Vauxhall Logo PNG
“Behind the wheel of our electric vehicles, you will leave all road users behind,” the Vauxhall logo promises. The company’s products are the vehicles of the winners. The sign conveys energy, excitement, and vivid emotion.
Vauxhall is the oldest UK company to manufacture and sell passenger cars and electric vehicles in the UK. The firm previously specialized in trucks, buses, and vans under the Bedford Vehicles brand. It is a sister brand of Opel and has been part of the Stellantis group since January 2021. Its headquarters and manufacturing facilities are located in Chalton (Bedfordshire). Industrialist Alexander Wilson founded the company in 1857.
Before becoming a legendary luxury car manufacturer, the company grew out of a pump-and-ship engine plant. In 1863, Andrew Betts Brown bought it, changing the business’s direction and name (to Vauxhall Iron Works) but not the logo. The new owner first started assembling bridge cranes and making cars in 1903.
Many years later (in 1925), the American concern General Motors acquired the company. In 1930, he created a subsidiary department, Bedford Vehicles, focused on producing commercial vehicles, including vans and buses. But in the early 80s of the last century, the company pulled all of this brand’s equipment from the market everywhere. The only exception was Great Britain. Under this brand, the company even produced cars for rallying and other motorsport disciplines. But in 2017, Groupe PSA acquired Vauxhall.
Vauxhall’s iconic retro models include the Cavalier, Chevette, Viva, and Victor series. Modern versions include the Astra, Corsa, Insignia, Crossland X, Mokka, and Grandland X. Vauxhall sells several high-performance cars under the GSi sub-brand. They all bear a sign with a mythical creature, a red griffin. The company approved the emblem when it was founded.
Meaning and History
What is Vauxhall?
Vauxhall is one of the most enduring automotive brands in the United Kingdom, beginning as the British division of General Motors and later joining the Stellantis group. The brand has retained its unique British identity, producing models known across the country. It has secured a special place in British automotive culture by offering vehicles that meet British drivers’ preferences and needs, from the sporty Corsa and family-friendly Astra to the practical Insignia.
1857 – 1983
The name Vauxhall traces its origins to Fulk’s Hall, meaning “Fulk’s house,” on land south of the River Thames. The property belonged to Falkes de Breauté, also known as Fulk le Breant. The military commander served King John in the 13th century and was granted land in Luton. His marriage to Margaret de Redvers gave him rights to property near the Thames. Over time, Fulk’s Hall became Vauxhall. The griffin from Fulk’s heraldry later appeared on the automaker’s emblem, giving its name and symbol a shared medieval origin.
The business began in 1857 on Wandsworth Road in London. Scottish engineer Alexander Wilson founded Alexander Wilson and Co. to manufacture marine engines, pumps, and mechanical equipment. In 1897, the company became The Vauxhall Ironworks Company Limited, and in 1903, it introduced its first car. Automobile production moved to Luton in 1905, connecting the business to another location associated with Fulk le Breant. Vauxhall later expanded its lineup to include passenger cars and vans, including electric models.
The early griffin retained the detail of a traditional heraldic illustration. With an eagle’s head and wings and a lion’s body, the creature sat with its head turned to the right. Its front paws held the pole of a small flag bearing the letter “V.” The spear-tipped pole rose in front of its body, a wing extended above its back, and a long tail curled behind it. Feathers, claws, and decorative curls completed the silhouette. The illustration could be reproduced in a single color.
Lettering appeared on Vauxhall radiators before the griffin did. As upright radiators came into use, their surrounds carried the Vauxhall name. Next came intertwined “V” and “M” letters, standing for Vauxhall Motors. They later combined the name and mythical creature in a circular badge.
In 1913, chief engineer Laurence Pomeroy announced a competition to design a radiator badge, offering a prize of 2 guineas. Apprentice Harry Varley won with a design based on Fulk le Breant’s heraldry. He placed a gold-colored griffin with raised feather details against a blue background. The flag carried a white “V,” while the black outer ring featured the gold-colored inscriptions “VAUXHALL,” “MOTORS Ltd.,” and “LONDON.” Three rivets secured the badge to the radiator.
The next enamel version had shallower relief and a thinner flagpole. The inscriptions around the edge read “VAUXHALL MOTORS LTD” and “LUTON ENGLAND,” with the lower portion identifying the manufacturing location. In late 1927, the R-Type 20-60 introduced a badge mounted from the back. This left the front surface smooth, with gold-colored dots filling the spaces between the inscriptions. For the 1931 Cadet, the emblem was placed in a diamond-shaped frame. Inside, the griffin continued to hold its flag bearing the letter “V.”
1983 – 1989
The red-square version of the Vauxhall emblem replaced the detailed heraldic illustration with a white griffin silhouette. A rich red background brought the creature and brand name together within a white-and-gray border.
The griffin occupied the upper portion of the square. The tips of its wing and flagpole extended beyond the edges, making the figure appear large within the frame. Its interior details remained white. Below the griffin, the name “VAUXHALL” appeared in uppercase serif lettering against the red background.
1989 – 2003
The switch from a square frame to a circle changed both the griffin’s outline and the placement of the Vauxhall name. The circular emblem fit a mounting area shared with the sister brand Opel’s logo. Red and white remained, while the lettering moved outside the disc.
The portion of the griffin’s wing previously cropped by the square was restored. The wing now curved along the upper arc of the circle, while the tail occupied the lower portion. The flag took on a semicircular curve that followed the frame’s shape. A red “V” in a simple letterform returned to the white flag.
Black “VAUXHALL” lettering appeared below the emblem. The earlier serif type gave way to tightly set uppercase letters with clean, unadorned stroke endings. The name became a separate wordmark beneath the red-and-white griffin badge.
2003 – 2008
In 2003, the Vauxhall emblem took on the appearance of a three-dimensional metal badge. The existing illustration remained, but silver tones replaced the griffin’s white areas. Bright highlights and shadows along the edges of the creature and flag created a polished-chrome effect.
The red background featured a gradient ranging from scarlet to burgundy. Light and dark areas made the disc appear convex and complemented the silver figure. The entire griffin remained inside the circle, holding a flag bearing the letter “V” in both front paws.
2008 – 2009
Vauxhall’s in-house team, led by Mark Adams, redesigned the emblem for the Insignia launch in 2008. The work continued the changes to the cars’ appearance that had begun with the Astra and Corsa. The logo was adapted for use across advertising formats so the griffin would remain easy to distinguish when reproduced.
The griffin was enlarged, leaving its head, neck, upper wing, and right paw holding the flagpole inside the ring. The flag retained the letter “V,” while the body and tail extended beyond the circle. These larger shapes filled the disc. The name “VAUXHALL” appeared along the upper edge of the frame, with wider spacing between the letters.
The background changed from red to black, while the silver surfaces retained their metallic finish. The ring’s beveled edge appeared glossy. Dark gray areas on the griffin and flag sat alongside white and silver surfaces, using light and shadow to create depth. A bright highlight at the lower right suggested a reflection on polished metal.
2009 – 2011
The Insignia was the first model to feature the enlarged griffin on its front end. The emblem later appeared on other Vauxhall vehicles as those models were updated. Several versions were developed for vehicle badges and corporate materials, including a silver badge and a chrome griffin against a red background.
In the red version, the background replaced black, while the griffin and circular frame outlines remained unchanged. Gray shadows and white highlights on the creature’s neck and the rim created a metallic appearance. The red intensity, shadow darkness, and highlight brightness varied between versions.
The “VAUXHALL” wordmark moved below the circle, restoring the arrangement used from 1989 to 2003. It retained its large, bold sans-serif lettering and became a separate nameplate beneath the metallic emblem.
2011 – 2020
In 2011, Vauxhall vehicles received a slightly revised emblem with a stronger three-dimensional metallic effect. Black and graphite-gray areas were added to the griffin’s neck and wing. White highlights emphasized the illuminated surfaces, creating sharp transitions between light and shadow.
The edges of the circular frame were darkened as well. Broad bands along the sides narrowed toward the bottom, forming an inverted arch with pointed ends. The red “V” on the flag stood out among the silver, white, and dark details.
Initially, the Vauxhall name appeared alongside the emblem. After General Motors sold the brand to Groupe PSA in 2017, they removed the wordmark, leaving the griffin on its own.
2020 – 2026
Vauxhall developed a flat, solid-red emblem for digital screens and a new generation of vehicles. The update formed part of the Opel/Vauxhall rebranding. The brand developed it in-house and credited Mark Adams with the design. The version was introduced in 2019 and began appearing on Vauxhall websites and social media pages in June 2020.
The design retained the griffin’s head, neck, paw, and flag bearing the letter “V.” The wing and small inscription were removed from the top of the ring. A section of the back was exposed on the right, while the flagpole was hidden on the left. Solid red replaced the silver gradients and shadows. The flat artwork suited digital displays, replacing the highlights and tonal transitions that had previously suggested metallic depth.
The name “VAUXHALL” appeared outside the badge in dark blue. The company associated the red-and-blue combination with the brand’s British origins. The wordmark used thinner, redrawn uppercase sans-serif letters while retaining their upright stance.
The Mokka, launched in 2021, was the first model to feature the revised emblem and Vizor front panel, including the electric Mokka-e version. The design was then introduced across other models. Vauxhall’s ownership structure was changing during the same period. In 2020, PSA and FCA announced their merger, and in 2021, Vauxhall joined their newly formed Stellantis group alongside the companies’ other brands.
2026 – today
An illuminated griffin will appear at the center of the updated Vizor front panel on the STX concept station wagon, short for Sports Tourer eXperimental. Vauxhall redesigned the emblem for illumination as part of its preparations for the next generation of electrified vehicles.
Mark Adams described the goal as preserving the griffin’s defining features while reducing small details that made the illuminated silhouette harder to distinguish. The flag bearing the letter “V” was removed, and the outline became more angular. Larger shapes now convey the creature’s form and accommodate lighting.
Following its debut on the STX, the logo is scheduled to appear on a new Vauxhall production model in 2027.
Font and Colors
Since the foundation’s first year, the company has used the original identity associated with the enterprise’s place of origin. First, the name Vauxhall came from the house where the company was formed and spread to the surrounding area. Second, it adopted the old heraldry of the military dynasty Falkes de BBreauté who lived in that building in the 13th century.
The logo’s typeface is hand-drawn, similar to the bold version of Helvetica Sans Serif. It resembles the Radiate Sans Bold Expanded and LCT Picon Extended Black fonts. Since 1989, the inscription has had no serifs; all the letters are even and smooth.
The signature palette consists of red and white. At times, black and gray in several shades, from graphite to light chrome, were also used.