Everyone who is “ripe” to take an important step in their life, such as buying a car, has many problems to solve before the purchase. The most important question is: which brand is better to buy, whether new or on the secondary market, for recreation, work, or image maintenance? Naturally, this choice is also influenced by the allocated budget. However, making this choice correctly and favorably will always help provide detailed and accurate information about the brand, its history, and product features.
What car brands begin with the letter D?
Strange as it may seem, there are letters on which very few company names are presented in the history of the automobile industry. Some of them are the most “favorite” of those who created the car company. The letter “D” occupies the middle position. And in this group, there are quite a lot of brands, among which there are maestros – Daewoo, Daihatsu, Daimler, Dodge, and not very famous companies, Darl Mat, Darracqs, Donnet-Zedel, and others.
In addition, the formation of such information is one way to preserve important milestones in the history of the world’s automobile industry and humanity. In a direct interrelation, a man and the technology he creates have a great influence on each other. By tracing this relationship in detail to determine the speed and degree of development of one party, it is possible to predict what awaits each party. Such information is useful for professionals, car enthusiasts, scientists, marketers, collectors, and those preparing to become drivers. This not only determines the importance of systematizing information about the history of the car, but it would seem that only one and a half centuries have passed since the appearance of the first automobile, but how much has already been lost for such a short period against the background of the whole period of existence of mankind, and almost irretrievably. How many brilliant ideas and innovators of that time were “lost” in the maze of history? How many promising technological and original design solutions remained unrecognized and unrealized, remaining undeservedly forgotten or lost in time because there is no evidence of them, except for unverified rumors or vague references?
Dacia
In 1966, the automobile brand Dacia appeared in Romania, becoming the face of the country’s automotive industry for many years. Renault provided technical assistance for its creation. It received a license to produce the Renault R12, scheduled for 1969 in France. In 1968, the first Renault R8, called the Dacia 1100, was assembled. In 1999, Renault became the brand’s full owner, making it a subsidiary. Today, the brand is headquartered in Mioveni, the country’s largest exporter. Since 2021, it has been part of the Renault Dacia-Lada venture.
Daewoo
The largest South Korean automaker is Daewoo, founded in 1967 by Kim Ujun as Daewoo Industrial in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Its activities covered various fields, including electronics, home appliances, weapons, and automobiles. By the number of its divisions, the brand ranked second, behind Hyundai, which had more than 20. Among the brand’s popular cars is the Daewoo Nexia. In 1998, the Asian crisis also affected this company, which was disbanded in 1999. However, some of its divisions are still functioning today.
Daihatsu
The Japanese company Daihatsu, founded in 1907, is known for its powerful gas engines. It was founded by Osaka University professors Yoshinki and Turumi as Hatsudoki Seizo Co., Ltd., and is based in Osaka. In 1951, the brand was renamed Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd. In 1967, it reached an agreement with Toyota Motor Corporation, and in 1968, it sold it a controlling interest. It has been owned by Toyota since 2016. Popular models are the Daihatsu YRV and Sirion (2005).
Daimler
In 1885, Gottlieb Daimler laid the foundation for creating the German automobile concern Daimler AG, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, in the 20th century. In 1926, Daimler-Benz AG and the automobile manufacturer Benz & Cie merged. The cars of this brand were very popular among the world’s monarchical families until 1950. In 1998, Chrysler acquired the company and formed DaimlerChrysler AG. In May 2007, the concern sold most of its shares to Cerberus Capital Management, which renamed the company Daimler AG.
Dauer
German car brand Dauer Sportwagen GmbH was founded in 1987 by car racer Jochen Dauer in Nuremberg as Jochen Dauer Racing. After completing sports prototype racing, Dauer Racing GmbH started assembling road-going Dauer 962 Le Man models. But even here, difficulties arose, leading to the creation of Dauer Sportwagen GmbH from the remnants of Dauer Racing. Having acquired a stake in Bugatti Automobili SpA in 1995, the company finalized the EB110 model, creating the SS EB110. Today, the brand is involved in Porsche 962 redesigns but is inactive.
David Brown Automotive
British automaker David Brown Automotive was founded in Coventry in 2013 and moved to Silverstone, England, in 2017. The brand is owned by David Brown, the entrepreneur who owned Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd and the Vosper Thornycroft shipbuilding company. The first model appeared in 2014. It was unveiled at the Top Marques exhibition in Monaco. The second model, the Mini Remastered, was released in 2017. This year, the Speedback GT model was unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show. In 2018, the Speedback Silverstone Edition model was released.
De Dion-Bouton
De Dion-Bouton is a well-known automobile brand from Paris, France. It produced the first La Marquise automobile, founded in 1883 by Jules-Albert de Dion, Georges Bouton, and Charlemagne-Armand Trepar, to assemble steam cars. In 1890, the company’s design office patented a gasoline engine, and in 1893, a new design for the automobile axle. Having produced 400 cars by 1900, the brand had become the world’s largest automaker. The first car with a single-cylinder engine appeared in 1913. During the First World War, automobiles were produced. The last model of a passenger car was released in 1932. Trucks were produced until 1952.
De Tomaso
Italian automobile company De Tomaso Automobili SpA, founded by Alejandro De Tomaso in 1959 in Modena (Italy), specialized in producing sports cars. The first were prototypes and racing models, including variants for Formula 1 ordered by Frank Williams. Series production of its own sports cars began in 1963. In 1976, the company’s founder took over the Maserati brand. The most famous models are the De Tomaso Vallelunga, De Tomaso Pantera, De Tomaso Guara, and De Tomaso Deauville Concept (2011). The brand was discontinued in 2012.
Devel Motors
A car brand from Dubai, UAE, Devel Motors (Defining Extreme Vehicles Car Industry LLC), has made a name for itself as a “one car” company. Founded by the Al-Attar brothers in 2013, it created the Devel Sixteen hypercar with a 5,007 hp engine and 4,771 Nm of torque; top speed: 515 km/h; acceleration to 100 km/h: 1.8 seconds. The company continues to develop and modify other models, offering variants for ordinary roads. Has significant prospects for further development, becoming the progenitor of a new era of automobiles.
Devin Enterprises
Founded by Bill Devin in 1955, the American company Devin Enterprises became world-famous for developing bodies from an innovative fiberglass-based polymer. At the same time, the company produced and sold finished cars. The brand’s famous model was the Devin Panhard, based on the Panhard chassis on which the Devin-designed body was “dressed.” A 1957 Devin MG with a Chevrolet V8 engine. Alfas, MGs, Triumphs, and Healys with brand-name conversions were particularly popular. The models produced before 1964 were the Devin SS, Devin D, and Devin C. In 2011, the brand was acquired by Devin Sports Cars LLC of Glendale, California, USA.
Devon Motorworks
In 2008, Scott Devon founded Devon Motorworks in Los Angeles, California, USA, to design and manufacture premium automobiles. The brand’s mission was to create recognizable beauty for technology. The first car, the Devon GTX supercar, went into production in 2010. But the crisis stopped production. The brand became the only bidder for the Chrysler Dodge Viper platform. But the deal did not materialize. In 2013, it closed after building only two cars.
Diatto
The Italian company, founded in 1835 by Guglielmo Diatto in Turin, Italy, under the name Diatto, was established to produce carriages for wealthy clients. Only the grandsons, Vittorio and Pietro Guglielmo, in 1905 changed the direction to automobiles, naming the joint venture Diatto-Clément under Clément-Bayard’s license. In 1909, the company was already producing passenger and racing cars and selling them worldwide. Diatto cars were innovative with 4-wheel brakes and a 4-speed gearbox. The brand was closed in 1929.
Dinan Cars
Dinan Cars was Stephen Dinan’s manufacturing company, founded in 1979 to design and manufacture BMW parts in Alabama, USA. In 1982, the company was incorporated as Bavarian Performance, Inc. in Morgan Hill, California. Six years later, the company was renamed Dinan Engineering, Inc. In 1991, 50 examples of the Dinan 8 were built. Parts of the Mini Cooper were built under this brand until 2006, and BMW racing engines were built until 2013. This year, the company was acquired by Driven Performance Brands, and in 2015, its founder left.
Dino Ferrari
The Italian company Dino founded the brand in the early 1960s to create several series of racing and sports cars. Their central engine arrangement distinguished them. The brand was named after the founder’s son. Seven main models were created: the Dino 156 F2, the Dino 166 F2/246 Tasmania, and the Dino 308/208 GT4. The last model was produced in 1980. Eight hundred forty examples were produced. In 2015, it was announced that a new model was being prepared. It was an attempt to create affordable sports cars.
DKW
Dampf Kraft Wagen, or DKW, is a German motorcycle and car brand founded in 1916 in Chemnitz. It is a subsidiary of Auto Union. Jorgen Skafte Rasmussen, owner of Ernst and Rasmussen, was at the origin. The company created and sold various machinery and equipment, including steam engines. In 1913, the company was split up. In 1916, Rasmussen began building steam engines. In 1922, the company began successfully selling motorcycles, including the DKW RT 125, which the Wehrmacht used. The first DKW F1 Rennwagen appeared in 1928. Production closed in 1966.
Dodge
The American automobile brand Dodge is today part of the Chrysler line of automobiles. Several cars, pickup trucks, SUVs, and commercial vehicles were produced under it. It was founded in 1900 by the Dodge brothers to produce automotive components. In 1914, the Dodge Brothers tried to manufacture automobiles. Within a year, 249 cars were created. After the brothers’ death, the brand was sold to Chrysler in 1928. Until 2009, Chrysler supported the development and production of cars under the Dodge TM brand, but after FIAT acquired the brand, it was closed in 2010.
Delage
Delage is a French automobile manufacturing company founded in 1905 in Levallois-Perret (France) by French businessman Louis Delage. The company specializes in the production of racing cars and executive cars. In 1918, the company released the Delage CO model, followed by Delage DI, Delage CO2, and Delage 2 LCV, with intervals of 1-2 years. The Delage D8-120 Aerosport Coupe model of 1925, which became one of the famous European classic cars, became especially famous. In 1935, the company was forcibly acquired by the Delahaye brand.
Delahaye
Delahaye, the French brand that acquired Delage, was founded in 1894 by Emile Delahaye in Tours, France. The company produced the first belt-driven machines. The founder owned the company until 190,1, when he sold his share for health reasons. The brand lasted until 1954, saturating the market with its models, from the Delahaye 134 of 1933 to the Delahaye 235, launched in 1951 and produced until its merger with Hotchkiss et Cie in 1954. At this time, a new brand, Hotchkiss-Delahaye, was created.
Delaunay-Belleville
Since 1903, the Delaunay-Belleville company, headquartered in Louis Delaunay (France), has appeared among French automakers. It was formed in 1850 by Julien Belleville, based on a boiler factory created by Delaunay. The first luxury automobile appeared at the 1904 Paris Motor Show. In 1905, 2 cars were delivered for Nicholas II. King George I of Greece and Alfonso XIII of Spain owned these cars. In the First World War, the Renault FT-17 tank was produced. Since 1946, the Rovin mini-car was produced and financed by Raoul Pegulu, Marquis de Rovin, after whose death in 1950, the company was closed.
DeLorean Motor Company
John DeLorean, an engineer by training, founded his automobile company in Detroit, Michigan, in 1975. A factory was built in Denmark and Northern Ireland. A single model, the DeLorean DMC-12, was produced, followed in 1982 by a lawsuit over a drug-trafficking case fabricated by the founder, which led to a complete drain of all investors’ funds. The company was shut down at the end of that year. In 1995, former mechanic Steven Wein founded his company, DeLorean Motor Company, in Houston, Texas, acquiring the assets and rights to the DMC logo.
Denzel
The Austrian automobile brand Denzel, the brainchild of Wolfgang Denzel, was founded in 1948. It became Porsche’s first competitor in Vienna, Austria. The company developed the Denzel 1300S model, which was produced in an edition of 300 units. Its production continued until 1959. The model became widely known thanks to the rapid victory in the Alpine Rally in 1954. Only open roadsters were released from the factory’s stock. They were distinguished by the unique design of the transmission. Today, car sales are conducted by the company Wolfgang Denzel AG.
Derby or Vernon-Derby
The name Derby was given in 1921 to a division of the company Établissements Bertrand Montet, founded in 1912, in Courbevoie. Since 1927, this car brand has been sold in England under the TM Vernon-Derby. In 1921, the first passenger car, the D2, and a light passenger car, the Voiturettes, were presented in front-wheel-drive versions, and production continued until 1933. In 130, the head of the company, Douglas Hawkes, became a famous racing driver. The brand ceased to exist in 1936.
DeSoto
Under the DeSoto brand, Chrysler Corporation produced middle-class cars. It was founded in 1928 to compete in this price segment with General Motors, Studebaker, and Willys-Knight. The brand’s main visual distinction was a stylized image of the conquistador Hernando de Soto, chosen as an emblem. The first model appeared in 1929. In 1934, the Airstream model from the Airflow series debuted, featuring the original streamlined body shape. In 1942, the most popular model with retractable headlights appeared. In 1960, the brand was closed.
Detroit Electric
The American electric car manufacturer Detroit Electric was founded in 1907 in Detroit, Michigan, as an offshoot of the Anderson Electric Car Company, which had been known as the Anderson Carriage Company since 1884. Among the influential figures of the Anderson Electric Car Company were Henry Ford and Thomas Edison. The first cars were equipped with lead-acid batteries, with the option to replace them with iron-nickel batteries. In 1920, the brand was renamed The Detroit Electric Car Company. The brand was closed in 1939. Zap (USA) and Youngman (China) revived the brand with the first ZAP Xebra car.
Dome
A Japanese sports car industry representative, Dome Co. Ltd., was founded in 1975 by Minor Hayashi, who created his first Karasu car based on the Honda S600 coupe. The production was located in Maibara, Japan. The brand’s product portfolio includes single-seat racing cars and sports prototypes. In 1975, Takaragaike Hayashi created the Dome brand based on his father’s production. The first road-going concept car, the Dome Zero, would see the light of day in 1978. A racing prototype for Formula 1, the Dome F105, is under construction. In 1986, the brand was closed. In 1988, a revival was attempted.
Donkervoort Automobielen BV
Donkervoort Automobielen BV is a Dutch sports car manufacturer based in Lelystad, the Netherlands. It was founded by Joop Donkervoort in 1978 in Thienhoven. The production is based on creating cars with a Lotus Seven-style design. In 1996, the brand signed a powertrain supply agreement with Audi. Production focused on creating open models without electronic aids, in line with the company’s motto: No compromise. In 2007, the first production model, the Donkervoort D8 GT, was released in a closed version.
Doran Enterprises
The American brand Doran Enterprises is a group of companies covering various production and sports fields, founded in 1993. It is a racing sports team, Doran Racing, and a company that produces components and racing cars, and restores antique cars, Doran Designs. The brand is headquartered in Lebanon, Ohio. The production facility has produced a large number of race cars. Among the brand’s successful models is the DORAN JE4 Daytona prototype.
DP Motorsport
Among tuning and design companies, the German design office DP Motorsport became world famous for its specialization in creating unique Porsche designs. Founded by Ekkehard Zimmermann in 1973, the brand distinguished itself by creating unique shapes and designs for Porsche models such as the P 962, 935 DP II and III, Speedy Irishman, and 911 Sleeper 3.2. The culmination was the DP44 Cargo model. All of the brand’s works, including the chassis of the 30 Formula-V and Super-V race cars personally designed by Zimmermann, are characterized by a distinctive elegance and unrivaled appeal.
Drekar ASV
American car tuning is represented by a wide range of brands, among which Drekar ASV (American Specialty Vehicles) is especially famous. The company was founded by brothers Jan and Kurt Austin over 85 years ago. The company became famous for its prototypes and unique specialty vehicles, including the Drekar Firebird Trans Am Z15 and ambulances. Today, the brand is a leader throughout the southwestern United States. The brand is headquartered in Arkansas, USA.
Dual-Ghia
The Dual-Ghia car brand is quite rare, as it has existed for only two years. Founded in 1956 in Detroit, Michigan, Dual-Motors Corporation and Carrozzeria Ghia focused on the one-off production of premium sports cars. Signature models, the Firearrow I, II, III, and IV, were built on the Dodge base. The Firebomb model was also developed and prepared for production. In 1958, production under this brand was completed.
Duesenberg
In 1913, the Auburn, Indiana, automobile company was founded. Founded by brothers Frederick and August Duesenberg, the company was established to offer the automotive market expensive luxury cars to maintain the owner’s image. It succeeded, and the brand entered the history of the automobile industry as a manufacturer of expensive, high-quality general-purpose cars and successful racing models. The brand was discontinued in 1937.
Du Pont Motors
Du Pont Motors is an American manufacturing company founded by E. Paul du Pont to produce ship engines. After the end of World War I in 1919, the focus shifted to the automobile industry in Wilmington, Delaware. The first automobile, the Model A, was unveiled at the International Salon at the Commodore Hotel in New York City in 1919. In 1928, the Model G saw the light of day. Until 1931, the brand assembled and sold 625 cars. The luxury of finishing and ease of operation, as well as their high quality and stylishness, put Du Pont cars in line with the elite products of the time from Packard, Cadillac, Stutz, and Duesenberg. In 1932, the brand was merged with the Indian Motorcycle Company under joint ownership by E. Paul du Pont.
Datsun
The Japanese automobile brand Datsun was founded in 1911 and changed its original name to Nissan in 1934. It is based in Yokohama, Japan. After the renaming, the brand retained the parent trademark and produced models under the Datsun brand name. In 1914, the first DAT-Car was produced. The title monogram consisted of the investors’ last names. In 1918, the company was renamed Kwaishinsha Motor Car Co., Ltd. In 1925, DAT Jidosha & Co., Ltd. became a subsidiary of Tobata Casting Co., Ltd. In 1931, the brand was given another name, DAT Jidosha Seizo Co., Ltd, which gave rise to the name Datson and later Datsun cars. To strengthen Nissan’s core name, the brand was abandoned. However, in 2012, the brand was revived, and it closed again in 2020.
DS
The DS automaker, founded by the PSA Peugeot Citroën Group, was first announced in 2009 as a premium sub-brand. The company is headquartered in Paris, France. The name given to the brand is an acronym for Different Spirit or Distinctive Series, both a reference to the historic Citroën DS model and a play on words – a variant of the French déesse (goddess). In 2010, the first car, the DS3 hatchback, was launched. It is a combined variant of two models, Citroën C3 Pluriel and Citroën DS Inside. Since 2012 in China and 2014 everywhere else, Citroën has excluded the DS from its lineup, making DS Automobiles independent.
DAF Trucks
Dutch company DAF Trucks, headquartered in Eindhoven, was founded in 1928. Hubert van Doorne founded the company Commanditaire Vennootschap Hub van Doorne’s Machinefabriek. After expanding production in 1932, he changed the brand name to Van Doorne’s Aanhangwagen Fabriek, DAF. Since 1949, the company has produced trucks, trailers, and buses, changing the name to Van Doorne’s Automobile Fabriek. The company’s first product was a car, the DAF A30. Since 1956, the brand has been producing its engines. Today, the brand has thousands of dealerships around the world.
DINA S.A.
DINA is a truck and bus manufacturing company in Ciudad Sahagun, Hidalgo, Mexico. Founded in 1951, it is part of the Grupo Empresarial G group, which it joined in 1989. The company is known for its numerous agreements with global brands, including Fiat, Renault, Flxible, Cummins, Perkins, Chrysler, Caterpillar, Scania, MCI, Škoda, Spicer, Eaton, and Dana, which have provided it with technological advantages and commercial success. Today, the brand’s products are buses that are widely used in Latin America for various purposes.
Dongfeng
One of the largest Chinese corporations is Dongfeng Motor Corporation, or DFM, from Wuhan, China. It was founded in 1969 at the personal order of Mao Zedong. Production includes light vehicles and all commercial vehicles, as well as components and equipment. Today, this brand, along with Chang’an Motors, FAW Group, and SAIC Motor, tops the list of the country’s best automakers. It has joint ventures with leading foreign brands, including Volvo and Renault.
Drako Motors
American company Drako Motors, Inc., founded in 2013 by Dean Drako and Shiv Sikand, is based in San Jose, California, USA. Its track record includes DriveOS and the Drako GTE luxury sports sedan, introduced in 2019 by The Quail Motorsport. In 2921, the brand announced the Drako Dragon, featuring higher-torque inverters and upgrades, along with new battery technology. The suspension and cooling system were redesigned.
Dayun
Dayun Group, an automobile brand from Yuncheng, Shanxi, China, was founded in 1987. Being one of the largest Chinese conglomerates, the brand includes several subsidiaries: Dayun Light Truck, Dayun Motor, Dayun Motorcycle, Dayang Motorcycle, Weichai Engine, Dayun Real Estate Development, and Luoyang Dayun. Each produces a certain type of vehicles and equipment, supplying them to domestic and foreign markets under a single Dayun brand. Thus, Dayun Light Truck, founded in 2009 in Chengdu (Sichuan Province, China), produces light trucks. Dayun Motor produces heavy trucks.
Dartz
Dartz Motorz, a Latvian subsidiary of Dartz Grupa OÜ, based in Estonia, is a follower of the Russo-Balt plant in Riga, Latvia. Its owner, Leonard F. Jankelovich, wanted to restore the historical name, but it had already been sold. The company was first talked about in 2009 after it introduced its Prombron model. It was created in 9 variants: Iron Diamond, Iron Xtal, Monaco Red Diamond Edition, Black Dragon, Black Russian, Gold Russian, Aladeen, White Horse, and Monako. In 2010, the T-98 Kombat was released. In 2014, we had a Black Shark and a Black Snake. The variants are sedan or station wagon, standard or short/long wheelbase.
DAB
The automobile brand DAB, or Danish Automobile Building, was founded in 1912 in the Danish city of Silkeborg by German J.W.Darr. The first products were trucks. Later, the company installed bus bodies on truck chassis. During the two World Wars, the brand switched entirely to bus production, becoming the world’s largest manufacturer. Cooperation with British Leyland Motors in 1953 allowed the use of brand components. In the 1970s, Leyland became the majority shareholder and renamed it Leyland-DAB. In 1990, United Bus acquired shares in the brand. In 1997, the brand was renamed Scania A/B, Silkeborg. In 2002, the DAB name ceased to exist.
Dadi Auto
Dadi Automobile Group Co., Ltd is a Chinese manufacturing company founded in 1988 by Baoding Dadi Auto Group in Baoding, China. Initially, the company produced defense vehicles. In 1988, after being renamed Dadi Auto, the company created its civilian pickup truck. The first lineup was Great Wall Motor and Zhongxing. In the 2000s, the brand shifted its focus to producing commercial vehicles. In 2011, CHTC bought the company, and in 2012, it was merged into Hengtian (CHTC) Dadi Automobile Co., Ltd.
Dallara
One of the racing chassis and Formula 3 car manufacturers is Dallara Automobili da Competizione, founded by Gian Paolo Dallara in 1972 near Parma, Italy. Dallara cars debuted in the Italian Formula 3 race in 1978. In 1988, the company introduced Formula 1 cars, which the Scuderia Italia team used. In 2009, the brand began developing a car for the Campos Meta team to compete in the 2010 championship. However, production was suspended due to the team’s reorganization, and the subsequent Hispania F110 did not meet expectations.
Daniels Motor Company
The pioneering American automobile brand Daniels Motor Company was founded in 1915 in Reading, Pennsylvania, USA. Its organizers were George E. Daniels and Neff E. Parish. The company was created to produce automobiles only on individual orders. Each automobile was a work of art. In 1916, 142 Daniels A cars were produced. In 1917, the three-seat Daniels B coupe was developed. A new factory was opened in the 1920s. The financial crisis in 1923 led to the brand’s decline and closure in 1924.
Dare (UK) Limited
Dare (UK) Limited is a British automobile manufacturer founded by Ivor and Trevor Vallett, and by the latter’s son, Mark, in November 1990 in Colchester, UK. The founders own the rights to manufacture the Ginetta, two models: the G4 and G12. The brand was created to produce sports cars for the Japanese company Ginetta Cars, which ceased operations in 1992. The Ginetta G4 and G12 models are still produced and sold today. The D3 and TG Sport models have become independent products of the brand.
Dacon
Dagmar
Dakar
Darracq
Davis
Davrian
Daytona Motors
DB
De Dietrich
De Lorean
De Soto
Deep Sanderson
DeLaChapelle
Dellow
Derways
Devaux Pty Ltd
Devrim
Diana
Diar
DIM Motor Company
Diva
Dixi
DKW-Vemag
DMC
Dominion
Dort
DR Motor Company
Dragon
Ducati
Duesen Bayern
Durant
Durkopp
Dutton
Dynasty Electric
