Car Brands & Makes

Explore the history, identity, and heritage of major car brands.

A Century of Italian Coachbuilding: The Carrozzerie That Shaped Car Design
Featured · Car Brands & Makes

A Century of Italian Coachbuilding: The Carrozzerie That Shaped Car Design

Italy's design houses gave the world some of its most celebrated car bodies. Here's how the coachbuilding tradition evolved over 100 years.

By Cars & Driving Editorial Team · 6 min · Oct 20, 2023
Automaker Alliances and Mergers: The Corporate Structures Behind the Badges
Car Brands & Makes

Automaker Alliances and Mergers: The Corporate Structures Behind the Badges

Many car brands share platforms, engines, and ownership. This guide explains the major automotive groups and what connects the brands…

By Cars & Driving Editorial Team · 6 min · Jun 12, 2026
Car Marques That Disappeared: A History of Discontinued Automotive Brands
Car Brands & Makes

Car Marques That Disappeared: A History of Discontinued Automotive Brands

Pontiac, Oldsmobile, DeLorean — a look at car brands that no longer exist, why they folded, and what they left behind.

By Cars & Driving Editorial Team · 7 min · Jul 23, 2023
German Engineering vs. Japanese Reliability: Two Philosophies Behind the Wheel
Car Brands & Makes

German Engineering vs. Japanese Reliability: Two Philosophies Behind the Wheel

A look at how German and Japanese automakers approached car design differently and what those philosophies mean for drivers today.

By Cars & Driving Editorial Team · 5 min · Feb 2, 2024
How Car Brands Reinvent Themselves Without Losing Their Identity
Car Brands & Makes

How Car Brands Reinvent Themselves Without Losing Their Identity

From near-bankruptcy revivals to electric pivots, explore how automakers navigate radical change while staying true to their founding character.

By Cars & Driving Editorial Team · 7 min · Dec 31, 2025
How Country of Origin Still Shapes a Car Brand's Global Reputation
Car Brands & Makes

How Country of Origin Still Shapes a Car Brand's Global Reputation

National stereotypes about reliability, performance, and craftsmanship influence how consumers perceive car brands — even when assembly happens elsewhere.

By Cars & Driving Editorial Team · 7 min · Dec 20, 2023
Luxury Marques Explained: Why Some Car Brands Exist Only at the Top of the Market
Car Brands & Makes

Luxury Marques Explained: Why Some Car Brands Exist Only at the Top of the Market

Understand what separates luxury automotive marques from mainstream brands — from manufacturing philosophy to positioning and heritage.

By Cars & Driving Editorial Team · 8 min · Apr 14, 2024
Mass Market vs. Premium Brand: What Actually Separates Them
Car Brands & Makes

Mass Market vs. Premium Brand: What Actually Separates Them

Is the distinction between a mainstream and a premium car brand purely about price? A closer look at engineering, positioning, and perception.

By Cars & Driving Editorial Team · 5 min · Dec 16, 2023
Motorsport Heritage and Road Cars: How Racing Shapes What Reaches the Showroom
Car Brands & Makes

Motorsport Heritage and Road Cars: How Racing Shapes What Reaches the Showroom

Discover how a brand's racing history filters into everyday road car development, from aerodynamics to suspension tuning and engine design.

By Cars & Driving Editorial Team · 9 min · Apr 13, 2025
Reading Between the Lines of a Car Brand's Model Naming Convention
Car Brands & Makes

Reading Between the Lines of a Car Brand's Model Naming Convention

Numbers, letters, animal names — car model naming follows distinct internal logic. Here's how to decode the naming systems used by major manufacturers.

By Cars & Driving Editorial Team · 5 min · May 4, 2023
The Electrification Challenge: What the EV Transition Means for Legacy Car Brands
Car Brands & Makes

The Electrification Challenge: What the EV Transition Means for Legacy Car Brands

Legacy automakers face a complex shift to electric vehicles. Explore the strategic and identity pressures reshaping brands with combustion-era roots.

By Cars & Driving Editorial Team · 6 min · Jan 12, 2024
The Myths Surrounding German Cars That Drivers Still Believe
Car Brands & Makes

The Myths Surrounding German Cars That Drivers Still Believe

Are German cars really the most reliable? Do they hold their value better? Common beliefs about German automotive brands examined against the facts.

By Cars & Driving Editorial Team · 5 min · Sep 21, 2024
The Origins of Mass Production: How Ford Reshaped the Automobile Industry
Car Brands & Makes

The Origins of Mass Production: How Ford Reshaped the Automobile Industry

Explore how Ford's assembly line transformed car manufacturing and set the template for modern automotive production worldwide.

By Cars & Driving Editorial Team · 9 min · Aug 17, 2023
The World's Major Automotive Brands: A Reference Guide to Makes and Their Histories
Car Brands & Makes

The World's Major Automotive Brands: A Reference Guide to Makes and Their Histories

A concise reference covering the founding dates, home countries, parent groups, and key heritage milestones of the world's major car manufacturers.

By Cars & Driving Editorial Team · 7 min · Apr 28, 2023
Understanding Car Nameplates: Why Manufacturers Use Multiple Brand Names
Car Brands & Makes

Understanding Car Nameplates: Why Manufacturers Use Multiple Brand Names

What is a nameplate strategy and why do automakers sell near-identical vehicles under different brand names in different markets?

By Cars & Driving Editorial Team · 8 min · Oct 15, 2024
What the Logo Actually Tells You About a Car Brand's Identity
Car Brands & Makes

What the Logo Actually Tells You About a Car Brand's Identity

From the prancing horse to the four rings, discover what the symbolism behind iconic car manufacturer logos reveals about brand heritage.

By Cars & Driving Editorial Team · 7 min · Jun 21, 2023