List of all European Car Brands

Car making is a strategic industry in Europe. It is one of the things that unite the European Union, creating strong connections between the economies of the countries.

Every year, almost 20 million vehicles are produced in the EU. There are over 300 plants across Europe providing jobs for 12 million people and accounting for about 4% of its GDP. Moreover, it is auto industry that is the largest private investor in research and development in Europe (over €50 billion each year). Vehicles produced in Europe are considered the cleanest, safest, and quietest in the world.

In spite of the fact that the EU is definitely a global player, in the nearest future about 80% of the growth in the automotive industry is expected to occur outside the Union.

european cars

Some of the largest car makers include Volkswagen, the Renault Group, and the PSA Group, while the number of brands based here exceeds 150.

BMW

 

BMW Logо

Information: BMW logo meaning
Founded: 1916
Website: www.bmw.com

The flagship brand of the BMW Group has a roundel logo resembling a propeller. Contrary to the popular misconception, this is a purely coincidental resemblance, and the roundel has nothing to do with a propeller. The BMW logo was a created on the basis of the emblem of the Rapp company using the Bavarian national colors.

MINI

Mini Logo

Information: Mini logo meaning
Founded: 2001
Website: www.mini.de

One more BMW Group’s brand has gone through several completely different logotypes since it was established in 1959. The current badge used since 2001 is based on the earlier versions of the logo. The name of the brand in capitals is positioned inside a circle with stylized silver wings.

Audi

Audi Logo

Information: Audi logo meaning
Founded: June 1932 by August Horch
Website: www.audi.com

One of the most notable events in the automaker’s history has been the merger of four companies in 1932. It was then that the emblem with four rings was adopted. Originally, there were emblems of the four companies inside the rings. In the course of time, however, the emblems and the company names disappeared, while the interlocking rings stayed.

Volkswagen

Volkswagen Logo

Information: Volkswagen logo meaning
Founded: May, 1937
Website: www.vw.com

The original 1937 logotype looked different from the current one, yet it already contained the letters “V” and “W” placed one above the other, as well as the circle theme. By 1945, the logo already acquired almost the same shape as it has today.

Skoda

Skoda Logо

Information: Skoda logo meaning
Founded: 1895
Website: skoda-auto.com

The origins of the iconic “winged arrow” emblem date back to 1926. It is supposed to represent the head of a Native American wearing five feathers. The logotype went through a major redesign in 1994 and 2011.

SEAT

Information: SEAT logo meaning
Founded: 1950
Website: www.seat.com

The logo depicts a stylized letter “S”, which is “sliced” in the middle. The innovative, futuristic look is emphasized by the color scheme comprising the red and metallic colors.

Porsche

logo Porsche

Information: Porsche logo meaning
Founded: 1931 by Ferdinand Porsche
Website: www.porsche.com

A tribute to the brand’s native country, the emblem sports the colors of the German flag. The horse is used not only as the symbol of speed, but also as the symbol of the city of Stuttgart, while the background of the logo was inspired by the coat of arms of a former state, which had Stuttgart as its capital.

Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz logo

Information: Mercedes-Benz logo meaning
Founded: 1926 by Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler
Website: www.mercedes-benz.com

The three-pointed star was developed as the symbol of the company’s leadership and dominance on land, on water, and in the air. Interestingly enough, originally the company trademarked one more logo, this time with a four-pointed star, but it has never been actually used.

SMART

 

Smart logо

Information: Smart logo meaning
Founded: 1994
Website: www.smart.com

The badge created for the German manufacturer of subcompact city cars perfectly reflects its innovative spirit. It comprises the letter “C” (‘compact car’) and an arrow symbolizing moving forward.

Renault

Renault Logo

Information: Renault logo meaning
Founded: 1899
Parent company: Renault–Nissan Alliance
Website: group.renault.com

The origins of the iconic diamond shape go back to 1925. The silver color is used as the symbol of sophistication and creativity, while yellow stands for prosperity and optimism.

Dacia

Dacia Logo

Information: Dacia logo meaning
Founded: 1966
Parent company: Renault
Website: www.daciagroup.com

The brand’s previous logos were based on a shield shape, which is only barely visible on the current badge. The current emblem, which was adopted in 2008, features a silver-gray trapezoid, with the brand name written over it.

Peugeot

Peugeot Logo

Information: Peugeot logo meaning
Founded: 1882
Parent company: PSA group
Website: www.peugeot.com

The lion logo made its debut on Peugeot cars in 1905. The image of the lion has undergone numerous alterations, growing more and more abstract.

OPEL

Logo Opel

Information: Opel logo meaning
Founded: January 1862 by Adam Opel
Website: www.opel.com

The company’s earliest logos had nothing to do with the “lightning bolt” emblem the brand uses now. However, the lightning bears remarkable resemblance to the depiction of a zeppelin that made its debut on the 1930s logos.

FIAT

Logo Fiat

Information: Fiat logo meaning
Founded: July 11, 1899
Website: www.fiat.com
Parent company: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

The flagship brand of the Italian-controlled multinational corporation FCA Group, FIAT has a roundel emblem with the brand name appearing against the red background.

Alfa Romeo

logo Alfa Romeo

Information: Alfa Romeo logo meaning
Founded: 24 June 1910
Website: www.alfaromeo.com
Parent company: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

The Alfa Romeo symbol was inspired by the flag of Milan, as well as the Coat of Arms of its former rulers, the family of Visconti. The emblem, which appears to depict a dragon (or a snake) eating a human, actually means the opposite: it is supposed to symbolize a human coming out of the serpent’s mouth, purified and renewed.

Land Rover

logo Land Rover

Information: Land Rover logo meaning
Founded: 1948
Website: www.landrover.com

The Land Rover logo features the company name in white against the green background. It is placed inside an oval shape. The custom typeface has a lot in common with the Gill Sans font.

Jaguar

Jaguar logo

Information: Jaguar logo meaning
Founded: 1922
Parent company: Jaguar Land Rover
Website: www.jaguar.com

The leaping jaguar logo was not the company’s earliest emblem. It was introduced only in 1945, replacing the old logo, which had been in use for a decade.

Volvo

Volvo Logo

Information: Volvo logo meaning
Founded: 1927
Parent company: Geely
Website: www.volvocars.com

The Volvo symbol is a well-known ancient emblem of the god Mars. The same symbol was used by alchemists, it represented iron. Volvo has been using this emblem since the 1920s.

Citroën

Citroën Logo

Information: Citroën logo meaning
Founded: March 1919
Parent company: Stellantis
Website: citroen.com

Pagani

Pagani Logo

Information: Pagani logo meaning
Founded: 1992
Website: www.pagani.com

Aixam

Aixam Logo

Founded: 1983
Website: aixam.com

Ligier

Ligier Logo

Founded: 1968
Parent company: 21 Investimenti Partners
Website: ligier.fr

Venturi

Venturi Logo

Founded: 1984
Website: www.venturi.com

Microcar

Founded: 1984

NEVS

NEVS Logo

Founded: 2012
Parent company: China Evergrande New Energy Vehicle Group
Website: www.nevs.com

Aspid

Aspid Logo

Founded: 2003
Website: www.aspidcars.com

Cupra

Cupra Logo

Founded: 1985
Parent company: SEAT S.A.
Website: www.cupraofficial.com

Lancia

Logo Lancia

Information: Lancia logo meaning
Founded: November 27, 1906
Parent company: Stellantis
Website: www.lancia.com

Saab

Logo Saab

Information: Saab logo meaning
Founded: 1945
Parent company: Saab AB (1945–1968); Saab-Scania (1968–1990); General Motors (1990–2010); Spyker N.V. (2010–2012); NEVS (2012–2014)
Website: saabparts.com/international

Scania

Scania Logo

Information: Scania logo meaning
Founded: 1911
Parent company: Traton
Website: www.scania.com

Polestar

Polestar Lоgo

Information: Polestar logo meaning
Founded: 1996
Website: www.polestar.com

Lynk & Co

Lynk & Co Logo

Founded: 2016
Website: www.lynkco.com

Irizar

Irizar Logo

Founded: 1889
Website: www.irizar.com

Tauro Sport Auto

Tauro Logo

Founded: 2010
Spania GTA

Founded: 1994
Parent company: GTA Motor Competición
Website: www.spaniagta.com

Tramontana

Founded: 2007

Hispano-Suiza

Hispano-Suiza Logo

Founded: June 14, 1904
Website: www.hispanosuizacars.com

Pegaso

Pegaso Logo

Founded: 1946
Parent company: Hispano-Suiza

Abadal

Abadal Logo

Founded: 1912
Defunct: 1923

European Sports Car Brands

European-Sports-Car-Brands

Ferrari

Ferrari Logo

Information: Ferrari logo meaning
Founded: 13 September 1939
Website: www.ferrari.com
Parent company: Exor S.p.A., Piero Ferrari

The logo was inspired by the prancing horse depicted on the plane of the World War I hero Francesco Barraca. It has been used by Ferrari since 1929.

Lamborghini

Lamborghini logo

Information: Lamborghini logo meaning
Founded: 1963
Website: www.lamborghini.com/
Parent company: Audi

There is more than one explanation why the Lamborghini symbol is the bull. Firstly, Ferrucio Lamborghini’s astrological sign was the Taurus (or the bull). Also, Ferrucio was staying on the Miura Ranch, known for its bulls, when the idea to create his company came to him. However, legend has it, that actually Ferrucio just copied the Ferrari logo so as tease Enzo Ferrari.

Bugatti

Information: Bugatti logo meaning
Founded: 1909

McLaren

McLaren Logo

Information: McLaren logo meaning
Founded: 2 December 1985
Website: cars.mclaren.com

Koenigsegg

Koenigsegg Lоgo

Information: Koenigsegg logo meaning
Founded: 1994
Website: www.koenigsegg.com

European Luxury Car Brands

European-Luxury-Car-Brands

Rolls Royce

Rolls-Royce Logo

Information: Rolls-Royce logo meaning
Founded: 1904
Parent company: BMW
Website: www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com

The logo is built around the two “R’s”, the first letters of the company name. We should also mention the mascot, which can be seen on the cars since the 1920s. The so-called Spirit of Ecstasy was based on a sculpture inspired by actress Eleanor Thornton.

Aston Martin

logo Aston Martin

Information: Aston Martin logo meaning
Founded: 1913
Website: www.astonmartin.com

The Aston Martin logo features one more very popular symbol of speed and movement, a wing pattern, with the name of the brand placed over it.

Maserati

Maserati Logo

Information: Maserati logo meaning
Founded: December 1, 1914
Website: www.maserati.com

Maybach

Information: Maybach logo meaning
Founded: 1909
Website: maybach.com

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