You’ll Never Guess Who Named Their Companies After Themselves
Unless you’re lucky enough to live in a walkable city, cars are the way we move around in this world. Many car companies have existed for well over 100 years, and plenty of them have humble beginnings. Check out the list below to see who named their car company after themselves and who opted for a more general statement.
1. Volkswagen
This automobile manufacturer emerged in 1937 from Wolfsburg, Germany. The name Volkswagen comes from the German words Volk and Wagen, which translates to ‘people’s car.’
2. Toyota
Toyota Motor Corporation is a Japanese-based manufacturer. They’re based in Toyota City, Japan, and were founded by Kiichiro Toyoda in 1937. This corporation is actually a spinoff of Toyota Industries, a machine manufacturer company created by Kiichiro’s father, Sakichi Toyoda. The name Toyota is, of course, based on the family name Toyoda.
3. Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is another German-based automotive company. Headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, the company has been around under several different names since 1926. The company’s original name, Daimler-Benz, was formed after the merger of Carl Friedrich Benz and the engineering company, Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft. The name Mercedes came after the company’s commercial vehicle segment became an independent company, Daimler Truck.
4. Ford
The Ford Motor Company is the first American company to grace this list. Created by Henry Ford in 1903, the company is one of America’s oldest and largest automakers. It’s currently headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan. The company’s name comes from its namesake, Henry Ford.
5. General Motors
General Motors was founded in 1908 and is currently the largest automotive company in the United States. GM headquarters are located in Detroit, Michigan. The company was started by William C. Durant and James H. Whiting. The name General Motors was picked by Durant as a means to signify a holding company for multiple automotive businesses, based on the name General Electric.
6. Hyundai
The Hyundai Motor Group was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. The company’s name roughly translates to the English word “modernity,” and was actually first used by Hyundai Construction back in 1947.
7. Stellantis
Stellantis is an automotive corporation that was formed in 2021. The company is a merger of PSA and Fiat Chrysler. It currently has two headquarters: one in Hoofddorp, Netherlands, and another in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The company’s name comes from the Latin verb stello, meaning “to brighten with stars.”
8. SAIC
SAIC Motor Corp is a Chinese state-owned automobile manufacturer. It was founded in 1955 and is located in Anting, Shanghai. The company owns China’s other state-owned car manufacturers: FAW Group, Dongfeng Motor, and Changan Automobile. The acronym SAIC stands for Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation.
9. Honda
Created in 1946 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer for over 60 years. The name comes from the company’s founder, Soichiro Honda, who started his career doing bicycle repairs with his father.
10. Nissan
Nissan is an automotive company that was created in 1933. Headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, the company has undergone a few name changes since its inception. Nissan’s original name was Jidosha-Seizo, but it was changed to Nissan after Nihon Sangyo, Nissan’s parent company. The name Nissan, written as “Ni-San,” translates to “Japanese Industry.”
11. Suzuki
Located in Hamamatsu, Japan, and started in 1909, the Suzuki Motor Corporation is the world’s eleventh-biggest automaker by production. The company is named for its founder, Michio Suzuki.
12. BMW
BMW, or Bayerische Motoren Werke, is a German-based company based in Munich. The company was founded in 1916, and its full name translates to “Bavarian Motor Works” in English.
13. Tesla
Tesla is an American-based company headquartered in Austin, Texas. The company was founded in 2003 by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, who chose the name as a tribute to inventor and engineer Nikola Tesla.
14. Fiat
Fiat Chrysler is an Italian-American corporation that was founded in 2014. It now exists as a part of Stellantis, so Fiat Chrysler officially went defunct in 2021. The name Fiat comes from the Latin word meaning “let it be,” while Chrysler’s name comes from its founder, Walter P. Chrysler.
15. Mazda
Founded in 1920 and located in Fuchü, Japan, Mazda has been a well-known automotive company for over 100 years. The company was founded by Jujiro Matsuda, an inventor and machinist, and consequently, the company’s namesake.
16. Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation is a Japanese-based company located in Minato. While officially founded in 1970, the company’s origins date back to 1917. It played a huge part in aircraft engine manufacturing, ships, railroad cars, and other machinery before turning to vehicles. The name Mitsubishi translates to “three diamonds” in English.
17. BYD Auto
BYD Auto is a Chinese-based company that started in 2003. Headquartered in Shaanxi, China, the company was originally a subsidiary of the BYD Company, a well-known battery manufacturer. The name actually has no particular meaning, so the company adopted the slogan “Build Your Dreams.”
18. Changan
Changan is a Chinese state-owned manufacturer headquartered in Chongqing. The company might be one of the oldest on this list, being founded in 1862. The company was founded by Li Hongzhang, originally as a military supply factory. It joined Suzuki Motor Corporation in 1984 and produced its first vehicle that same year. The name Changan refers to Chang’an, the ancient capital of China, and translates to “perpetual peace” in English.
Mushvig Niftaliyev on Unsplash
19. Renault Group
Commonly known as Groupe Renault. This French organization has been around since 1899. Headquartered in Boulogne-Billancourt, the company is known for its work in Formula 1 and Formula E race cars. The name Renault comes from its founder, Louis Renault.
20. Geely Auto
Geely Auto is a Chinese-based company that was founded in 1998. Currently headquartered in Hangzhou, the company is known for being China’s first privately-owned car manufacturer. The name Geely is a phonetic transliteration of the company’s name 吉利, or Jílì, meaning “auspicious” or “propitious.”
