German Car Brands

Last Updated on January 16, 2023 by Leepu Da Maxim

The best-known German car brands are Audi, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen, and Porsche. All these brands have high-end vehicles and an extensive trajectory in the automotive industry. Although there are other brands, these five manufacturers are the best known and have managed to conquer a good part of the world market.

Key Takeaways

• Audi is a German luxury car manufacturer and its current lineup includes models such as the A4, Q5, and R8
• Porsche was founded in 1931 by Ferdinand Porsche and is known for producing the 911, Boxster, and Cayenne models
• Mercedes-Benz produces a wide range of vehicles, including cars, buses, trucks, etc, and it is known for its luxury and quality
• BMW was founded in 1916 and produces motor vehicles under the BMW, Mini, and Rolls-Royce marques

Current Leading German Car Manufacturers

Brand	Start – Finish
Audi	1909 – present
BMW	1916 – present
Ford-Werke GmbH	1925 – present
Mercedes Benz	1886 – present
Opel	1862 – present
Porsche	1931 – present
Volkswagen	1937 – present

What Car Manufacturers Are In Germany?

In the modern world, there is a wide variety of brands that are engaged in the manufacture of modern and different ranges of automobiles. Among all of them, German cars are one of the most famous and chosen in many parts of the world. Many of the brands that dominate part of the automotive industry market today are German car brands.

Moreover, German cars are well known in all parts of the world mainly because of the design of each car model. Beyond that, it is not the only feature of the car that stands out in particular. Other important features such as service life, mechanical reliability, and overall quality or performance are also of high level.

The top five car manufacturers in Germany have succeeded in reaching many parts of the world because of the advantages that each car can offer. All of that is combined with a high level of engineering perfection that each of these cars has. That is why here we can mention which are the top five German car brands today. 

1. Volkswagen

When we start analyzing Volkswagen, we can realize that it is one of the biggest car manufacturers in the world. So, it is one which has managed to balance the technology implemented in each of those vehicles with other features that users value. It is very easy to find a Volkswagen dealership in many parts of the world. 

Even in this day and age, Volkswagen continues to manufacture vehicles to cover various market segments of the automotive industry. In 2018 alone, this great manufacturer managed to sell 6.2 million units. So, this is a great number that has not been surpassed by most other automakers. 

Volkswagen is part of the Volkswagen Group which includes other car brands. Volkswagen alone has managed to sell this number of units. Moreover, the 6.2 million units sold in 2018 represent more than half of the sales of the entire Volkswagen Group of car brands. So, certain features are included here that are formidable.

Volkswagen initially aimed to manufacture cars that are truly affordable for most people. That is why its name means “people’s car”. To obtain suitable designs according to this objective, the newly created Volkswagen hired Ferdinand Porsche. The result was the Volkswagen Beetle or “Bug”.

From that time on, the Volkswagen Beetle was in production for several decades. Only in 2018 was the model discontinued after a huge amount of sales since production began. Either way, Volkswagen continues to dominate the European car market thanks to the Polo and Golf models. These vehicles are only a part of Volkswagen’s hatchback dominance.

2. Mercedes Benz

Also known as Mercedes, this German car manufacturer arrived in 1926 to make its mark due to the qualities of each of its cars. In principle, many common and standard equipment used in today’s vehicles were originally developed by Mercedes Benz.

So, this is another great example of the great German engineering that has managed to conquer the world. Some of the most common developments today are:

1. Supercharged engines

2. Diesel passenger cars

3. Four-wheel independent suspension

4. Crumple zones

5. ABS brakes

After some functions between the inventor of the gasoline car Karl Benz and other important personalities of the automotive industry, Mercedes Benz arrived in 1926. The objective from the beginning was to create automobiles that are within a luxury range. The name Mercedes is due to the daughter of an Austrian investor who was important in the emergence of this brand.

Mercedes Benz is one of the car manufacturers that has been one of the best-positioned in global sales in recent years. This manufacturer has sold 2,310,185 units in 2018. Of course, a large number of people cannot access these cars due to the high costs of each unit. Taking this into account, the amount of global sales it has achieved is very high.

When considering the luxury car manufacturers around the world Mercedes Benz is leading all of them. Especially, this is due to the excellent reputation that Mercedes Benz has been able to form throughout all its years of experience.

So people who choose a Mercedes Benz are looking for good performance, a reputation for quality, convenience, and of course luxury. Beyond that, it is also necessary to consider that within the automotive world of Formula, 1 Mercedes Benz is the leading manufacturer in this category.

Therefore, the Mercedes team has the highest technology that manages to overcome the rest of the competitors in many races of this type of car. This, all speaks of the great advantages that are obtained by obtaining a Mercedes Benz car. 

1. BMW

Undoubtedly, BMW is one of the luxury car manufacturers that has established itself within the great Automotive industry all over the world.

It is possible to find different types of cars that appeal to various segments of the automotive market in various parts of the world. So, whether it is a luxury SUV, a roadster, a hatchback, or a sedan, BMW can offer it.

All these vehicles have also combined in a balanced and ideal way an excellent development of mechanical engineering, as well as luxury designs and high innovation. Thus, in any of these cars, people can get a luxurious and state-of-the-art experience. This is a seat that is often envied by drivers who do not have a BMW.

It is iDrive, which is a leader in entertainment and information systems. The original company started in 1913 and was founded by German engineer Karl Rapp. However, this engineer left the company in 1917 so the rest of the founders remained and the company was renamed “Bayerische Motoren Werke”, as we know it today.

However, the history of BMW continues to this day and is developed both in the automotive market worldwide as well as in different racing categories. In recent times, BMW has managed to achieve a lot of sales. Just like with Mercedes Benz, this is important as these are luxury automobiles that very few people can access.

In 2018, BMW managed to surpass 2,100,000 sales with its various units. So, this is more than enough to be able to establish itself. Nowadays, it is very easy to find different BMW dealerships and not only in Europe. Even most experts agree that BMW could be the ultimate car when looking at its mechanical engineering. 

2. Audi

Another luxury car manufacturer that remains solid and stable in the automotive market worldwide is Audi. It is one of the top three luxury car manufacturers that has managed to exceed 1,800,000 units sold in 2018. Again, we must consider that these are luxury cars that require a high budget to be purchased.

Especially, Audi is usually well-known all over the world due to its impeccable interior designs and great technological advancements constantly. Many people feel that it is one of the best automotive experiences because of the intuitive technology that provides safety and security for the driver and passengers.

Of course, the power is combined with high-level designs. This company was founded in 1910, and it was firmly established in the global market in Europe and the rest of the world. Over the years, we’ve seen high-level models that can hardly be compared to other car manufacturers. 

3. Porsche

This is an automaker that has a hallmark when it comes to automotive design. The creator of Porsche was the same person who designed Volkswagen’s first affordable, small family car, the Volkswagen Beetle. So, this was a great incentive for this Porsche founder to create his own company.

From the design of the Volkswagen Beetle, Porsche managed to develop the first vehicle of this global manufacturer, which was the Porsche 911. Today, the Porsche 911 is still in existence as it is a great icon of this manufacturer, as well as of the global automotive industry. Anyway, there are also other family cars and SUVs from Porsche.

In 2018, this manufacturer managed to sell almost 260000 units throughout the world. However, this is not a low number of sales as it is necessary to consider the great exclusivity and convenience of Porsche vehicles.

Besides, many of Porsche’s vehicles are usually the dream of many people around the world. They have managed to combine unique design, high luxury, and innovative technology.

References:

https://www.carlogos.org/german-car-brands/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_automobile_manufacturers_of_Germany