The automobile is one of mankind’s most significant achievements. The history of automobile construction, which began in the middle of the 18th century, passed through several turbulent stages of development, determined by the means used to achieve motion and obtain the necessary energy. At the same time, later periods in the automobile’s development were also shaped by trends in size, style, and purpose. At the same time, road transportation has many positive implications for societal development, values, and the conveniences it provides for people. Among them are saving time on the road and reducing the physical costs of cargo transportation.
What car brands begin with the letter H?
There are far fewer automobile brands and car companies whose names begin with the letter H than with other letters. However, many significant brands have left their mark on history. Among them are Honda and Horch, Hyundai and Hennessey. You can learn more about each of them and get acquainted with many others by visiting the resource dedicated to the history of automobile manufacturing, which provides detailed information on brands whose names begin with this letter.
And if the slogan that appeared at the beginning of the century, “A car is not a luxury, but a means of transportation,” was the goal everyone aspired to, then today it is realized. Now, everyone can choose a car based on the tasks they need to solve with it and their income.
Hafei
Chinese manufacturer of small cars, the company Hafei (Harbin HF Automobile Industry Group Company Ltd.), founded in 1994 in Harbin, was established as a subsidiary of the National Aircraft Corporation of China. The first automobile was a small Daewoo Tico. In 1996, the Hafei Zhongyi minivan, a joint work with Pininfarina, was released. In 2003, the brand was named the fastest-growing company. In 2008, the brand was renamed Hafei Motor. In 2008, 2 million cars were produced.
Heynsdyk
Among the little-known automakers that have contributed to the development of the automotive industry is the Dutch company Heynsdyk or Heijnsdijk Sportscars Ltd. It was founded in 2006 by Ronald Heynsdyk and is based in Eindhoven, Netherlands. Today, the brand is a subsidiary of Normfinish, which produces finished cars based on the Porsche 944. The same product type is also the main product type for Heynsdyk, which produces sports cars. The company developed and launched the Heynsdyk 2500SF sports car in 2009.
Hispano-Suiza
Hispano-Suiza was a Spanish automobile brand that produced expensive luxury cars. It was founded in 1904 by Mark Birkigt, Juan Castro, and Damian Mateu in Barcelona, Spain. The company was based on the bankrupt electric omnibus firm La Cuadra, where Birkigt worked as an engineer. The company was bought by Juan Castro and renamed J. Castro Fabrica Hispano-Suiza de Automoviles. But a year later, it was bought by Damian Mateu and Francisco Seio and named La Hispano-Suiza Fabrica de Automoviles S.A. In 1906, the company produced 300 copies of the Hispano-Suiza 20NR. One of the famous models is the Hispano-Suiza H6. But in 1936, it switched to aircraft orders.
Holden
The Holden automobile brand was well-known in Australia. It was founded in 1856 by Edward Vivall Holden in Melbourne, Australia. The company’s founder had moved to South Australia from England and established his business, J. A Holden and Co. When the founder’s son, Edward Vivalle Holden, joined the business in 1905, auto parts manufacturing began. In 1919, the company became Holden’s Motor Body Builders Ltd (HMBB), fitting bodies to Chevrolet chassis. In 1931, the company became part of General Motors, which renamed it General Motors-Holden Ltd.
Hommell
Among French manufacturers, the automobile brand Hommell stood out for its ideas. The company was founded in 1990 in Loheac, Ile-et-Vilaine, France, by Michel Hommell, a former racing driver and owner of Échappement, a magazine covering automotive topics. Michel decided to realize his dream by creating a two-seat sports coupe; the prototype was presented at the Paris Salon in 1990, and the production version was presented at the Geneva Motor Show in 1994. In 1998, the Barquette open-top version and the Berlinette RS model were created. In 2001, the Berlinette RS2 model was presented. But in 2003, the brand was closed.
Honda
The second-largest automobile company in the world is the Japanese brand Honda Motor Co., founded in 1948 by Japanese engineer and inventor Soichiro Honda and banker Takeo Fujisawa. In 1959, the brand was named the largest motorcycle manufacturer. Having expanded production to include automobiles (the first Honda T360 pickup truck was released in 1963), the company fell to second place behind Takeo Fujisawa in 2001. Today, the brand is based in Paste, Tokyo, with several divisions and an Acura subsidiary producing high-end premium cars.
Hongqi
China’s oldest automaker, Hongqi, was founded in 1958 and today is owned by FAW Car Company, part of the FAW Group. The brand is headquartered in Changchun, Jilin Province, China. The main direction of its activity was the production of Lux-class cars, initially developed and produced for the state apparatus, a line that was discontinued in 1981. But in the 1990s, the company was revived. The most famous is the government model, the Hongqi CA72. Later, cabs and affordable business sedans were produced under this brand.
Hooper
Hooper was originally a British manufacturer of luxury “dressage” and customized carriages for the royal family and the “powers that be.” Founded in 1805 as Adams and Hooper, it received a named royal warrant for production in 1930. Its carriages were characterized by a unique elegance and decoration bordering on a work of art. In the 1920s, the brand switched to producing luxury bodies: the Tourer 1920 on the Rolls-Royce 40/50 Silver Ghost chassis and the Limousine 1929 on the Rolls-Royce Phantom I chassis. After the war, the production of luxury sedans in the Empress style began. The seven-seat limousine for the Prince Regent of Iraq is particularly famous. In 1959, the brand changed its name.
Horch
August Horch founded the Horch brand in 1904. The company’s office was located in Zwickau, Saxony, Germany, specializing in products for medium- and premium-class cars. The brand was founded in 1899 as Horch & Cie. Motorwagen Werke. In 1904, it was renamed August Horch & Cie. Motorwagenwerke AG. In 1932, it became a part of Auto Union. The brand’s first car, developed before the company was founded, was the Horch 4-15 PS. Almost every year, until the loss of independence, a new model range was produced, among which the Horch 853A of 1938 became especially famous.
Hotchkiss et Cie
1875 American designer-inventor Benjamin Hotchkiss founded Hotchkiss et Cie in Vivier, France, before moving to Saint-Denis. At first, it was engaged in the defense production of artillery guns, small arms, tanks, and APCs. The alternative to defense orders was automobiles. In 1900, a workshop for producing automobile components was opened. The first automobile, the Hotchkiss 17CV, was produced in 1903. 1926 the luxurious AM4 was produced, followed by the AM73 and the AM80 in 1929. The Hotchkiss 686 was produced in 1946. In 1948, the Hotchkiss-Artois was released. In 1966, the brand was absorbed.
Howell Automotive
In 1990, Howell Automotive, a car tuning company, was founded in Kaiser, Virginia, USA. In 2000, Mopar Muscle Magazine recognized it as the world’s best car tuner. She became famous for modifying the Dodge Neon SRT-4 car. It became the basis for developing and creating a two-color Howell Neon SRT-4 supercar model. In 2005, the brand won the Super Four Challenge FWD Class competition, organized by Car & Driver magazine. From 2007 to 2011, it received a Governor’s Commendation for securing the region’s entry into the international market.
HRG
HRG Engineering Company was founded in 1936 in Tolworth, Surrey, England, by three friends, Edward Halford, Guy Robins, and Henry Ronald Godfrey. The brand’s name was formed from the first letters of the founders’ surnames. In the 21 years since its founding, the brand has specialized in producing passenger cars, creating its prototype in 1935. The first production HRG weighed less than 450 kg and cost half as much as the then-popular Aston Martin. The 1947 HRG Aerodynamic model was particularly popular.
HSV
In 1987, Australian company Holden created the Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) division in Clayton (Victoria, Australia), the founder of which was Tom Walkinshaw. The division’s remit was to design, modify, and manufacture high-performance vehicles. Among its modifications, the Commodore, Caprice, Statesman, Ute, and commercial vehicles, as well as several variants from General Motors’ overall model lines, are particularly well known. The division was closed in 2020.
Hudson
Between 1909 and 1954, there was a car brand called Hudson Motor Car Company in Detroit, Michigan, United States. The corporation was named after the surname of Joseph L. Hudson, who financed its creation. Among the founders was Roy D. Chapin Sr. The company’s first automobile, the Twenty, was produced in the year the company was founded and became the cheapest automobile in the United States. In addition to the widespread mass production of affordable cars, the brand is also known for developing innovative automotive designs and the 6-cylinder engine. In 1919, the brand formed a joint production partnership with Essex, which ended in 1932.
Hulme Supercars
New Zealand entrepreneur Jock Freemantle and designer Tony Parker founded the car company Hulme Supercars Limited in New Zealand in 2003. This allowed Tony Parker to realize his hobby of real cars. The founders dedicated the company to New Zealand’s only Formula One world champion, Denny Hulme. The brand gained fame by designing and building two sports cars: the Hulme F1 racing car and the Hulme CanAm road model, both of which feature a mid-engine layout.
Hyundai
The Korean automobile industry occupies a leading position today. Among the leading South Korean brands, Hyundai Motor Company ranks third globally. The brand was founded in 1967 by Jeon Ju-yong. The brand received government permission to produce its cars in 1972, becoming one of four companies to do so. The first car produced was the Hyundai Pony. By the eighties, the concern produced 50,000 cars a year. The most popular model, the Sonata sedan, was released in 1988. In 1996, the first sports model, the Coupe, appeared. In 1998, the brand absorbed the famous Kia Motors brand.
Hino
Hino Motors, Ltd of Hino-shi, Tokyo, Japan, was founded in 1942 as a subsidiary of the Toyota Group. In 1913, it was founded as Tokyo Gas Industry, which merged with Kyodo Kokusan K.K. in 1937, then changed its name to Diesel Motor Industry Co., Ltd., and later to Isuzu Motors Limited. In 1942, Hino Heavy Industry Co., Ltd., which produced marine diesel engines, was spun off. After the war, the brand switched to producing cars and buses, changing its name to Hino Industry and, in 1948, to Hino Diesel Industry Co., Ltd. In 1961, production of the licensed Contessa 900 began.
Haval
Chinese car brand Great Wall Motors created the Haval division in 2013 to produce crossovers and SUVs. The name was derived from the English saying “I Have All.” Thus, the brand demonstrates who its products are intended for. By producing expensive, comfortable cars, the company relied on affluent buyers. Each model had rich equipment. In 2005, the Haval H3 crossover was released, becoming the first Chinese SUV to be produced. In 2011, the Haval H6 appeared. Today, Haval is sold worldwide.
Hindustan Motors
Among the oldest Indian automakers, Hindustan Motors, based in Kolkata (West Bengal, India) and founded by B.M. Birla in 1942, is well known. The brand is part of the Birla Technical Services conglomerate. For a long time, the brand was the country’s leading car manufacturer until it lost its supremacy to Maruti Udyog. It is known for its Ambassador and Landmaster model ranges. The latter was based on the Morris Oxford third series launched in 1956. In 2017, the company sold the Ambassador brand to Peugeot SA.
Hongyan
Hongyan is the vehicle brand under which SAIC Iveco Hongyan Commercial Vehicle Co, Ltd is sold. It is a Chinese joint venture based in Chongqing, China, founded in 2003 and built on the site of the Sichuan Automobile Manufacturing Plant. The brand combines three manufacturers: SAIC, Iveco, and Chongqing Hongyan. Heavy trucks produced by the brand are based on Iveco models under an agreement signed at the brand’s foundation. Genlyon (based on Iveco Stralis AS), Kingkan, Genpaw, and Gentruck represent the brand’s model range.
Higer
HIGER Bus, a manufacturer of city and tourist buses, was founded in 1998 in Suzhou as Suzhou King Long. Its founder was King Long United Automobile. Today, HIGER Bus is the leading manufacturer in its country and ranks second globally. The company works closely with the Swedish brand Scania, which provides quality control of the products. More than 50 passenger vehicle series have already been developed and produced under this brand, and about 30 unique models have been created. In 2006, a joint Scania-Higer project was realized.
Haima
In 1992, in Haikou City (Hainan, China), Hainan Mazda Motor Company was a joint venture between the government of Hainan province and the Mazda automobile brand. Its mission was to develop parts for Mazda sold in the Chinese market. In 2006, Mazda sold its stake in FAW Group, making FAW Group a subsidiary. Despite completing the contract with the Japanese company, the technology transfer continues without the right to use the brand. The brand name itself combines elements of two names: a province and a car brand.
Hawtai
The Chinese automobile company Hawtai Motor Group, based in Beijing, was founded in 2002 and specializes mainly in SUVs. The collaboration with Hyundai gave the brand access to its technology. Since 2011, Zhang Xugeng has owned the company. The company has a department for the development and production of diesel engines. In 2010, the lineup included fully in-house sedans, from development to production.
Hillman
Famous in the early twentieth century, the British automobile brand Hillman is owned by the Hillman-Coatalen Company, which William Hillman and Louis Coatalen founded in Ryton-on-Dunsmore, England, in 1907. Three years later, the company was renamed the Hillman Motor Car Company. In 1928, the brand was acquired by the Humber Company, which used the brand name for its smaller Humber Limited model, produced from 1931. However, the Hillman brand remained in use until 1937, and the larger cars of the former brand were sold. After several resales to new owners, the Hillman was used by Chrysler’s last customer until 1967.
Hupp Motor Car Company
In 1909, Bobby Hupp and Charles Hastings founded the Hupp Motor Car Company in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The first automobile was the Hupp 20, a small car. By the end of 1909, the brand produced 500 cars. But the very next year, production increased tenfold. In 1911, the Hupmobile, with an open top and an all-metal body, was released. In 1912, the RCH runabout was produced, and in 1913, the Model 32 Touring Car. In 1933, the Model K “cycle fender” appeared, and in 1934, the Model J Aerodynamic introduced a new design. But the Graham Hollywood model, released in 1941, was the last.
Habib Motors
HAL
Hummer
Hanomag
Hansa
Harley Davidson
Hartge
Healey
Heinkel Kabine
Heinkel
Hennessey
Hertz
Heuliez
Highland
Hispano Argentina
Hofstetter Turbo
Holland Car PLC
HTT Plethore
Huali
Huayang
Humber
Hurtan Desarrollos S.L.
Hurtu
Heron
Hope Motor Company
Final Thoughts
It’s been pretty cool wrapping up our look at car brands that start with “H.” We checked everything from the fancy Hispano-Suiza to the tough Hudson Motor Company cars. It’s been fun to see how different each brand is and how they all aim to make great cars.
We talked about Horch, focusing on luxury and crafting high-quality cars. Then there’s the FAW Car Company in China, which demonstrates the growth of the car-making industry there, particularly when it collaborates with companies from other countries.
We also looked at brands that make specialized vehicles, like Iveco, which focuses on building vehicles for specific jobs and doing them well. These companies are important because they help in their countries and bring new ideas to how we get around.
Our journey showed us cars from all over, from fancy ones in Europe like Bentley and Maserati to tough trucks like the Hilux that can handle rough roads. We even learned how South Korea is doing awesome things in car manufacturing.
Thinking about all these “H” car brands got us talking about how cars have changed places, people’s lives, and even whole countries. Cars aren’t just about getting from one place to another; they’re about what people dream up and make happen, from super strong trucks to nice cars and even electric ones that look to the future.
As we finish talking about the “H” car brands, it’s clear that cars are more than just machines. They share stories of creativity, dreams, and a passion for creating even better cars. It’s exciting to think about what new car we’ll see next and how it’ll take us into the future. This trip through car brands has been a great story of how people keep coming up with new ideas and moving forward.