.
American Specialty Cars (ASC)
American Specialty Cars (ASC) was founded in 1965 by Heinz Prechter in Los Angeles, California. It was originally called American Sunroof Company. Two years later, the brand acquired a large space in Detroit. The first deliveries were made to Ford Motor Company. S 1968 Mercury Cougar XR-7. The main focus was the development of convertible roofs. Several of its own modified models were created as part of this process, including the ASC McLaren Capri two-person coupe and convertible and the two-seat ASC McLaren Mustang. The brand was closed in 2017.
ASL
Autobacs’ automotive production division, ASL (Autobacs Sports Car Laboratory), was formed following the bankruptcy of Tommikaira, a specialty car manufacturer. In 2001, it adopted its current name. The first small sports car, ASL Garaiya, was built on the Tommykaira ZZ platform. Its 2003 modification was introduced in Japan’s GT300 racing series. Today, the Garaiya RS01 model is in development, positioned as a larger and faster addition to the ZZ. Production is operational, and several cars are being worked on at once.
ASMA Design
The German brand ASMA Design, based in Lauda-Königshofen, Germany, stands out in the automotive tuning and aftermarket cosmetics sectors. But it also has its creation at its core, the ASMA CLS Shark car, which wowed everyone at the IAA 2005 exhibition in Frankfurt (Germany). Subsequent models also featured original designs and higher performance. Among them are the Asma Design SLR Perfectus, 2009, and modified models of the world’s leading brands, such as Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, for example, the unique Asma Design Porsche Cayenne Turbo “Giant.”
ATS
Italian manufacturer of cars for tourism and sports, ATS (Automobili Turismo e Sport), was founded in 1961 and has its headquarters in Bologna, Italy. The company’s founders were Girolamo Gardini, Giotto Bizzarini, Carlo Kitti, Fausto Galassi, and Enzo Selmi, all top managers of the Ferrari brand, who left the company. The presence of the company’s chief designer in the group led the company to believe it could operate as an independent automaker. The first Formula 1 car, the ATS Tipo 100, debuted in 1963. Two not-very-successful variants were produced. In the same year, the ATS 2500GT with a mid-engine layout appeared. The brand was closed in 1964.
Autech
Autech Japan Co., Ltd. is a Japanese brand. It was established in 1986 under the Nissan brand as a subsidiary for tuning and modifying the corporation’s car models. The new company’s office was in Chigasaki (Chigasaki-shi), Japan. All production was financed by the parent company, which allowed Autech products to be sold only through its network. In 1987, the brand began co-producing luxury sports cars with the Italian company Zagato. Autech developed the engine and chassis. In 1989, the Autech Zagato Stelvio AZ1 car appeared. After receiving permission to expand production, the company opened an ASEAN representative office in Bangkok, Thailand.
AAD
AAD is another brand on this list. Its logo is a black abbreviation, each letter in a separate white square with a dark border.
ABC
ABC Motors is a motorcycle and engine manufacturer formerly known as the American Broadcasting Company. Its logo currently features a yellow acronym placed in a dark gray circle.
Aberdon
Aberdonia was a trademark of Aberdonia Cars Ltd., which existed from 1911 to 1915. Its logo was a yellow rectangle with black lettering, with the two letters “A” on the right and left enlarged.
AC Propulsion Logoia
This company, founded in 1992, manufactures AC-based powertrain systems. The AC Propulsion Logoia logo features the stylized letters “AC” in two wavy lines, along with the brand name.
Acadian
Acadian is an automobile brand owned by the Canadian company GM. Its logo features a red letter “A” on a white-blue vertical rectangle background, with three maple leaves.
Adam Motor Company, Ltd.
Adam Motor Company Ltd. is a Pakistani automobile company that created the country’s first self-designed automobile. The logo consists of the black word “ADAM” in a yellow oval with white and blue elements and the motto “Daring to Innovate.”
ADK
The Belgian automobile brand ADK, owned by Automobiles de Kuyper SA, existed from 1922 to 1930. Its logo was simple, black, and featured vertically elongated letters “A,” “D,” and “K.”
Adler
The automotive industry acquired this German manufacturer of motorcycles, bicycles, automobiles, and typewriters after World War II. Since the company name translates to “eagle,” the Adler logo featured a stylized bird inside a blue shield.
Aero
The Czechoslovakian company Aero produced automobiles throughout the 1920s and 1940s. The logo contained its name written in light handwriting.
Aeromobil
As of 2022, the Slovakian Aeromobil project has yet to be realized; the flying car is due to go on sale in 2023. But it already has a logo: a black-and-blue circle with the letter “A” in the center, without a crossbar, matching the lettering below.
Agrale
Brazilian company Agrale is known for its agricultural machinery, buses, and trucks. Its red triangle emblem resembles a Dota symbol cut in half and inverted.
AIL
AIL is Automotive Industries, Ltd., an Israeli manufacturer of military vehicles. Its full name is represented on its emblem, colored turquoise and complemented by a four-pointed star in a ring.
Aixam-Mega
The French industrial group Aixam-Mega has been producing commercial and passenger vehicles of various types since 1983. Its logo is recognizable by a large stylized letter “M” in a blue circle and a non-standard bold inscription “MEGA.”
Ajax
In 1925 and 1926, the American company Nash Motors produced cars named Ajax Six, which were displayed on the brand’s logo. The crest featured a two-tiered inscription “AJAX SIX” against a circle, and below it was the phrase “NASH-BILT” on a curved arc.
AJS
AJS is a motorcycle and scooter manufacturer based in the United Kingdom. Its logo features the stylized letters “A,” “J,” and “S” in a circular border.
Al Araba Company
Al Araba Company is a Saudi car manufacturer, officially an armored-car manufacturer. Its logo is a blue-and-white image of a car surrounded by Arabic and English lettering.
Alan Mann
Alan Mann Racing was a motor racing team in the United Kingdom until 1969. Its name was featured on the logo, placed in a gold rectangular frame.
Alba
The Portuguese steel company Alba produced racing cars for championships in the 1950s, so it also made it to the list of car brands. Its emblem is a stylized inscription, “ALBA,” adapted to the shape of a circle.
Albion
The Scottish automobile manufacturer Albion Automotive produces automotive components. The logo’s first word features unusual glyphs with dots and curves, while the second word is set in a contrasting serif font.
Ales
The Ales experimental touring car was produced at the Hakuyosh Iron Works in the early 1920s. It had its own identifying mark: the name inside a triangle with corners cut at rhombus angles.
Alldays
In 1899, Alldays merged with Onions to form a new automobile company: Alldays & Onions. It used a circle, a star, and a ribbon logo with numerous inscriptions.
Ambassador
American Motors Corporation produced the Ambassador line of automobiles until the mid-1970s. It had its mark, a metal nameplate with the brand name in a handwritten script.
American
The American Motor Car Company in Indianapolis went bankrupt in 1913. Its logo looked patriotic: a bald eagle (symbol of the United States) sat atop the northern hemisphere of the globe, with “THE AMERICAN” at the bottom.
American Underslung
The American Underslung was an automobile produced in the early 20th century. Since the brand belonged to the American Motor Car Company, its logo also depicted a bald eagle sitting on a globe, but in this version, designers placed it in a ring with inscriptions.
AMG
AMG is an acronym for manufacturing Mercedes-AMG racing cars and sports production models. The five short diagonal stripes on its emblem symbolize speed, as does the diagonal line of the letter “A.”
Amphicar
Amphicar is a unique floating car made in Germany. Its ability to swim is hinted at by the blue wave at the bottom of the emblem, which also features a large “A” and the brand name.
Anadol
Anadol, which existed from 1966 to 1991, pioneered the Turkish automobile industry. Its logo looked like a rondel with a white center featuring a stylized deer and a wide black ring with the inscription “ANADOL.”
Anasagasti
Anasagasti was founded in Argentina in 1909 and went bankrupt six years later. Its identifying mark was an illegible inscription arranged in an ellipse.
Andino
In 1967, a little-known automobile manufacturer, Andino, entered the Argentine market. Its name was presented as a word mark for which a careless cursive script was used.
Andre
Andre, better known as Andre Car Centro Automotive, is a Brazilian automotive service chain. The logo consists of its full name on a rectangular plate, complemented by an image of a yellow car.
Ansaldo
The Italian company Ansaldo produced civil and military ships, cars, armored vehicles, aircraft, tractors, locomotives, ammunition, and weapons. Therefore, its logo features two crossed cannons as a background for the blue diamond with the inscription.
Apal
Apal is a German automobile company based in Belgium, formerly Application Polyester Armé de Liége. The Apal emblem features a stylized inscription on a yellow-and-black rondel background.
Apperson
The Apperson automobile brand was named after the two brothers who created it in 1901. It disappeared forever in 1926, but an oval emblem of a running hare, surrounded by lettering, remains to commemorate it.
Aprilla
Aprilia produces two-wheeled vehicles, including city scooters, electric scooters, and racing motorcycles. The company’s logo features its name in a red rectangle, and below it is a pattern of geometric shapes in the colors of the Italian flag and a stylized letter “A.”
Arab American Vehicles
An Egyptian automaker, Arab American Vehicles, founded in 1977, also made it to this list. Its logo and full name feature the “AAV” abbreviation in stencil font, set against a red-and-blue parallelogram.
Argyll
The Scottish car brand Argyll existed until 1932, and in 1976, its name was reused for the Argyll GT sports car. A red heraldic lion, in the form of a silver-blue rondel, was featured at the center of the emblem.
Arista
Until 1967, the Arista brand’s cars were produced in France’s capital. To make the name stand out, the emblem’s creators wrote it in large white letters inside a bright red oval.
Armstrong Siddeley
Armstrong Siddeley Automobile Corporation was a manufacturer of aircraft engines and luxury cars until it was absorbed by the conglomerate Rolls-Royce. The company’s symbol was the sphinx, which was combined with an elegant monogram on the logo.
Arnolt
The Arnolt automobile company was named after its founder, Stanley H. “Wacky” Arnolt. The red-winged horse in its logo symbolized speed and inspiration.
Arola
The French company Arola produced microcars until 1983, when Aixam acquired it. The logo’s two outermost letters, “A,” look asymmetrical, and a small black circle is inside the letter “O.”
Arrol-Johnson
Arrol-Johnston is the company that produced the first British automobile and designed exclusive vehicles for Egyptian rulers. The logo contains its name, with two arcs drawn from the first letter “A” and the last “n.”
ASA
The name of the Italian automaker ASA stands for Autocostruzioni Società per Azioni. But its logo contains only the abbreviation inside a deformed red triangle against a large blue arrow.
Aspark Owl
Aspark Owl is a Japanese electric sports car developed by Aspark. Its logo looks as conceptual as the car: three multicolored blue stripes forming a stylized letter “A.”
Aster
Aster was a French manufacturer of automotive components that operated under the name Ateliers de Construction Mécanique L’Aster until 1910. The logo uses its short name, written in cursive with underlining.
Astra
Italian company Astra Veicoli Industriali S.p.A. specializes in the production of military equipment, heavy vehicles, and trucks. The wing element in its logo symbolizes lightness and speed.
Ateliers Germain
The Belgian company Ateliers Germain produced cars from 1897 until the beginning of the First World War. Its distinctive mark was the name of the town of Monceau-sur-Sambre, inscribed in a ring around the words “ATELIERS GERMAIN.”
Asuna
Asuna was discontinued as a GM Canada brand in 1994. Its logo consisted of a triangular symbol and the inscription “ASUNA.”
Attica
Attica was Bioplastic SA’s flagship automotive brand, producing three- and four-wheeled vehicles. Its emblem features a cart with a horse, symbolizing strength and speed.
Aurica Motors
Aurica Motors, a division of Aurica Labs, develops a patented electronic drivetrain for electric vehicles. Designers created a logo featuring a yellow flash surrounded by orange and gray arcs.
Aurus
Aurus is a Russian luxury car brand. Its logo features a coat of arms with four-pointed stars and a black rectangle bearing an inscription.
Australian Motor Industries
Australian Motor Industries was an automobile assembly company until Toyota of Japan bought it. Its emblem featured the stylized letters “AMI” in a circular shape, along with the outline of the Australian continent.
Australian Six
The Australian Six car was produced in Ashfield until 1924, with the last examples produced in Sydney in 1925. The badge on the radiator looked like a shield with lettering and a monogram of the letters “AS.”
Authi
Authi is a Spanish automobile company whose name stands for Automóviles de Turismo Hispano-Ingleses. The logo, which depicts a red bull inside the outline of Spain, hints at its country of origin.
Autobleu
The French automaker Autobleu debuted in 1950 and lasted only eight years. During this time, it was remembered for its emblem, which had its name written diagonally within a white-and-blue pattern.
Autocar Company
Autocar Company is an American manufacturer of heavy-duty trucks. It has been a division of GVW Group, LLC, since 2001. Its emblem is reminiscent of an old street sign: the brand name is written in elegant script inside a shaped sign.
Autovia
The British brand Autovia occupied the luxury-car niche in the mid-1930s but quickly went bankrupt. It used an emblem featuring its name and hometown, Coventry, and the “A” of the word “Autovia” looked like a springboard.
Auverland
Auverland is a French military vehicle manufacturer that merged with Panhard in 2005 to become Panhard. The Auverland logo features a blue deer silhouette in a rectangular frame with multicolored stripes in the upper corner.
Avanti
The Avanti passenger car was produced in the United States in three versions: coupe, convertible, and. However, thanks to the long horizontal stripe and slanted letters, they all had the same logo, associated with great speeders.
Avia
The Czech company AVIA Motors s.r.o. got its “airy” name because it used to produce airplanes. Having switched to truck production, it retained an echo of its past activities in its logo, the image of a flying bird.
AvtoVaz
AvtoVaz is a Russian manufacturer of automobiles under the Lada brand. The company’s emblem is a voluminous silver-colored boat with dark gray lettering.
AWZ
Until 1958, in Germany, there was an automaker, VEB Automobilwerk Zwickau, better known as AWZ. The emblem of this brand had both the full name and abbreviation, represented as a monogram in the center of the circle.
AZLK
AZLK “Automobile Plant named after Lenin Komsomol,” which emerged in Soviet times and ceased operations in 2010. Given its origin, its logo shows stylized Kremlin buildings with a star on a red background.