Ever wondered who owns your favorite car brands? The world of car ownership is a bit like a big family tree, with brands changing hands, merging, and sometimes disappearing altogether. Let’s dive into who owns what and how these iconic names ended up where they are today!
Volkswagen Group: The Auto Giant
Let’s start with the Volkswagen Group, often called VAG. This huge company owns a bunch of well-known car brands:
- Volkswagen: The main brand, known for its reliable cars like the Golf and Passat.
- Audi: Famous for luxury vehicles and performance cars.
- SEAT: A Spanish brand that makes affordable, stylish cars.
- Škoda: A Czech brand known for practical and budget-friendly cars.
- Porsche: A high-end sports car brand, which Volkswagen fully owns but Porsche also owns a share of VW.
- Bentley, Bugatti, and Lamborghini: These are super-luxury sports and performance brands that VAG scooped up in 1998.
- Ducati: For motorcycle lovers, Ducati is part of the VW Group.
- Scania and MAN: For trucks and buses, VW owns these brands too.
BMW Group: Luxury and Performance
It is another major player in the car world, with a few key brands:
- BMW: Known for luxury and performance, with sub-brands like BMW i for electric cars and BMW M for high-performance models.
- MINI: Small, stylish cars that BMW acquired in 1994.
- Rolls-Royce: The ultimate luxury car brand, owned by BMW since 1998.
BMW also owns the motorcycle brand Motorrad and runs mobility services like DriveNow and ChargeNow.
Daimler: The Mercedes-Benz Company
Daimler is known for its luxury vehicles and has some cool sub-brands:
- Mercedes-Benz: The flagship brand, known for its luxury and performance.
- Mercedes-Maybach: Ultra-luxury versions of Mercedes cars.
- Mercedes-AMG: High-performance models.
- Mercedes-EQ: The electric car line.
- smart: Tiny, city-friendly cars that are going electric.
- Freightliner, FUSO, Western Star, BharatBenz, and Thomas Built: These brands cover trucks and buses.
General Motors: Classic American Brands
GM has had a rough time but still holds onto some classic names:
- Buick: Known for comfort and luxury.
- Cadillac: High-end luxury cars.
- Chevrolet: Popular for a range of vehicles, from trucks to sports cars.
- GMC: Known for trucks and SUVs.
- Holden: An Australian brand, still around in some form.
- Daewoo: A South Korean brand that’s now rebranded as Chevrolet in many markets.
Ford: The American Classic
Ford is one of the most iconic American brands:
- Ford: Known for everything from sports cars to trucks.
- Lincoln: Ford’s luxury brand.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (Now Stellantis): A Global Mix
Fiat Chrysler, now part of Stellantis, has a broad range of brands:
- Fiat: Popular in Europe for affordable cars.
- Chrysler: Known for its American-style cars.
- Dodge: Performance and sporty vehicles.
- Jeep: Famous for off-road SUVs.
- Ram: Trucks and heavy-duty vehicles.
- Alfa Romeo: Stylish, sporty Italian cars.
- Ferrari: The ultimate in Italian sports cars.
- Lancia: Known for its historical cars.
- Maserati: Luxury sports cars.
- Abarth: Performance versions of Fiat models.
Toyota: The Japanese Powerhouse
Toyota, a top player in the global car market, owns:
- Toyota: Known for reliable and efficient cars.
- Lexus: The luxury arm of Toyota.
- Daihatsu: Small, practical cars.
Tata Motors: Indian Expansion
Tata Motors bought several brands:
- Jaguar: Luxury British cars.
- Land Rover: Iconic SUVs.
- Rover: An old British brand, now part of Tata’s portfolio.
Geely: The Chinese Expansion
Geely has made waves in the car world:
- Volvo: A Swedish brand known for safety.
- Lotus: Sports cars with a racing pedigree.
- Lynk & Co: A new brand focused on modern mobility.
- London EV Company: The maker of the classic London black cab, now focusing on electric vehicles.
PSA Group (Now Part of Stellantis): The French Force
PSA Group, now part of Stellantis, includes:
- Peugeot: Known for practical and stylish cars.
- Citroën: Innovative and quirky cars.
- DS Automobiles: Premium and luxury vehicles.
- Opel/Vauxhall: The German and British brands known for practical cars.
Other Notable Brands
- Armstrong Siddeley: Once known for luxury cars, now just a historical name.
- Autobianchi: Integrated into Lancia, with rights now held by the Registro Autobianchi.
- Austin-Healey: Classic British sports cars, now owned by HFI Automotive.
- SAAB: Known for innovation but now owned by NEVS, which doesn’t use the Saab name.
- Sunbeam: Known for speed records and sports cars, now owned by Peugeot.
- Innocenti: Once made cars under license, now part of De Tomaso and then Fiat.
- Riley: Famous for sports cars, owned by BMW but not actively used.
- Oldsmobile: Once a major American brand, discontinued by GM in 2004.
- Rover: A historic British brand now part of Tata Motors.
- Wolseley: Once a leading British brand, now owned by SAIC.
- NSU: Known for innovation, merged into Audi.
- Triumph: Famous for sports cars, owned by BMW after the Rover acquisition.
And there you have it—a snapshot of who owns what in the car world. From luxury brands to everyday drivers, the car industry is a constantly changing landscape with a rich history.
