Audi, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen, Porsche are the Top German car brands? Other popular German brand cars are Adam Opel AG, Alpina, Bitter, Gumpert, Isdera, Keinath.
German automobile brands are known for their quality cars. They’re reliable, and they last a long time, which is why people who want to spend money wisely usually opt for German car brands. German car brands are renowned for their high-quality vehicles. Today in this list, we have compiled the names of some famous and reliable German car companies.
The best part about German cars is that they’re great to look at. They combine the best of technology and performance with stylish looks. It also uses low-displacement, high torque engines that give it good acceleration on steep climbs.
The German automotive industry can be proud of its illustrious history. It has produced some of the best car brands in the world over many years. It has a great auto racing history. Here’s the list of top German car companies that we will be talking about in this article. Along with the names of German car companies we have also included a short description of each company so that you know everything about the famous German car brands.
List of Popular German Car brands that are active Now:
- Audi
- Mercedes-Benz
- BMW
- Volkswagen
- Porsche
- Adam Opel AG
- Alpina
- Bitter
- Gumpert
- Isdera
- Keinath
Non-active car brands of Germany
- Adler
- Auto Union AG
- DKW
- Borgward
- Eisenacher Motorenwerk(EMW)
Let’s explore List of Best Germany Cars Brand in more depth.
When we are talking about the Germany based car brands, how can we leave AUDI? Let’s start the list with one of the most popular German manufacturing brands, Audi.
Audi:
Audi is a German automobile manufacturer founded in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, in 1909. Audi is one of the most important automakers that designs, engineers, produces, markets, and distributes automobiles. The firm’s name was derived from its creator’s last name – Horch – which means “listen” in German.
The company was originally named Süddeutsche Automobile Gesellschaft (South German Automobile Society) before changing its name to Audi Automobiles. In July 1909, the Audi automobile company was finally established. Four interconnected rings of the Audi logo were designed after an event that occurred in July 1909.
Audi’s sales continue to increase today. Audi sales increased 8.3% in 2013. Europe, Africa, and the Middle East are the primary markets for Audi. China was the most significant market for Audi in 2009 since it imported 108,000 automobiles. The Audi vehicles line up are classified into Audi A1, A8 sedans, Audi coupes and SUVs, S (sport) and RS (Renn Sport/Racing) models. They have come across the new electric lineup of SUVs, namely the e-Tron Lineup, to have strong competition with toppers of the list and the future upcoming brands.
Audi is a luxury car brand owned by the German manufacturer Volkswagen AG. The most popular vehicles from Audi are the Audi A8, Audi TT, Audi A3, and the Audi A6. This category is based on sales figures. German auto enthusiasts are undoubtedly aware that in 2013, the number of Audi’s sold was: AUDI A3 – 202,300 units; and all SUVs put together 438,400 items. That’s all about Audi. Whenever we are talking about German based car companies, another big name that comes into the list is Mercedes.
Mercedes-Benz:
One of the oldest car companies in the world, Mercedes-Benz is a German luxury vehicle manufacturer that has been operating for over a century. It is no doubt that the most ancient automobile manufacturer ever is Mercedes. Mercedez-Benz limousines have been featured in many of the world’s most famous films. The Mercedes company produces some of the finest automobiles on earth.
Mercedes was founded by Karl Benz in 1926. Together with Gottlieb Daimler, he started to produce his first car on January 29th, 1886, which is considered the birthdate of the automobile industry. Mercedes’ advertising slogan is “Das Beste oder Nichts,” which translates to “The best or nothing.”
Since the company’s inception, Mercedes has set the tone for innovation in the automobile industry by combining design and technology. The firm has developed a long list of models, including luxury automobiles, trucks, buses, limousines, and vans. The firm has developed a long list of models, including luxury automobiles, trucks, buses, limousines, and vans. According to the Automobile Manufacturer’s Association (AMA), Mercedes is known for manufacturing commercial vehicles that include passenger vehicles, luxury vehicles, SUVs/Crossovers, vans, and MINI vans.
A few of the top models in each category are provided below:
Passenger vehicles: CLA-Class, C-Class, GLK, R-Class, E-Class Wagon, CLS-Class.
Luxury cars: E-Class Wagon, CLS-Class, S-Class Hybrid, S-Class, SL-Class, CL-Class.
Sports cars: AMG,SLS,SLK
SUVs: GLS,GLE,M-class, G-class
Mini Vans: Sprinter, V-class
Now I hope you got a good understanding of Mercedes. Let’s move to the next popular car brand in Germany: BMW.
BMW:
The name “BMW” is derived from Bayerische Motoren Werke, which translates to Bavarian Motor Works. The brand put a lot of emphasis on quality and continuous improvement, earning it one of the most important vehicle producer’s titles in the business. The company is mainly focused on powerful engines. They continuously improve their cars over generations. In 1929, BMW was founded as a vehicle manufacturer and had been recognized for building luxury automobiles and SUVs with outstanding driving experiences since then.
BMW makes passenger cars, premium cars, sports vehicles, utility vehicles, and pickup trucks. The BMW Group set a new sales record in May 2014. In 2014, China sales helped raise the firm’s first-quarter profit by 11%. As a result, BMW is now the world’s major premium luxury vehicle producer. The most popular BMW models, which have the greatest sales, are X-Drive automobiles. The hunger for sport utility vehicles drove the parent firm to successful earnings.
BMW has done a commendable job in developing fuel-efficient vehicles, which is evident from BMW i. BMW i vehicles have been designed to push BMW’s traditional engineering boundaries. BMW set a goal in developing BMW i vehicles to have the lowest CO2 emissions in their classes.
i8, the first model produced under the BMW i sub-brand, was released in 2013. BMW has been diligently working on its technology to produce a zero-emission car with a range of 200 miles at a price point that is pleasing for consumers. The firm intends to launch ten all-electric models by 2020. In 2014, this German company joined hands with other companies from Europe and recently formed ChargePoint Network for making electric vehicle charging stations across Europe.
That’s what we have for BMW. Let’s now move to the largest German car manufacturing brand Volkswagen.
Volkswagen:
German Labour Front, a German engineer, and inventor founded the Volkswagen automobile company in 1937. Originally dubbed “the car of the people,” Volkswagen has that all-important element of snob appeal. The automaker is currently associated with some of the world’s best automobiles, and it is known for producing the finest German cars. Today, Volkswagen remains a model of success, having acquired SEAT Skoda, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Lamborghini, and Bugatti.
It is indeed one of the world’s largest automakers which have introduced many innovative technological advances for automobiles, including direct-shift gearboxes, turbochargers, four-wheel drive, diesel engines, and dual-clutch transmissions. Volkswagen Group has more than 300 subsidiary companies.
Volkswagen has undergone several name changes throughout its history as a brand. It officially became Volkswagen AG following six tumultuous years of change which included the merger with Audi AG in 1964. The original Volkswagen Beetle made its first appearance at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1939. In 1948, Volkswagen designated a national company.
The Volkswagen Golf is the most cost-effective automobile in Europe, according to JATO Dynamics research. Its sales increased by 28% in January, according to a JATO Dynamics study. Audi, Skoda, Seat, VW Commercial Vehicles, Porsche, MAN, Scania, and Bentley are among the top sellers for 2012 and 2013.
In the future, Volkswagen will be launching many new car models such as Volkswagen’s Up!, Volkswagen’s Golf R, Volkswagen’s Beetle, and Volkswagen’s Tiguan. Volkswagen group is currently working on Beetle, which is going to be a convertible vehicle.
When we are talking about popular German car manufacturing companies, how can we forget about Porsche? Now, we will tell you about Porsche, which is one of the leading car companies in Germany.
Porsche:
Porsche is a German company that specializes in sports cars. Porsche was a subsidiary of Volkswagen for a significant time, but Porsche is now once again an independent company. Porsche’s headquarters are located in Stuttgart, Germany. Porsche’s founder was Ferdinand Porsche, who worked for car companies before founding Porsche.
The most popular Porsche model is the 911. The Porsche 356 was Porsche’s first car model and started out as a prototype racing car from Ferry Porsche. Porsche generated revenue of 83,781 by selling 911 pieces of best-selling cars in 2011, and the second best-selling car was sold at 53,985 units.
Porsche is a manufacturer of sedans, hypercars, super cars, SUVs, and sports cars. While this German business isn’t among the most popular today, it has a strong reputation dating back to the late 80s and early 90s. The 918 is one of Porsche’s most well-known models.
Porsche has developed over 50 different concepts and prototypes on paper and some as working models. Porsche is currently developing a Porsche city car, which they call Porsche P’907. Porsche also has plans to make a Porsche sports utility vehicle, the Porsche Panamera, for 2009. In addition, there are rumors of a Porsche 4-door sports coupe based on the Porsche Panamera or even Volkswagen Phaeton V12 TDI. That’s what we have for the Porsche German car manufacturing brand.
Next on our list of famous Germany based car brands, we have Adam Opel AG. It has also played a very important role in Germany’s economy after World War II.
These were some of the most influential cars from Germany, and they all have a significant place in the history of automobiles.
Of course, they weren’t the only ones, and there are many cars brands that are not that popular among car fanatics but still deserve to be talked about since they’ve had an influence in the world of cars. Let’s explore them.
Adam Opel AG:
Since its inception in 1868, Opel AG has been producing automobiles. The firm began as a bicycle manufacturer, but after seeing the creation of the first car, it changed focus to automobiles and started manufacturing vehicles in 1899. You’ve undoubtedly seen one or more of Opel’s cars on screen in some mafia or gangster films.
First Car made by Adam Opel AG was launched in 1899 “Opel Laubfrosch”. In 1904 it started producing cars. In 1916, Opel became the first car manufacturer to use assembly line technology. Opel Insignia is a very popular model manufactured by Adam Opel AG. It has been marketed since 2008 until now. It comes in four different body styles such as sedan, hatchback, wagon, and coupe. The exterior design of all these types looks very similar, but there are some differences like length and wheelbase, etc.
Today Adam Opel is now one of Germany’s largest automotive companies and has over 40,000 employees. Adam Opel is now a subsidiary of Groupe PSA (Peugeot-Citroën). Adam currently produces vehicles under the Opel and Vauxhall brands. Adam Opel is now a subsidiary of Groupe PSA (Peugeot-Citroën). Adam currently produces vehicles under the Opel and Vauxhall brands. Adam now designs, engineers, manufactures, markets, and distributes vehicles for Groupe PSA worldwide. Adam has had several owners throughout its history, but today Adam is Germany’s fourth-largest automobile company after Volkswagen AG, Daimler, and BMW. Adam Opel has a strategic partnership with Groupe PSA to develop vehicles for the European market. Adam Opel also produces vehicles under the Chevrolet brand. Adam sold its 8th million cars in 1997, marking Adam’s success worldwide.
The next significant car brand coming from Germany is Alpina.
Alpina:
Alpina is a German automobile manufacturer, now known as Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH & Co. KG based in Buchloe, Bavaria. Their factory is located in Regensburg and is currently run by the fourth generation of family members. Alpina is particularly popular for its modified BMW models, including Alpina B3, Alpina B5, and Alpina D5. In addition to the German market, Alpina has huge markets in China. Alpina is a long-standing German firm that was formed in 1965.
Despite the fact that the firm isn’t well-known, it is still operational and works with BMW to construct its own vehicles. The company is still popular in several areas of Germany, thanks to its incorporation into BMW’s manufacturing processes. Alpina specializes in high-performance cars and is especially known for its modified BMW models. The current lineup from the carmaker comprises two lines: one for BMW’s “ti” and another one for BMW’s “xi.”
In 1965, Alpina was formed by Burkard Bovensiepen. It began as a small service workshop that worked on the electrical systems of BMW vehicles exclusively. By 1970, Alpina was manufacturing equipment and components for other car manufacturers too. Alpine first achieved success in Europe in 1971 with the Alfa Romeo 2000 TI, winning the Tour de Corse rally. The same year Alpinas claimed their first victory at the 24 Hours Nürburgring race. Alpina went public in 1972. A year later, Alpina released the Alpina 3200 CS to compete with BMW’s own E9 model – resulting in Alpina taking home victory in the European Touring Car Championship.
That’s a short description of one of the famous car manufacturing companies in Germany, Alpina. Let’s move on to the next car brand on our list: Bitter.
Bitter:
Founded by Erich Bitter, a former race car driver, Bitter Automobil GmbH (Bitter) is a premium sports and luxury automaker in Germany. Bitter Cars hasn’t exactly been able to gain a lot of popularity, but it is only because of its luxurious yet sporty cars that the company still exists! Bitter cars are a faster, more luxurious version of Mercedes-Benz. Bitter cars use Bose premium audio systems and BMW lightweight materials in their interiors. Bitter has been able to create an entirely new luxury class with the B3 GT and B2 roadster that it sells to wealthy customers from around the world. Bitter will need more than Bose and BMW to compete with the likes of Audi, Mercedes-Benz, or Cadillac.
Bitter cars are more expensive due to Bitter’s high manufacturing costs. Bitter needs to reduce its manufacturing costs if it wants to compete with its rivals. Bitter was able to cut some costs by using Bose and BMW, but still, it’s quite expensive. The best-known model from Bitter is the Komet. The Komet (or comet) was manufactured between 1950 and 1955 with only 100 units created during that period making it one of the rare cars on the market today. Since it is a sports car that was built in limited numbers, its name actually comes from a resemblance to a comet with its slim wheels and streamlined design.
The next one on our list of car brands based in Germany is Gumpert.
Gumpert:
Gumpert is an automobile manufacturer that used to be known as Gumpert Sport-wagen manufacturer, and it’s currently located in Germany. It has two other manufacturing plants outside of its headquarters because Gumpert couldn’t keep up with production for a while due to heavy demand for Gumpert cars. Gumpert is a subsidiary of Audi AG with a close relationship between the two companies. Gumpert’s owner designed Audi’s four rings emblem before he started Gumpert, though Gumpert has broken ties with its parent company in recent years.
It is an active automobile maker, like Volkswagen, BMW, and Audi, and has been in the business of manufacturing cars for a long time. It’s a supercar manufacturer by trade and has made several appearances on Top Gear as its renowned “Apollo Racecar.” The brand first came out with its Apollo model in 2005, but after failing to make a breakthrough despite amazing technical specs and stunning appearances, it ceased production in 2012. The next model that is present in the list of popular German car manufacturing brands is Isdera.
Isdera:
Isdera Company was founded in 1969 by the German entrepreneur Eberhard Schulz who is also known as the father of Eagle. He started his work with Volkswagen, a German car manufacturing company. Isdera is a German company that specializes in building supercars in limited numbers. The firm concentrates on the production of sports cars using a small team of artisans. And what’s even more entertaining? In 1997, one of the vehicles appeared in Need for Speed II, the famous racing video game created by Electronic Arts. Isdera currently has dealerships or workplaces in Monaco, Germany, and the United Arab Emirates.
Notable Isdera models are the Arrow (A1100/A11200), Commendatore 112i, Imperator 108i, Capriolo TS100 Strada , Berlinetta s112 , Cygnet Fm3B , Isdera Imperator 108i , Isdera Commendatore 112i. Isdera is best known for its special one-off cars, which use components from other manufacturers to make a car that’s truly Isdera’s own creation. With only 14 Isderas per year, it is a very special automaker with a specific market. Isdera cars are very rare, and the price is expected to be high. Only 14 cars can be made per year due to their bespoke nature. Isdera has been known as one of the best supercar manufacturers.
That’s all that we have for Isdera. Let’s now move on to Keinath.
Keinath:
Most of the car manufacturers in Germany are known all over the world for their quality, outstanding design, and practicality. Keinath is no exception. Keinath cars are made in Germany with striking designs, high-performing engines, plus efficient fuel consumption. Keinath has been producing premium-class automobiles since 1983. Keinath Special Vehicles GmbH was founded by Jens Keinath shortly after his father’s death in 2001.
The headquarter of the company is located in Niederstetten/Germany, close to Frankfurt, where they also have a small factory which is mainly used for the production of Keinath special vehicles and Keinath sports cars. Keinath also has a sales and service network around Germany. Keinath – along with Piaggio, Ducati, and Moto Guzzi – is one of the few European producers that have continued to produce motorcycles since 1945.
In Germany, most automobile manufacturers specialize in producing sports vehicles, race cars, and luxury vehicles. Keinath has been in the business of manufacturing race cars since 1983. The firm generally began by developing a variation of the popular Opel Monza and then progressed to create the GTR, which was extremely sporty and stylish.
Non-active German car brands:
These were a few non-active automakers from Germany. It’s a fact that Germany is one of the leading countries in manufacturing cars, and most of the brands have their roots in Germany. German brands are well known for their quality and excellence. Most of the popular car manufacturers in Germany are considered to be the best in the world.
Apart from these cars, there are some brands that are not on the market anymore. Yet, they are known as the icon of German car brands. These brands have contributed to the growth of the German auto industry and to leading the market to its present position. These non-active car manufacturers include Alder, Auto Union AG, DKW, Borgward, and EMW.
Adler:
One of the most remembered brands, Adler was one of the first German automobile companies to be successful in the early 1900s. They created 30 unique vehicles, all of which were distinct in their own way. Aside from automobiles, the firm also produced a variety of other goods, including typewriters, bicycles, and motorbikes.
In March 1932, Adler, a Frankfurt-based car manufacturer, debuted the Adler Trumpf – a tiny family automobile that was named after its designer. Adler, in the 1970s, introduced two similar-sized cars simultaneously – one which followed the then fresh front-wheel-drive trend set by DKW.
Auto Union AG:
You may make a wild guess by looking at the Auto Union’s logo, which is now used as the symbol for Audi. Hadn’t you been thoroughly shocked? It’s true; in the early 1930s, the Auto Union produced many popular vehicles, but it was later bought by Volkswagen and transformed into Audi.
From 1934 to 1939, the Auto Union racing cars types A to D were constructed as Grand Prix racers. They looked similar to the earlier Benz Tropfenwagen, which was developed by Rumpler engineers. The Auto Union four-ringed logo was used only on Grand Prix race cars, which were particularly dominant in 1936. From 1935 to 1937, Auto Union vehicles won 25 events driven by Ernst von Delius, Bernd Rosemeyer, Hans Stuck Sr., and Achille Varzi. The motor’s harsh handling qualities have received a lot of attention, but its tremendous power and acceleration were indisputable – a driver could produce wheelspin at over 100 mph (160 km/h).
DKW:
Take another wild guess! Yes, as you can clearly observe, DKW was an automobile company that amalgamated with Auto Union AG. The firm, before the merger, presented its first steam vehicle in 1919 and subsequently released its last vehicle in 1966 after merging with the Auto Union. Apart from automobiles, the business also produced motorcycles under the name DKW-Motorrad GmbH.
From 1928 until 1966, except for the Second World War, DKW produced automobiles. DKWs have consistently used two-stroke engines, reflecting the company’s dominance as the world’s leading motorcycle manufacturer at the end of the 1920s. The first DKW car, called simply Typ P and a little primitive, was unveiled on May 7, 1928, at Spandau (Berlin) factory and remained in production there as a roadster until 1931.
Borgward:
Carl F. W. Borgward (1890–1963) founded the former Borgward automobile manufacturing business in Germany in 1930. It produced automobiles under four brand names for a diverse worldwide clientele: Borgward, Hansa, Goliath, and Lloyd.
The late 1930s were a golden era for the Borgward Company in Germany. The firm was founded in Bremen and thrived for many years. It was able to create four separate automobile divisions, all of which were quite successful. These included Lloyd, Goliath, Hansa, and Bogward. Because of bankruptcy, the vehicle manufacturer closed down.
Eisenacher Motorenwerk(EMW):
Eisenach was home to one of the pre-World War II BMW factories, which after the war fell under Soviet control owing to its location in the Soviet occupation zone. The factory continued manufacturing automobiles and motorcycles under the BMW brand, but they were forced to rename it EMW as a result of a lawsuit in 1952.
The Eisenacher Motorenwerk, or EMW for short, was a manufacturer of sports cars and Formula One automobiles in East Germany in the 1950s. The company went bankrupt after that. The logotype was also the same, with the exception that EMW used red rather than blue BMW. Isn’t that amazing!
Final Words:
German cars are becoming more and more popular all over the world. At first, they were only bought by rich people, but now even low-income earners can afford them. They combine comfort with power and style. In the history of German automobiles, there have been a number of interesting companies. We have listed a few of these which have made a great difference in the German car industry. The cars, motorcycles, and other automobiles manufactured by them are still being appreciated by people worldwide.
Today we use many cars from Germany. But do you know about their history? I hope in this article you have found out about the German car companies with their history. Most importantly, I hope that this has made you more knowledgeable about German car brands. If you are a car enthusiast, then you may have heard about some of them, but I hope that this article has brought you up to speed with all the details. Isn’t it amazing how much we can learn through the internet! Have a nice day.