Who owns famous car companies?

Few people, watching the movement of cars, think about who owns famous brands. Without reliable information, a car enthusiast can easily lose a dispute or just feel awkward because of his incompetence.

Throughout the history of the automotive industry, leading brands have repeatedly entered into cooperation agreements. The reasons for this could be very different. Starting from saving the company in the process of rapid bankruptcy, and ending with a short-term partnership to develop exclusive cars.

Here is an amazing story of the most famous automobile brands in the world.

BMW Group

Among motorists, it is generally accepted that BMW is a separate auto brand. In fact, the German concern consists of several well-known companies. It includes:

• BMW;
• Rolls Royce;
• Mini
• BMW Motorrad.

The brand logo appeared after the First World War and consists of the colors of the Bavarian flag. The official date of foundation of the concern is 1916. In 1994, the company acquires shares of the above brands.

The exception is Rolls Royce. When the Bavarian auto industry was about to take patronage over the company, it came under the control of Volkswagen AG. However, the right to own the logo allowed the Bavarians to establish their own company under the name Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

Daimler

The brand is headquartered in Stuttgart. The company appeared in 1926 and was called Daimler-Benz AG. It was formed as a result of the merger of two individual German manufacturers. It is believed that the concern is the most complex alliance. It includes more than a dozen companies.

Among them are manufacturers of high-speed cars, trucks, school buses, minivans and trailers. According to the data for 2018, the brand includes:

• Mercedes-Benz Cars Group (M-Benz, M-AMG, M-Maybach, Smart);
• Daimler Trucks Group;
• Mercedes-Benz Vans Group.

Each of the subsidiaries has several divisions.

General Motors

The largest American company began to grow in 1892. Its founder was R.E. Olds. In those years, automakers under the name Cadillac Automobile Company and Buick Motor Company developed in parallel. In 1903, the three brands merged to eliminate unhealthy competition from the market. From that moment on, the proud General Motors label has flaunted on the grilles of each model.

Further extensions occurred in:

• 1918 (Chevy);
• 1920 (Dayton Engineering Motor Company);
• 1925 (Vauxhall Motors);
• 1931 (Adam Opel);
• 2009 after the initiation of bankruptcy, the brand was renamed to GMC.

Fiat Chrysler

The union of the Italian and American automobile companies appeared in 2014. The starting point is Fiat's purchase of a controlling stake in Chrysler.

In addition to the main partner, the company includes such subsidiaries:

• Maserati
• Automotive lighting
• Ram trucks
• Alfa romeo
• spear
• Jeep
• Dodge

Ford Motor Company

One of the most stable car companies. In the world list takes third place after Toyota and GM. And in the European market it is in second place after Volkswagen. The brand was founded in 1903. The brand name has not changed throughout the history of automobile production.

For over a hundred years, the concern has acquired and sold ownership rights to various enterprises. To date, among his companions such firms:

• Land Rover;
• Volvo Cars;
• Mercury.

Honda Motor Company

The leading Japanese manufacturer of motor vehicles today is one of the ten most active and influential concerns in the automotive industry. Honda was founded in 1948.

In addition to cars with the world famous “H” badge, the company owns most of Acura's shares. The automaker supplies the market with ATVs, jet skis and motors for special equipment.

Hyundai Motor Company

The world-famous South Korean car company appeared in 1967. At the dawn of its activities, the holding did not have its own developments. The first cars were made according to the purchased drawings of Ford.

The debut took place in 1976 with the release of the serial model Pony. The company gained popularity in the automotive market due to the manufacture of low-cost cars.

In 1998, it merged with another major brand - KIA. Until now, new models of the Korean car industry appear on the streets, which could disappear due to its bankruptcy.

PSA Group

Another alliance consists of two once independent car brands. These are Citroen and Peugeot. The amalgamation of the manufacturing giants took place in 1976. Throughout the history of cooperation, the concern bought out a controlling stake from:

• DS
• Opel
• Vauxhall

As a result, today the holding consists of five partners who jointly produce cars beloved by many. So that interest in products does not fall, the PSA leadership decided not to change the logos of the models sold.

Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi

A vivid example of a merger for the sake of increasing sales of new generation motor vehicles. The strategy was born in 2016 since the acquisition of 32 percent of Mitsubishi.

As a result, the Nissan and Reno auto brands that have been cooperating with each other since 1999 saved their name. The development of Japanese engineers brought a fresh stream to the losing popularity of French-made cars.

A feature of the alliance is the lack of headquarters. The resulting "trio" continues to design cars under well-known brands. But at the same time, partners have every right to use each other's innovative developments.

Volkswagen Group

The history of the famous German auto brand dates back to the times of World War II. "People's car" in the stock version and with various modifications does not cease to be popular.

And not only lovers of modern comfortable cars are interested in the model. Rare "bugs" remain the desired "prey" for any connoisseur of antiques. They are ready to pay for the copy more than one tens of thousands of dollars.

For 2018, the concern includes such auto brands:

• Audi;
• Volkswagen;
• Bentley
• Lamborghini;
• Bugatti;
• Porsche;
• Seat;
• Skoda;
• MAN;
• Scania
• Ducati

Toyota Group

This concern consists of more than 300 small companies using the Toyota logo. The group includes:

• Toyota Tsusho Corporation;
• Kyoho Kai Group (211 auto parts companies);
• Kyouei Kai Group (123 logistics companies);
• Dense.

Auto alliance appeared in 1935. The first production car is a pickup truck of model G 1. At the beginning of 2018, Toyota controls the shares of Lexus, Hino and Daihatsy.

Zhejiang geely

The list is completed by another Chinese company, which by mistake is also considered independent. In fact, the logo letters on all auto brands are the name of the parent company. It was founded in 1986.

In 2013, concern cars were produced under the brand name:

• Emgrand
• Gleagle
• Englon

Despite the declining sales turnover (up to $ 3,3 billion per year), Geele vehicles are in demand, both at distributor sites and in the secondary market.

Questions and answers:

Which brand belongs to whom? VW Group: Audi, Skoda, Seat, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, MAN, Seat, Scania. Toyota Motor Corp: Subaru, Lexus, Daihatsu. Honda: Acura. PSA Group ^ Peugeot, Citroen, Opel, DS.

Who owns a Mercedes and a BMW? Concern BMW Group owns: BMW, Mini, Rolls-Royce, BMW Motjrrad. The Mercedes-Benz brand belongs to the Daimler AG concern. This also includes: Smart, Mercedes-Benz Truck, Freightliner, etc.

Who owns a Mercedes? Mercedes-Benz is a car manufacturer that produces premium models, trucks, buses and other vehicles. The brand belongs to the German concern Daimler AG.