In addition to being an essential part of advertising and brand identity, car company logos provide a powerful visual image for auto consumers. Each automobile manufacturer has a unique logo, many of which have changed dramatically over the years. In some cases, these logos are tied to the company's history in surprising ways.
List of Car Company Logos
Abarth
Now Fiat's racing arm, Abarth's logo is rich with meaning. The scorpion represents the Zodiac sign of company founder Karl Alberto Abarth, and the shield is a symbol of passion and triumph. The colors beneath the name represent the Italian flag.
Acura
Honda's luxury brand features a logo that looks like a stylized letter "A" inside a circle. The symbol also represents the caliper, an important precision engineering tool.
Aixam
Now Aixam Mega, the logo for this French microcar manufacturer is simple and elegant, spelling out the company's original name and calling out the first letter with a bold "A" (or "M" in some cases) inside a circular graphic.
Alfa Romeo
This Italian exotic car brand has a complicated, circular logo featuring a red cross and a green snake with a dragon's head. These symbols represent the city of Milan, where the company was founded.
Aston Martin
The British luxury car brand has an iconic logo of a pair of wings with the company name. A version of this logo has graced Aston Martin cars since the 1920s.
Audi
This German automaker's four interlocking rings represent this history of the company as it started out as four smaller companies.
Bajoun
Bajoun is a General Motors brand made and sold only in China. The name means "treasured horse" - and that's exactly what the logo depicts.
Bentley
The British exotic car manufacturer features a winged logo with a letter "B" in the center. The wings in this logo call up the company's aerospace roots.
BMW
BMW's blue and white checkerboard pattern represents an airplane propeller, since BMW was originally an airplane manufacturer. The logo's colors and checks are from the Bavarian flag, where the company was founded.
Buick
This American car brand features a logo with three shields inside a circle. The idea for the shield came from the Buick family crest.
Cadillac
Cadillac has had many logos over the years. This current version features two stalks of wheat with a shield in the center.
Chevrolet
One of the most iconic American car logos, the symbol for Chevrolet is a simple angled cross with a longer horizontal line. The design is referred to as the Chevrolet bowtie.
Chrysler
There are several versions of the Chrysler logo, but the most recognizable is a pentagon with a star in the center, referred to as the Chrysler Pentastar. The current version is sleeker and simpler, suggesting wings.
Citroen
The double chevrons in Citroen's logo represent the Helical Gear, a Citroen invention that is used in every modern automobile. They also represent the company's commitment to technical innovation.
Dacia
This Romanian car brand has been part of Renault since 1999.The company is bold and simple, highlighting the company name in a shade of blue representative of one of the colors of the Romanian flag, on a bold, silver-tone graphic.
Daewoo
The modern logo of this Korean General Motors brand still bears the crown-shaped emblem from the company's early days. The shape is similar to that of a now defunct, but once popular, football club in South Korea.
Daimler
The Daimler logo is simple and elegant, conveying the same sense of understated luxury that this German car manufacturer is known for around the world.
Datsun
The Datsun brand is exclusive to Japan and emerging markets like India. The logo places the brand front and center, superimposed over a striking chrome and blue graphic.
Denza
As the first Chinese car brand dedicated to new energy vehicles, Denza's logo represents the company's values of responsibility to nature and society.
Dodge
The logo for this American brand features is the manufacturer's name in simple block lettering. The two red stripes represent speed and agility.
Ferrari
This Italian exotic car manufacturer uses a logo of a rearing horse, often set inside a yellow rectangle. The same horse logo once graced the sides of an Italian ace fighter pilot's plane.
Fiat
Fiat's bold red logo calls to mind its retro roots, as well as a sleek, modern style.
Ford
The Ford logo is simple and instantly recognizable: a blue oval with the company name in script lettering. A version of this logo has been in use since 1927.
GM
The white lettering in General Motors' logo stands for the company's purity, charm and integrity. The blue background indicates excellence and trustworthiness.
GMC
This American car company symbol is easy to recognize, since it is simply the letters "GMC" in red block lettering.
Holden
This GM-owned Australian car company's logo features a lion rolling a stone - a graphic representation of the invention of the wheel.
Honda
The Japanese carmaker features a symbol of a silver letter "H" inside a rectangle.
Hummer
Hummer's logo features the company's name and slogan in block letters appropriate for the company's rugged, yet luxurious, vehicles.
Hyundai
The symbol for the Korean auto company is a slanted blue letter "H" inside an oval.
Infiniti
This high-end auto brand has an oval logo with a notch out of the bottom.
Isuzu
This Japanese car company's logo is a bright red representation of its name with mirror image "s" and "z" letters.
Jaguar
Luxury carmaker Jaguar has a logo of a leaping jungle cat with the company name underneath.
Jeep
Just like the classic vehicle itself, the Jeep logo is simple and utilitarian, consisting of the company name in block letters.
Jiefang
China's first domestic car manufacturer bears a logo with the number one as the focal feature. The company is a joint venture with General Motors, and the colors reflect that relationship.
Kia
This Korean automaker has a logo of the company's name in red letters, surrounded by a red oval.
Lamborghini
The Lamborghini logo is a gold shield with the company name above a charging bull which stands for Taurus, the Zodiac sign of the company founder.
Lancia
The Lancia logo features the company's name surrounded by a lance and a shield.
Land Rover
The green oval Land Rover logo is easily recognizable and elegantly simple.
Lexus
The luxury arm of Toyota features a simple letter "L" logo inside a silver circle.
Lincoln
This American carmaker has a simple logo of a vertical rectangle with a cross on it.
Lotus
The Lotus logo is a yellow circle with a green, curved triangle featuring the company name.
Maserati
The graphic on Maserati's logo is a red three-pronged spear referred to as a trident. It rises from a base that bears the company's name.
Maybach
Maybach's logo features two overlapping letter "M"s on a triangular, orange background.
Mazda
The logo for this Japanese company features a rounded rectangle with a winged V-shape in the center.
Mercedes-Benz
This simple logo is a circle with a three-pointed star in the center. The logo represents the merging of Mercedes and Daimler who had a laurel wreath and a star as their symbols respectively.
Mini
Mini's iconic, winged logo calls to mind its British roots and retro style.
Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi features a logo with three red diamonds arranged in the shape of a triangle. The logo represents the combination of two family crests.
Nissan
This automaker has a simple logo of a silver circle with the company name across the center.
Opel
The Opel logo features lightning streaking across an open circle above the German company's name. The logo is inspired by the Opel Blitz truck, as "blitz" is German for "lightning."
Peugeot
Peugeot's logo has featured a lion since 1948. The modern version features a lion above the company's name. The metallic color represents the brand's values, which are excellence, emotion, and allure.
Porsche
The Porsche logo features a shield with a prancing horse in the center, and red and black stripes. The horse represents the city seal of Stuttgart, Germany, where the brand was founded.
RAM
The logo for this American brand features a ram's head inside a shield shape.
Renault
Renault's logo is a silver diamond above the name on a yellow background. The yellow color represents the brand's joy, optimism and prosperity, while the silver stands for sophistication and creativity.
Renault Nissan
Representing the alliance of the French and Japanese automakers, this logo features both brand names beneath graphic elements that show their corporate colors joining together.
Renault Samsung
This logo represents the sophistication and creativity used by Renault Samsung Motors in its quest to produce high-end, modern vehicles and the company's focus on research and development.
Rolls-Royce
This luxury brand has a symbol of two overlapping letter "R"s on a blue background.
Saab
This logo is a blue circle with a red, griffin head wearing a gold crown.
Saturn
Saturn's logo is a silver abstract representation for the planet bearing the same name over a red background. The graphic is outlined in silver and positioned above the brand name.
Scion
This Toyota offshoot features an oval logo with a slanted vertical line and a horizontal bar printed with the company name.
SEAT
The logo for this Spanish car company features a bold, silver depiction of an "S" above the brand name boldly presented in red.
Skoda
The Skoda insignia is an encircled arrow with wings beneath the brand name. The colors and design represent this Czech Republic company's focus on the environment, eco-materials, progress and innovation.
Smart Car
The Smart Car has a logo shaped like the letter "C" with a yellow triangle.
Spyker
The Spyker logo calls to mind the company's aero roots with its airplane propellers.
SRT
Street Racing Technology (SRT) is a Chrysler brand. The logo features the brand's initials (and common name) in a slanted shape that indicates speed. The red color represents speed and agility, and is the same shade used in the logo for sister-brand Dodge.
Subaru
Subaru has a blue logo featuring several silver stars. The five smaller stars represent the five Japanese car companies that banded together to form the larger company.
Suzuki
This logo features a bold, red "S" symbol above the full name in dark blue. The red represents the brand's passion, determination and vitality, while the blue stands for strength and harmony.
Tesla
This green automaker features a shield-shaped logo with a stylized letter "T."
Toyota
Toyota's current logo is made up of three overlapping ovals and the company name.
Vauxhall
The focal point of Vauxhall's logo is a silver griffin over a red-background carrying a flag with a cut-out "V." The modern version showcases the company's UK manufacturing heritage as well as its fresh philosophy toward design.
Volkswagen
This German automaker once had a swastika as its logo, but it now features an overlapping "V" and "W."
Volvo
The symbol of this Swedish automaker is a silver circle with an arrow out of the top right, with the company name across the center.
Wuling
The logo for this Chinese car company features five, red diamond shapes put together to represent a capital "W" in an abstract way.
Historical Car Company Logos
Audi AG Historical Logos
Benz & Cie. Historical Logos
BMW Historical Logos
Cadillac Historical Logos
Chevrolet Historical Logos
Chrysler Historical Logos
Daimler (DMG)
DKW
Dodge Historical Logos
Fiat Historical Logos
Ford Historical Logos
GM Historical Logos
Holden Historical Logos
Horch Historical Logos
Jeep Historical Logos
Lancia Historical Logos
L&K Historical Logos
Lincoln Historical Logos
Mazda Historical Logos
Mercedes-Benz Historical Logos
NSU Historical Logos
Oakland Historical Logos
Oldsmobile Historical Logos
Opel Historical Logos
Pontiac Historical Logos
Renault Historical Logos
SEAT Historical Logos
Skoda Historical Logos
Wanderer Historical Logos
Willys Overland Historical Logos
List of Car Company Logos
Car company logos can provide interesting insights about the history of the automotive industry, and they are a very important part of consumer brand identification. Next time you pop your hood to check your car's oil or refill the washer fluid, take a glance at the logo as well. This symbol represents where your car's manufacturer has been and where it's going in the future.
