Germany has long been recognized as a hub of innovation and engineering excellence, and this reputation certainly extends to the country's car industry. German car brands are known for their precision engineering, high-quality materials, and advanced technology, all of which have consistently helped them be at the forefront of innovation.
Many of their inventions and designs have become industry standards, from the development of the four-stroke internal combustion engine and the creation of the first production car to the introduction of diesel engines and the widespread use of turbocharging and direct injection.
Many of the world's most popular car brands were born in Germany, including Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, and Volkswagen. These brands produce reliable cars that are known for their quality and performance, which is why they're so popular with car buyers worldwide.
The Volkswagen Group is the world's largest automaker (based on 2022 revenues), followed by Mercedes-Benz Group in 4th place and BMW AG in 6th place.
Let's take a look, Which car brands are on the list.
Ultra-luxury Car Brands
Maybach is a German ultra-luxury brand with more than 100 years of history. Though the World War II wars disrupted business, the company has been revived by Mercedes-Benz and now enjoys great popularity among wealthy customers in Europe, China, and the United States.
Luxury Car Brands
In the global luxury car market (including the US market), For two consecutive years (2021-2022), BMW has surpassed Mercedes-Benz to become the world's best-selling luxury brand.
Porsche is one of Germany's main luxury sports carmakers. For many car fans, the name is full of temptation; the company is famous for producing high-performance luxury sports cars, such as the 911, 918 Spyder, and Carrera GT. But in recent years, SUVs have become a mainstay of Porsche's lineup; two of its best-selling models are SUVs: The Cayenne topped the list, followed by the Macan and 911.
- 11931-PresentPorscheLuxury Sports Cars
- 21916-PresentBMWLuxury Vehicles
- 31926-PresentMercedes-BenzLuxury Vehicles
- 41909-PresentAudiLuxury Vehicles
- 51994-PresentSmartLuxury Small Cars
Mass Market Brands
In the popular market, Volkswagen Marque and Opel are the most well-known.
One of the biggest advantages of the Volkswagen brand is its ability to seize a huge share of the automobile market in China. Volkswagen has been operating in China since the 1980s, and it has become one of the most popular car brands in the country. In fact, Volkswagen is the best-selling car brand in China, and it has been for many years.
One of the main reasons for the popularity of the Opel brand in Europe countries is its affordability and practicality. Opel cars have a reputation for producing well-designed, spacious, and easy-to-drive while also being reasonably priced. This has made Opel a popular choice for families and individuals looking for a reliable, practical car that won't break the bank.
- 11937-PresentVolkswagenMass-Market Cars
- 21862-PresentOpelMass-Market Cars
- 31919-PresentBorgwardMass-Market Cars
Sports Car Brands
In addition to mainstream sports car manufacturers like Porsche and Mercedes, Germany has many unique niche sports car brands such as Apollo, Artega, and Wiesmann. These brands are known for their customized, handmade, high-performance sports cars.
- 12004-PresentApolloSports Cars
- 22006-PresentArtegaSports Cars
- 31988-PresentWiesmannConvertibles
- 41959-PresentMelkusSports Cars
- 51971-PresentBitterSports-Luxury
- 61969-PresentIsderaSports Cars
High-Performance Division
Mercedes-Benz's AMG, BMW's M and Audi's RS all belong to the high-performance modification factory called the "high-performance division." Although there are many similarities between these brands, each has its own unique personality that separates it from the others.
- 11972-PresentBMW MHigh Performance
- 21967-PresentMercedes-AMGHigh Performance
- 31983-PresentAudi SportHigh Performance
Car Tuning, Car Modification
In addition to the high-performance divisions of Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi, many independent modification companies are based in Germany, such as Brabus, Alpina, Carlsson, and Mansory. These companies specialize in modifying existing vehicles, such as Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi models, in increasing their power, speed, and overall performance.
They use advanced engineering techniques and cutting-edge technology to transform standard production cars into high-performance machines that compete with some of the world's most advanced supercars.
- 11977-PresentBrabusCar Tuning
- 21989-PresentCarlssonCar Tuning
- 31965-PresentAlpinaCar Tuning
- 41989-PresentMansoryCar Modification
- 52001-Present9ffCar Tuning
- 61939-PresentRUFCar Tuning
- 71987-PresentTechArtCar Tuning
- 81896-PresentABTCar Tuning
Manufacturer, Truck, Bus, Other
MAN Commercial Vehicles is Europe's third-largest truck and bus manufacturer and the largest company in the MAN Group. Today, the company produces various commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses, and other heavy-duty vehicles. Its products are known for their high quality, durability, and innovative engineering and are used by businesses and governments worldwide.
- 11886-PresentDaimlerManufacturer
- 21758-PresentMANTrucks
- 31951-PresentSetraBus
- 51969-PresentEDAGConcept Cars
Defunct Car Brands
Gumpert is a small but highly respected player in the world of high-performance sports cars, known for its innovative engineering and commitment to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in automotive design and technology.
- 12004-2013GumpertSupercars
- 21955-1991WartburgAutomobiles
- 31916-1966DKWAutomobiles
- 41908-1963LloydManufacturer
- 51896-1945WandererAutomobiles
- 61904-1932HorchLuxury Cars
*Sort by defunct time
Rank | Company | Country |
---|---|---|
#1 | Volkswagen | Germany |
#2 | Toyota | Japan |
#3 | Stellantis | Netherlands |
#4 | Mercedes-Benz Group | Germany |
#5 | Ford Motor | United States |
Rank | Company | Country |
---|---|---|
#1 | Michelin | France |
#2 | Bridgestone | Japan |
#3 | Continental | Germany |
#4 | Goodyear | United States |
#5 | Sumitomo | Japan |