Gemballa uses a global logo because it represents our planet. It symbolizes the international level – the fact that the cars of this manufacturer drive around the world- as proof: a personal inscription on the background of the globe. Another important detail is the shield. It represents excellent protection and superior product quality.
Gemballa began before its official launch. In the late 1970s, Uwe Gemballa was modifying BMW and Porsche interiors in Leonberg, near Stuttgart, with leather trim, custom dashboards, and advanced audio and video systems. In 1981, the company was formally founded as Gemballa and started producing aerodynamic programs for Porsche 911, 924, and 928 models, while also completing an interior project for Mercedes-Benz through AMG.
In 1985, Germany’s KBA registered Gemballa as a car manufacturer. The same year brought the Avalanche, based on the Porsche 911 Turbo 930, with wide bodywork, Ferrari Testarossa-style side intakes, and a heavily rebuilt cabin. The Cyrrus cabriolet followed on the same base. In the 1980s, Gemballa became known for extreme luxury tuning, with rear-view cameras, dashboard monitors, fax machines, and publicity links with Pioneer.
In the 1990s, demand shifted toward less aggressive styling. Gemballa opened a California office and kept working with newer Porsche 911 generations. In 1998, the company moved to its current facility in Leonberg. In 2001, the Gemballa GTR 600, based on the Porsche 996 GT3, set a Nürburgring Nordschleife road-car record of 7 minutes 32.5 seconds, beating TechArt.
In the 2000s, Gemballa expanded its lineup with the Cayenne Aero III package and the 2007 Mirage GT, based on the Porsche Carrera GT. The 2008 crisis hit the luxury tuning market, and in 2010, Uwe Gemballa disappeared in South Africa and was later found dead. German authorities sealed the factory, but Andreas Schwarz and Steffen Korbach bought the brand rights in August 2010 and relaunched Gemballa GmbH. Later projects included Tornado, Mistrale, and a McLaren MP4-12C GT package.
Meaning and History
The modern Gemballa brand has high status and recognition among drivers in many countries. This is shown not only by multi-million-dollar profits but also by its luxurious visual identity. The logo shows the classic rigor of black, the energy of red, and the neutrality of white. This combination creates an image of distinctive charm and extravagance.
In addition, the chosen palette is traditional for the automotive industry. White, red, and black are often used for high-end luxury car brands. But this icon emerged only later. Initially, the company had a different name and a simpler logo. Founder Uwe Gemballa created the brand back in 1981.
At the time, it was called G-Topline Automobiltechnik GmbH & Co. KG, and it used the corresponding emblem. But in 2010, the entrepreneur went missing, and the company went bankrupt. Gemballa GmbH’s current president, Andreas Schwarz, saved the company. He brought the company to a leading position and made it one of the best in its field. During this period, the company also began rebranding and developing a new style for the renewed enterprise.
What is Gemballa?
This German automotive engineering business, headquartered in Leonberg, is known as one of the most extreme Porsche tuners, creating powerful and original vehicles. Founded by Uwe Gemballa, the company transforms outstanding Porsche models into impressive machines through extensive modifications, from serious engine upgrades that boost performance to radical body alterations. The company’s portfolio includes legendary designs based on Porsche models, especially the 911 and Cayenne series. Beyond Porsche, the company also modifies high-end vehicles, solidifying its status as a leading name in exclusive luxury-car tuning projects.
2011 – 2017
After becoming head of the company, A. Schwartz made several operational changes and decided to create a new logo. It reflected the company’s values and respect for a key figure, Uwe Gemballa. Black was chosen as the image background. In the context of the brand style, it conveys classicism, rigor, and elegance. It also immediately catches the eye and is memorable.
Usually, black is used for font design. But Gemballa designers departed from tradition and created a truly exclusive logo with an expressive black background. At the top, the company’s name was painted white and framed by thin white lines.
The font was quite unusual. The letters were the same size and looked like one continuous strip. The inscription’s readability faded into the background, but it favorably emphasized the brand name. In the middle was another Gemballa attribute: an icon in the form of a twisted spiral of the letter G. For the symbol’s design, a bright red color was chosen, which goes well with white and black.
2017 – today
In 2017, the company decided to change the visual concept again. This was a desire to update the style and modernize the emblem. The logo was based on its previous version, with additions and improvements. Features of the new concept include:
- adding inscriptions;
- preservation of colors;
- The appearance of a new element in the form of a globe icon.
In addition, the elegant, thematic style was preserved, emphasizing Gemballa’s status. The new globe addition made sense. The company entered the global market and expanded its reach. The new badge reflected this change directly.
Font and Colors
The Gemballa logo is recognizable and unique. It reflects the brand’s values while conveying a respectful attitude toward the founder in modern management. This is evident in the addition of an English inscription by Uwe Gemballa. The designer chose a very unusual, hard-to-read font for the design. The letters are strongly elongated and hand-inscribed. This design adds a special charm and emphasizes exclusivity.
The unique inscription is complemented by the word Design, set in large, spaced-out block letters. Although the wordmarks are in different formats, they complement each other well. The upper part of the logo remained unchanged. It bears the inscription “Gemballa,” set in soft, voluminous letters. The coloring includes three colors:
- red;
- black;
- white.
The background color is black. The Uwe Gemballa lettering uses a combination of black and white, with the globe icon and top lettering in neutral white and the Design lettering in vibrant red. The contrasting colors make the logo memorable and unique.





