The degree of human development depends on the complexity of its environment and the products it produces. The history of the automotive industry, in this case, is one of the most effective ways to achieve the required result: assessing the industry’s past and current state, analyzing its possible future, and evaluating the real prospects of both production and the car itself. In addition, this historical direction will raise the intellectual level of those interested. It will be necessary for those who choose the automobile industry and the automobile itself as the meaning of their lives and their main hobby.
What car brands begin with the letter A?
The question is so broad that it is almost impossible to answer briefly. 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? Our work will help you broaden your horizons in this area. We recommend familiarizing yourself with it.
The automotive industry is already more than 120 years old. This is a figure large enough that no one is still alive who witnessed 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 help you get familiar with and search for the brand of interest, and it will also support brand recognition. It will also let you 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, develops, produces, and sells cars today. The company is headquartered in Ingolstadt, Germany. In 1966, it joined the Volkswagen Group to expand its capabilities and became a subsidiary. After reaching 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 luxury, high-performance 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 one of Italy’s most famous 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 state-owned until 1986, when Fiat bought it. 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. The brand has a complicated development history, including bankruptcy in the 70s and long periods of success and stability 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 Rédélé in 1955. Using a Renault 4CV as the basis for his modernization, Rédélé won several races and set out to create his own racing car, which he realized through his own 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, 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 specifications 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 products were mufflers and exhaust systems. 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, including the Abarth 850TC in the 60s, based on the Fiat 600 chassis. Fiat released the last car in 1971. In 2007, Fiat revived the brand.
Audi Sport
Audi Sport GmbH, originally called Quattro GmbH, was founded in 1983 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 offers, in addition to producing equipment, individual customizations tailored to the future owner’s requirements. 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 significantly influenced the global automotive industry. ABT Sportsline focuses on motorsport and tuning for Volkswagen AG subsidiaries Audi, Seat, Škoda, and Volkswagen. Based in Kempten im Allgäu (Germany), it also runs its own racing team. It produces modernized individual car brands, sports suspension units, fine-tuned electronics, aerodynamic shapes, and exterior 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. German industrialist Burkard Bovensiepen founded the brand, reviving the family technology business, which had failed in the 60s, and immediately refocusing on the automotive industry. The company’s office is located in Buchloe, Germany. Initially, the company supported BMW by ordering carburetors and cylinder blocks to be rebuilt at the Kaufbeuren 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 still creates exclusives today.
Artega
The German automaker, the brainchild of German designer Klaus Dieter Frers, was founded in 2006 and lasted only six years. It made the list for its vast array of know-how and advanced automotive technologies. After the brand’s bankruptcy in 2012, Volkswagen acquired all the ideas and now applies them successfully. The brand’s office was located in Delbrück, Germany. However, in that short period, the company developed and produced one model, the Artega GT, with 300 hp and a 6-cylinder engine. The company also created two launch models, one with 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 racetrack, Race Resort Ascari, offering 5,425 meters of pure adrenaline, modern surfaces, and unique natural surroundings.
Arrival
The Arrival brand was founded in London, UK, by Russian Denis Sverdlov 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. Today, the brand focuses on light commercial vehicles, making it a key player in electrifying 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 company primarily produces supercars, exemplified by the 2008 Arrinera Hussarya. In 2015, they presented the finished version at the Poznań Motor Show. They also announced that by fall 2015, Arrinera Racing would see the light of day, and that the civilian version would be released in 2016. However, the constant changes to the terms, along with their similarity to the Lamborghini Murciélago and Lamborghini Reventón models, raised doubts among investors. In 2016, the brand was shut down.
Arcfox
The Chinese electric car and crossover brand Arcfox is based in Beijing, China’s capital. It is a subsidiary of BAIC Group, which launched a new electric-car brand in 2017. The brand’s first representative 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 Aix-en-Provence (Savoie, France), the automotive industrial group Aixam-MEGA began operations, producing cars and trucks. Today, 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. Headquartered in Denkendorf, Bavaria, Germany, the company focuses on producing sports cars. It launched as part of Roland Gumpert’s plans to produce a new generation of sports cars for both the racetrack and the city. In 2008, Apollo Sport was featured on the British program Top Gear and became a track leader. 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 each customer could request custom modifications.
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. John Weller and John Portwine founded it 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 model with distinctive characteristics, 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. Founded by Thomas George John, it produced civilian and racing cars, armored fighting vehicles, and aircraft engines. After Rover bought the brand in 1965, it continued to produce armored personnel carriers. The company then became part of British Leyland and, in 1982, United Scientific Holdings acquired it and immediately renamed it Alvis plc. Alvis Car and Engineering Company Ltd ceased to exist.
Atalanta Motors
The modern Atalanta Motors in England, UK, was another, less successful attempt to revive the 1930s-era Atalanta. 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 no longer produce cars. Several attempts were made 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 prompted a change in 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 featured 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. With expanded production capacity after the move, the brand could roll out model modifications, creating seven versions through 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. It used a 50-cubic-inch Sachs power unit. 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 introduced. But its success was average. The expanding production moved to Elefsin. However, after the production of the 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. George W. Mason formed the American Motors Corporation brand through the largest merger in the United States: the Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and Hudson Motor Car Company. Producing 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, it began cooperating with Renault. However, in 1987, Chrysler bought the company’s shares.
ARO
Romanian SUVs, ARO (Auto Romania) from 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 it declined during the EU period. Models with Daihatsu units were in great demand in Spain and were produced in Portugal, such as Hispano and Portaro. Italian company ARO-Ciemme equipped the vehicles with Volkswagen engines and produced them under the ACM brand. After production in Romania ended in 2003, ARO resumed small-batch production in the Czech Republic. 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, it has produced licensed Japanese subcompact trucks. 2002 was the year of rebranding. The company was renamed Askam Kamyon Imalat ve Ticaret AŞ. But in 2015, it phased out production.
Auburn
Auburn is one of the oldest American automobile manufacturers. Brothers Frank and Morris Eckhart founded it in 1900 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, a group of Chicago investors, including Ralph Austin Bard, bought out the brand. In 1924, Errett Lobban Cord acquired it and later created the luxury car L-29. The company created the famous Duesenberg Model J, the Auburn Speedster [en] 1935-1937, and the Cord 810/812. 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 car categories, 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 1989 integration of the brand with Lancia halted 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 producing automobiles and components. In 2008, having established its headquarters in Wellingborough, UK, it unveiled its first hatchback at the Sexy Green Car Show. By including design and development in materials 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 as Fengshen and later adopted the official English name Aeolus. The Chinese name is an homage to the company’s Yunbao Automobile model. After becoming an official partner in the Yunbao joint venture in the 90s, Nissan launched the Yunbao Fengshen 7200. In 2009, the company released its first four-door sedan, the A-class Fengshen S30. In 2011, it introduced a five-door midsize version of the Fengshen H30. In 2012, the brand expanded beyond China and began sales in Venezuela.
Aiways Automobiles Company Ltd
Fu Qiang (Samuel), former head of sales for Volvo Cars in China, and Gary Gu founded the Aiways 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 launched its first model, the Aiways U5, 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 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. In 1976, after moving to New Zealand, the founder began developing a sports car based on the 1974 Lotus Elite, using a Volkswagen chassis. 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, with 17 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 supplied medical supplies. It didn’t take the name it is known by today until 1996, after it began manufacturing car components. The brand’s first cars were based on the MG TF’s fiberglass body from 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, it introduced left-hand-drive designs. 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 Mishawaka, Indiana, plant. The brand began as the 19003 Standard Wheel Company, which American Motors Corporation (AMC) acquired in 1970 after numerous mergers and ownership changes. In 1971, the brand became a subsidiary of AM General. 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 is headquartered in Perth. Its most famous car is the Grand Chauffeur, introduced in Tokyo in 2003. It is sold 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 introduced a new sports car, a prototype for its future mass-market 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 let buyers order customized furnishings and was produced until 2009.
Apex Motors
Apex Motors is a joint Hong Kong-British automobile company. Brothers Jason and Gary Leung founded it in 2016, 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. Serial production is scheduled for 2022 and will take place 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, Aptera unveiled a new EV prototype.
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, built for Le Mans; the Farboud GTS and AF-8 supercars; and the AF-10, its first hypercar. Currently, it produces only the AF-8 and AF-10. The brand will announce the new model 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 and is 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, it also took on Land Rover. The company makes custom parts to improve vehicle 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 in 1945 by racing driver Sidney Allard. 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 themselves 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 representative of German engineering was mechanical engineer Jochen Arden, who founded a tuning car dealership under his name in 1972. The company’s creation stemmed from his need to realize and legitimize his ideas for refining the Jaguar XJ V12. The resulting model, Arden AJ1, differed radically from the original in shape and design, had better characteristics, and delivered increased performance. The success prompted the Jaguar brand’s continued transformation, 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 operated from Zwickau (Germany). Its founders are Audi, DKW, Horch, and Wanderer, reflected in the logo’s four crossed rings. Each founder contributed to the concern, each with its own features. Horch made premium-class cars, DKW produced socially accessible cars, and Wanderer made middle-class cars. However, the concern’s main activity was developing and producing racing cars under a single brand name. The 1969 rebranding led to the company’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 Cornwall, the company moved to Bodmin in 2008. Before that, Murtaya launched in 2006, based on the all-wheel-drive Subaru Impreza 93-2000. The name combined the three founders’ surnames. From 2007 to 2009, the company produced 45 cars. However, financial difficulties led the company to relocate to Lutterworth, Leicestershire, and later file for bankruptcy in 2010. Production totaled 57 rally cars.
A.D. (Advanced Design Tramontana)
Spanish automaker A.D. (Advanced Design Tramontana) produces sports cars. Joseph Rubau founded it and invited designer Pere Giri, bodybuilder Xavi Lopez, and engineer Jordi Baltasar to focus on producing supercars. Its main features include modern production technologies, 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 features 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 deliver victories for drivers 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. The team achieved particularly strong results 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 and moved to a workshop in Saint-Denis. The company unveiled its first engineering product, a two-seater CC sidecar, at the 1921 Moscow Motor Show. 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, it began producing trucks. The brand discontinued production in 1939.
ARK Performance
ARK Performance is an American automobile brand based in Ontario, California, USA. It focuses on auto-tuning and developing world-class automotive components. The brand is actively involved in co-production. ASC has created several project vehicles in close partnership with Hyundai Korea, including the Alpine Edition Veloster, the AR550 Hyundai Genesis, the Legato Concept, and the 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 in Los Angeles, California, by Heinz Prechter. It was originally called American Sunroof Company. Two years later, the brand acquired a large space in Detroit. The company made its first deliveries to Ford Motor Company. The 1968 Mercury Cougar XR-7. The main focus was developing convertible roofs. This process produced several modified models, 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 Tommi-Kaira ZZ platform. Its 2003 modification was introduced in Japan’s GT300 racing series. Today, the Garaiya RS01 model is under development and is positioned as a larger, 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 automotive tuning and aftermarket cosmetics. At its core is its creation: the ASMA CLS Shark, which wowed everyone at the IAA 2005 exhibition in Frankfurt (Germany). Subsequent models also featured original designs and higher performance. These include the Asma Design SLR Perfectus (2009) and modified models from leading brands such as Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, including 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 is headquartered in Bologna, Italy. The company’s founders were Girolamo Gardini, Giotto Bizzarini, Carlo Kitti, Fausto Galassi, and Enzo Selmi, all former top managers at Ferrari, 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 to tune and modify the corporation’s car models. The new company’s office was in Chigasaki (Chigasaki-shi), Japan. The parent company financed ball production, which meant Autech products could 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” enlarged on the right and left.
AC Propulsion Logoia
Founded in 1992, this company 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-and-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 features 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 and black, featuring 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 features 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 appeared on the logo, set 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 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 (the 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 depicted a bald eagle perched on a globe, but in this version, designers placed it within a ring of inscriptions.
AMG
AMG is an acronym for Mercedes-AMG, a manufacturer of 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 resembled a rondel with a white center featuring a stylized deer, and a wide black ring bearing 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, the little-known automobile manufacturer Andino entered the Argentine market. It presented its name as a wordmark, using a careless cursive script.
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 in the background of 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, with a pattern of geometric shapes in the colors of the Italian flag below it, along with a stylized letter “A.”
Arab American Vehicles
An Egyptian automaker, Arab American Vehicles, founded in 1977, also made the 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 a silver-blue rondel, sat at the center of the emblem.
Arista
Until 1967, Arista cars were produced in Paris. 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 manufactured aircraft engines and luxury cars until Rolls-Royce absorbed it. The company’s symbol was the sphinx, combined with an elegant monogram.
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-Johnson 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 Italian automaker ASA stands for Autocostruzioni Società per Azioni. But its logo contains only the abbreviation within a deformed red triangle, set 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 as 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 producing 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
GM Canada discontinued Asuna 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 resembles 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, with the “A” in “Autovia” resembling 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, all versions shared 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. After switching to truck production, it kept an echo of its past in its logo: a flying bird.
AvtoVaz
AvtoVaz is a Russian automobile manufacturer under the Lada brand. The company’s emblem is a voluminous silver-colored boat with dark gray lettering.
AWZ
Until 1958, Germany had an automaker, VEB Automobilwerk Zwickau, better known as AWZ. The emblem featured both the full name and the abbreviation, presented as a monogram at the center of the circle.
AZLK
AZLK, “Automobile Plant named after Lenin Komsomol,” emerged during the Soviet era and ceased operations in 2010. Given its origin, its logo shows stylized Kremlin buildings with a star on a red background.