Modern automobile concerns sell their products all over the world. But in order to take its share of the market, it is not at all enough to produce high-quality products that take into account consumer needs. Not less than an important factor in the production of cars is a successful name from a marketing point of view, because the same word in different countries may sound different.
You don't have to look far for an example. Recall our own story, when at the very beginning of the 70s of the last century a competition was announced for the name of a car manufactured in Togliatti - the ambiguous word "Lada" was proposed. In Russia, it has a purely geographical significance, but in the export markets it was consonant with the impartial word "gigolo" or "alphonse". In addition, such a name for foreign-speaking citizens was difficult to pronounce, and it was replaced with a more concise "", which subsequently spread to domestic Russian products.
American manufacturers also faced a similar problem. So, Chevrolet Nova, quite popular in the domestic market, had to be renamed due to the fact that in Spanish the combination No va literally means “this will not work”. Consider the 10 most famous car models that have undergone rebranding when delivered to other countries.
10Chevrolet Spark / Opel Karl
In the case of the Spark model, we are dealing not only with a name change, but also with a brand change. The fact is that the General Motors concern owns the rights to Daewoo, and therefore, using combinations of model names and logos, you can choose the best combination for each of the countries.
Initially, the name Spark was coined for a restyled version. Daewoo Matiz and was used only for third world countries. Then, with the release of a new generation, the concern allowed the production of a car under a more respectable brand in Europe, so the Chevrolet Spark II appeared. As sales have shown, conservative Europeans have great confidence in traditional German products, as a result of which the third generation received the name, although in a number of countries it is still sold under by Chevrolet Spark.
It is worth noting that in the UK the same car was called Vauxhall Viva, a derivative of the Australian brand Vauxhall, which is a division of Opel, and the Viva brand, originally invented for Russia, where the Chevrolet Viva, which is the second generation, was produced for some time.
9Chevrolet Bolt / Opel Ampera-e
The Opel Ampera-e is essentially the German equivalent of the Chevrolet Bolt with minor changes in a design that matches the corporate style of Opel. The Ampera name is also used for the European variant, which at the same time is sold under the Vauxhall brand in the UK.
8Chevrolet SS/Holden Commodore
Unlike most Chevrolet models, the SS is actually an Australian design and manufactured by Holden. In its home market sports sedan known as Commodore Holden. Aggressive design and a rear-wheel drive platform, combined with elements of an aerodynamic body kit, create a spectacular image that finds its buyer.
In addition to the names already listed, the car is sold under the Chevrolet Lumina, Chevrolet Omega and even Pontiac brands. Unfortunately, its future is currently uncertain, as Holden's Australian division has already been announced to be closed.
7. Dodge Dart / Fiat Viaggio
Fiat Viaggio is a good example of how cars are modified to increase competitiveness in foreign markets. Known as the Dodge Dart North America, The Viaggio is actually made in China for the domestic market and instead of the 2.0- or 2.4-liter engine used in the Dart, the Viaggio comes with a smaller 1.4-liter four-cylinder petrol engine. /Fiat Viaggio is actually built on the Giulietta platform and produced in close cooperation between Fiat and the Chinese automaker Guangzhou Automobile Group.
6. Ford F-150 / Ford Lobo
5. Ford Fusion / Ford Mondeo
The mid-size sedan known worldwide as Ford Mondeo, in the North American market is sold under the name borrowed from the compact five-door family hatchback. The word Mondeo itself comes from the Latin mundus, meaning "peace". Therefore, the decision to rename does not seem so necessary at all. It was the fourth-generation car, introduced in 2012, that received such a cross-name for the European and North American markets.
4. Infiniti Q50 and Q60 / Nissan Skyline
For many decades, he tried in vain to develop a model that would meet the needs of consumers in the United States, but traditional products did not find the right number of adherents.
But that all changed when Nissan decided to use the world famous brand, using the name for more respectable models that became known under digital indices G35 and G37 in the USA. Subsequently, he decided to rename a number of models, and now the car is known as and, but in Japan it still bears the Skyline nameplate.
3. Infiniti Q70 / Nissan Fuga
As in the case of models Nissan Skyline and Infiniti Q50/Q60, the Infiniti Q70 has different names in Japan and the US. The model was formerly known as the Infiniti M and has been Infiniti's flagship since 2006. Initially, the car was produced under the name Gloria or Cedric, depending on the country, and is a typical representative of Japanese business class sedans. It is worth noting that Infiniti is a luxury division of a more democratic brand.
2. Mazda2 / Mazda Demio
The car named Mazda2 is no longer sold in North America, but this does not prevent the model from being successfully sold in other markets. In Japan it is known as Mazda Demio. Moreover, having undergone some stylistic changes, the car is also sold in the USA as the Scion iA. However, now that the Scion brand is being phased out, it will be renamed to Toyota Yaris iA. The name Demio, in turn, was invented for the domestic market and is known outside it only thanks to "gray" exports and short-term official deliveries.
1. Scion iM / Toyota Auris
Initially, when creating the brand, Toyota tried to get away from the image of a manufacturer of respectable cars for the middle class and focus the products of the new brand on a young audience, for which the Scion iM model was released. But even then it was obvious to everyone that we were talking only about stylistic changes, and the platform would be used Toyota Auris, which the engineers tried to make as aggressive and sporty as possible. Unfortunately, the efforts of designers and marketers did not bring the desired result - the European Toyota Auris, with minimal changes, did not become popular with young people. And after the decision was made to eliminate the Scion brand, the car will be renamed iM.
Thus, rebranding is a common phenomenon aimed at ensuring that, in the context of globalization, the products of automobile plants meet the needs of local markets. Not only sonority is taken into account, but also mentality, since a well-chosen name is the cheapest way to increase sales.
The expression "European quality" did not appear by chance. This is what many motorists say when it comes to any European car. Indeed, a car from Europe has many advantages, but there are also disadvantages. Below is a list of manufacturers from Europe.
English manufacturers
Italian companies
German concerns
french stamps
Czech brands
Swedish cars
The main one can be called the unsuitability of many models to our Russian roads. Low ground clearance, low landing, rigid suspension do not contribute at all comfortable ride along potholes, bumps, potholes, which are full of domestic road surface.
The most famous European car brands in 2019 2020 include:
- Lamborghini;
- Maserati;
- Bugatti;
- mini.
Lamborgini was founded in 1963 as subsidiary Audi. Its founder was Ferruccio Lamborghini. The cars of this European manufacturer are among the most expensive, powerful and exclusive. Unlike other cars, they have special, unique innovations - a body made of carbon fiber, as well as high-tech V12 engines.
In Russia, the most famous models are Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Concept, Urus Concept, Egoista Concept. The current year will provide an opportunity to get acquainted with the new Lamborghini LM002.
This SUV is equipped with a 450-horsepower 5.2-liter engine, which can not boast of fuel efficiency. Fuel consumption at combined cycle is as much as 27 liters per hundred kilometers. But in terms of dynamic qualities there is no equal to the car. 002 can accelerate in just 9 s, and maximum speed movement can reach 201 km / h.
Naturally, the Lamborghini LM002 belongs to the rare, exclusive items that are offered as lots at prestigious auctions. The final price for such a handsome man varies from 110 to 200 thousand US dollars.
Founded in 1914, the Italian company Maserati also produces luxury, expensive, exclusive cars business class and sports. The Maserati brothers, who are the founders of this brand, in the same year released their first super sports car with a two-liter engine.
Over time, the list of this brand of European cars 2019 was replenished with the following models:
- Maserati Quattroporte;
- Ghibli III;
- Gran Turismo;
- Maserati GranCabrio.
The new brainchild of the company was a sedan with a bright unusual name Maserati Ghibli, which will be presented in 2019. In addition to a bright, charismatic appearance, the car has modern active bi-xenon headlights, a branded radiator grill, and super-streamlined shapes.
Under the hood, you will find a modern 3.0-liter engine with 330 hp, which accelerates the car in 5.6 seconds. At the same time, the maximum speed is 263 km / h, and fuel consumption does not exceed 9.6 liters in mixed mode.
The new model is already available for Russian buyers. Its price ranges from 65,000 to 93,450 euros.
Keep up with Italian manufacturers and "French". Founded in 1909, Bugatti, under the leadership of its founder Ettore Bugatti, immediately made itself known by creating a completely original model "13".
Then the cars produced by this company actively participate in sports races, taking only prizes. Most car enthusiasts know such brand models as EB 16.4 Veyron Pur Sang (2007), 16.4 Veyron Fbg par Hermès (2008), 16.4 Veyron Super Sport(2010), Bugatti Galibier 16c (2010).
Prices for European cars of the Bugatti brand range from 900,000 to 1,520,100 euros. However, they do not have as much power as other well-known European brands.
Small Mini
Among European car models, the Mini brand ranks not last place. In 2014, the lineup included 9 main models. However, the company's management decided in 2019 2020 to reduce the line to 5 models.
In 2019 there will be new model Mini Cooper of the third generation in the five-door version. Basic equipment contains 15-inch wheels, a four-line TFT display, modern interior lighting, automatic headlight control, and an adaptive light distribution system. The novelty will cost about 18,650 pounds.
We are so used to the bustle of the street and the variety of all kinds of logos on cars that we don’t even think about their meaning. And I must say, in vain, because experienced designers, or even their entire generations, have been working on the creation of brand signs for years. Through their efforts, a small symbol is able to reflect the entire history and traditions of the company for the entire period of its existence.
What brands and emblems of German cars are most famous?
It will not be news that the first real car was made in Europe. Later, many other automakers will appear, some will go bankrupt and cease their activities along the way to success, but a certain part will become the basis of current concerns. While the Japanese industry was just in its infancy, the bulk of the giants from Germany already had more than a dozen years of efficient production behind them.
From the very beginning of the 90s German marks cars and the emblems of these cars have become the most common on the streets of our cities. These include:
- Audi.
- Mercedes Benz.
- Opel.
- Porsche.
- Volkswagen.
It is not for nothing that the products of the descendants of the Teutonic Knights received rave reviews from domestic motorists. High quality, the latest technology and comfort - these are the main features that are so appreciated all over the world. True fans of the German automotive industry will be interested to know what the images on the logos of the largest concerns mean.
Audi
The company associated with the name of its founder, August Horch, has a rather difficult fate. Having issued the A. Horch & Cie car brand and emblem in 1899, after 10 years, due to disagreements in the leadership, the inventor was forced to say goodbye to his offspring. The partners did not calm down on this and sued the brand.
Without thinking twice, new project A. Horch called Audi - that's how his last name sounded in Latin. In 1934, 4 rings were added to the logo, which meant the merger of the companies:
- Audi Werke.
- Horch Automobil Werke GmbH.
- Wanderer Werke AG.
bmw
The history of the premium brand dates back to 1913, when the Bavarians provided their engines aircrafts. Therefore, initially the propeller acted as the logo of the company. After the First World War, aircraft engines were no longer needed, but the Germans did not want to abandon aircraft manufacturing technologies.
In 1920, the propeller on the emblem disappeared, and it was replaced, albeit remotely, but already familiar to us by a circle divided into four quarters. Two of them are white and two are blue. By this, the automaker speaks of its belonging to Bavaria, because the colors symbolize the colors of the Bavarian coat of arms.
mercedes benz
There is an opinion that those who own a car with a three-pointed star are doomed to success. This, if you do not take into account the fact that the presence of a Mercedes is already a sign of success. The famous logo appeared in 1909, at a time when the company was engaged in the production of motors. The rays of the star symbolized the scope of their application:
- Earth.
- Air.
- Water.
Much later, in 1926, Benz and Daimler merged. The result of this was the emergence of the now well-known corporation Daimler-Benz AG. The brands of cars produced by it received a new emblem - a three-pointed star surrounded by a laurel wreath. A little later, it was replaced by an ordinary circle.
Which car brands from France are the most popular and their logos
Rating french cars, of course, is somewhat inferior to German counterparts in popularity. However, in terms of build quality and appearance, Frenchies are not inferior famous brands from Germany. Most well-known manufacturers only three, but they have centuries-old traditions:
- Citroen.
- Peugeot.
- Renault.
These concerns, although they differ in engineering and technical resources, but on the street their products can be identified even on an intuitive level. Their logos also play an important role in this.
Citroen
In 1913, the company under the leadership of André Citroen began to produce gearboxes. At the same time, it was developed company logo in the form of a double chevron, indicating the V-shaped gear teeth. It is thanks to this detail that the concern managed to bypass its competitors. Now the outlines of the double chevron have become embossed and rounded.
In 1975, the company was taken over by Peugeot, as a result of which the logo changed somewhat, but visually the meaning of the sign remained the same. Celebrating their 90th anniversary in 2009, the French rebranded the image.
Peugeot
The first car of this company with a Daimler engine was released in 1891, although the company was officially registered in 1896. However, the logo in the form of a lion from the coat of arms of the province of Franche-Comte appeared back in 1847, when Armand Peugeot owned a steel mill and used the symbol as a sign steel quality.
Renault
For the first time, this brand of car, along with the emblem in the form of the initials of the three Renault brothers, saw the light in 1900. Six years later, a self-propelled carriage was already a symbol. Another rebranding was made in 1919, when the company was producing tanks, which was reflected in the logo. Since 1925, the image of the company takes the form of a stylized diamond, the final version of which is presented in 1972.
Which Italian automakers are the most famous and their logos
A certain part of motorists believes italian auto industry the pinnacle of European engineering. The unique design, frantic speed and manufacturability make these machines super attractive. Among the popular cars in Italy are:
Alfa Romeo
Automotive company under the acronym A.L.F.A. was founded in Milan in 1910. At the same time, a brand name in the form of a circle divided in half was also developed. The basis was the elements of the heraldry of Italy:
- on the right is the green snake Biscione, symbolizing the House of Visconti, who was in power in Milan in the 14th century;
- on the left is a red cross on a white background - the banner of Milan.
In 1915, ownership of the factory passed to Nicola Romeo, in whose honor the inscription "Alfa Romeo" was added.
fiat
The first car under the acronym F.I.A.T. (Fabbrica Italiana di Avtomobili Torino) came out of the factory gates in 1899. In 1906, the dots between the letters were removed. The shape of the sign has undergone numerous modifications, ranging from rectangular to round. Now the Fiat car brand is produced with an emblem, which is a combination of a circle and a trapezoid with letters inside.
Ferrari
It will be news to some that the Ferrari badge has its origins in World War I. The black horse was painted on the fuselage of the aircraft of the famous pilot Francesco Barraca. In 1932 Enzo Ferrari turned to the pilot's family with a request to transfer to him the rights to use the horse symbol on their cars.
The basis of the logo was a golden background - the color of the city of Modena, the birthplace of Enzo. The national Italian tricolor at the top of the image is used by the company as a confirmation of its patriotism.
America is the main player in the global car market. It was the American Henry Ford who is considered the founder of the US auto industry, which made vehicles available to mass consumers. For more than a century of history, american stamps machines have gained worldwide popularity and still firmly hold leading positions in the annual TOP ratings.
In view of the vast territory, America needed the development of its own automotive complex. The first experiments on the creation of fast land transport in the United States began at the end of the 19th century. By 1913, the legendary industrialist Henry Ford launched the world's first car production in mass production, simultaneously manufacturing 13 completely identical machines of the same model manually.
The market economy in 1920s America provided a wide range of opportunities for entrepreneurs. Around these years, numerous auto-building companies were opened, the number of which quickly crossed over 1.5 thousand. Almost every significant city in the United States had its own plant for the development, assembly and production of cars. Most of the enterprises could not stand the competition and closed, or joined forces in the struggle for survival. Through the merger, by the middle of the last century, three main players emerged as absolute leaders: Ford Motors, Chrysler and General Motors.
It is noteworthy that during the Second World War, the automotive industry in Europe began to decline, but American factories functioned at full capacity and were able to significantly increase income through the production of military equipment. The famous Jeep and Dodge were produced for the army. It was on their basis that popular large-sized and powerful cars high permeability.
Today, American car brands are among the top three, periodically competing with Japanese, German and Chinese manufacturers. It is in America that numerous auto concerns successfully operate, which together make up a powerful world empire for the production of cars.
A Brief Overview of America's Car Brands
Cars made in the USA are distinguished by their impressive size and spacious interiors.
Unfortunately, in targeting the mass foreign consumer, American brand cars have lost their individuality, reducing the size of the engine and body. But any vehicle is characterized by ease of operation, high performance and reliability.
List of famous American car brands with names and icons
World globalization has contributed to the unification and absorption of some global companies by others. To date, the most large corporations in the United States are the industrial groups General Motors, Ford and Chrysler, which include numerous subsidiaries including those from Europe, Asia and Japan.
Ford
Motorists around the world are familiar with the name of Henry Ford, as well as the recognizable oval blue logo with the name of the automaker. The laconic emblem is a symbol of simplicity and practicality. The Ford industrial group also includes the American brands Lincoln and Mercury, as well as the Japanese brand Mazda. The auto company owns 80 production shops around the world. In connection with the financial crisis of recent years, the management decided to change the strategy, refocusing on the production of smaller, but more popular SUVs, compact vans, subcompact vans, sedans and pickups.
Lincoln
A specially created division of the corporation, focused on the needs of wealthy clients. By naming the company after President Abraham Lincoln, the owners challenged their Cadillac brand rivals.
The lineup is represented by limousines, roadsters, convertibles and crossovers. The badge depicts a compass with arrows, symbolizing the desire to spread the masterpiece of automotive technology around the world;
Mercury
The company is engaged in the production of cars mainly medium price category since 1938. The name of the company was given by Edsel Ford in honor of the god Mercury, which was also reflected in the badge. The logo of the car company depicts a mythical cat visually resembling the letter M. Since 2011, the production of trucks and cars has been temporarily suspended.
General Motors
The concern was founded in 1892 under the name Olds Motor Vehicle Company. The powerful corporation includes worldwide famous brands for the production of US cars Buick, Cadillac and Chevrolet, as well as most Italian auto holdings:
Cadillac
The company was founded in 1902. The main activity was related to the production of luxury cars. It was Cadillac cars that were used as a means of transportation by all US presidents. The company produces a limited number luxury cars, behind which status clients line up. It is noteworthy that, unlike most car manufacturers, the company was not named after the name of the founder, but in honor of the French explorer Cadillac, who stood at the origins of the city of Detroit, and his family coat of arms was applied directly to the emblem. It was Cadillac engineers who came up with the idea to equip the car with air conditioning and synchronize electrical systems.
Chevrolet
Economically independent branch of the auto concern. It is the best-selling brand of cars in the USA. For several decades, it has been holding the 4th place in the TOP rating, producing at least 4 million units of vehicles per year. The Chevrolet company is named after the founder, the famous race car driver and engineer Louis Chevrolet. The company's slogan is "Find new roads", and the logo is a cross, visually reminiscent of a bow tie. After the war, the management pays maximum attention to the production of high-quality medium-sized cars. price segment. Today, stylishly designed and technically equipped electric cars, sports sedans, compact vans, roomy seven-seater eurominivans, cheap three-volume vehicles and pickups, as well as small cars are leaving the factory lines.
Buick
The company is named after founder David Buick. Each new model surpasses the previous one in luxury and technical characteristics. The division produces premium cars that are unaffordable for most car users. The list of US cars produced under this brand includes passenger crossovers, powerful SUVs and eight-seater limousines.
Chrysler
The concern was founded by engineer Percy Chrysler in 1924. In the future, the management decided to merge with the German corporation Daimler. The list of brands of American cars that are part of the Chrysler concern includes Jeep, Dodge and Plymouth.
Jeep
The car company was founded in 1941 for military purposes. The name of the brand was given by the phrase General Purpose, literally meaning "General Purpose". For convenience, the abbreviation GP was simply called Jeep. Thanks to the unique unique design of a large-sized all-terrain vehicle, the word "jeep" has become a household name. Cars off-road are produced in various configurations and are famous for the highest degree reliability and safety. The lineup includes compact crossovers, mid-size, large-size, premium comfortable or utility SUVs, designed for a buyer of any price category. More than a million Jeeps are sold worldwide every year.
Dodge
Brothers John and Horace Dodge created a family business in 1900 for the production of auto parts, but years later they founded a full-fledged car assembly shop. On their emblem they depicted the head of a stern bull with huge horns. It was under this brand that the first car was produced in the United States with an all-metal body of a closed type. Today, Dodge minivans, SUVs and sports cars conquer the roads in many countries of the world.
Plymouth
Disbanded division of the corporation. It was founded in 1928 personally by Walter Chrysler. A stylized ship is used as an icon of blue color, which meant hope for a long voyage. Under the Plymouth brand, minivans and cars were produced, which were popular in the United States. The department has now been abolished.
The production of the first cars started more than 120 years ago in the 80-90s of the XIX century in France and Germany. At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, the number of countries that put the “iron horses” on stream was replenished by England, Austria-Hungary, Italy, the USA, Belgium, Canada, Switzerland and Sweden. In those days, the inventors of miracle technology were driven by the desire to stop exploiting horse labor and leave the crews in the past: to mechanize, and, therefore, increase the speed of movement of overland rail transportation, primarily of a military nature. With the development of the industry among automakers, clear leaders from all over the world with different thinking, goals, objectives and philosophies began to emerge - these are Europe, the USA and Japan.
“Europe – continuity of generations”
Europe can safely be called the birthplace of cars. The very first car - Motorwagen - was designed and built in 1885 in Germany by Karl Benz.
Women's investments It is worth noting that the ingenuity and ingenious mind of Karl Benz was not enough for the car to be recognized as not just worthwhile and useful thing, but really a world discovery. Oddly enough, his wife, Berta Benz, played a huge role in this difficult matter. In order not to infringe on the dignity of the male part of the readers of the magazine, we can only mention in passing that the world's first car was completely created on the dowry of Madame Bertha. However, the real merit of the wife of a genius lies in her legendary 106 km rally from Mannheim to Pforzheim on August 5, 1888. It was thanks to the courage and strength of this woman that the popularization of this miracle of technical thought became possible. Plus, Berta Benz became the first woman to drive. And even that's not all. Bertha Benz, during the historic motor rally, predetermined the necessary car service: gas stations, tire fitting, repair shops and so on, everything that motorists use on the roads today. And exactly Berte Benz she came up with the idea of equipping the car with a gearbox - she did not like pushing the car up the hills too much, and she gave her husband the appropriate practical advice.
From the moment the Motorwagen appeared in Europe, the automotive industry began to develop actively. Brands and factories appeared throughout the old world, and Germany, England, France and Italy became leaders in this area. Each of these countries endowed and still endows their cars national characteristics. German cars are a symbol of quality and reliability, Italian - speed and charisma, English - comfort and sophistication, French - originality and practicality. But the hallmark of everything European car mobile building is the continuity of generations. Europeans are very careful about their history, culture, architecture, art and generally do not really like change. This also affected the automotive industry. The model range is replaced no more than once every 5-7 years, and the technical component - only when necessary. For example, Mercedes still produces spare parts for sl of the 60s. At the same time, the design of each brand is recognizable, and has not changed dramatically, retaining the usual recognizable features and lines. We all remember BMW grilles. But, despite such a conservative policy, car interiors still amaze with luxury and individuality: leather, expensive woods ... Close attention to detail appeared for the first time in Europe. And this is due, first of all, to the fact that Europeans make their cars not for a year or two, but for at least ten years, paying attention to the quality of every detail. This causes the use complex technologies manufacturing and durable expensive materials, even in such details as fasteners. European cars use anodized fasteners that do not rot or rust.
Hi-tech educational program An important feature of engineering is the maintainability of the car. Each European car is supplied with detailed technical literature on a complete repair. All this led to the fact that the inhabitants of Europe did not like and still do not like to change their cars often and prefer to take care of them carefully. Distinctive features The cutting-edge technical developments of European automakers are more related to their attachment to the topic of fuel economy and environmental friendliness, which is popular in Europe. The high cost of fuel has led Europe to the use of composite materials in the manufacture of engines that seriously lighten the car. To aluminum multi-link finely tuned suspension. A robotic gearbox, similar in design to a mechanical one, shifting gears due to electronic system clutch. Locking system exhaust gases when the engine is running at low load. All this allows you to make the car more economical and environmentally friendly.
It's probably no secret to anyone that a characteristic feature of a European car is big choice configurations. In order to satisfy the picky European consumer and compete with cheaper and simpler foreign counterparts, European manufacturers offer several options for both additional technical equipment (air conditioning / climate control, interior trim, music) and the main one (engine range). Also, Europeans were the first to use electronic technologies in the direction of comfort. Europeans make high-tech and sophisticated cars. Majority European brands have their own racing teams, which in turn also have rich traditions. Often racing technologies are introduced into production for stock cars, which, of course, complicates the car, but makes it faster, more obedient, allows you to achieve good balanced proportions of a kilogram per horsepower. True, all this affects the cost of the car, significantly increasing it. For example, carbon fiber and attention to aerodynamics, new suspension technologies - all this has come to modern cars from racing.
Now many European car companies test their cars on race tracks before mass production in order to bring handling to perfection. And looking at European roads you understand why. These are narrow and winding streets, alternating mountain serpentines and unpredictable hills. The main conclusion of many car enthusiasts and professionals is that a car in Europe has always been something more than just a piece of iron. Engineers and designers managed to give it soul and character. European cars forced to admire them as works of art. The scarlet Ferrari will forever remain an integral part of the Riviera and Monaco, and the silver Rolls-Royce will carry royalty all their lives. These machines do not age, they remain classics and are unsurpassed.
The largest car manufacturers:
1. Toyota. Turnover: 167.05 billion euros. Profit: 14.43 billion euros. Vehicles sold: 9.32 million Employees: 316,121
2. General Motors. turnover: 123.04 billion euros. Profit: 4.25 billion euros. Vehicles sold: 9.37 million × number of employees: 284,000.
3. Ford. turnover: 117.15 billion euros. Profit: 2.07 billion euros. Vehicles sold: 6.55 million Employees: 246,000
4. Volkswagen / Porsche. turnover: 116.27 billion euros. Profit: 10.89 billion euros. Vehicles sold: 6.24 million Employees: 340,876
5. Renault-Nissan. turnover: 109.46 billion euros. Profit: 6.26 billion euros. Vehicles sold: 6.15 million Employees: 310,714
6 Daimler. turnover: 99.4 billion euros. Profit: 8.71 billion euros. Vehicles sold: 1.29 million Employees: 272,382
7. Honda. turnover: 76.27 billion euros. Profit: 6.06 billion euros. Vehicles sold: 3.93 million Employees: 180,000
8. Peugeot-Citroen. turnover: 60.61 billion euros. Profit: 1.75 billion euros. Vehicles sold: 3.43 million Employees: 207,800
9.Fiat. turnover: 58.53 billion euros. Profit: 3.15 billion euros. Vehicles sold: 2.23 million Employees: 179,601
10. BMW. Turnover: 56.02 billion euros. Profit: 4.21 billion euros. Vehicles sold: 1.5 million Employees: 107,539
“USA – accessible and cheap car for every American"
If Europe is the birthplace of the first automobile, then America is the birthplace of the automotive industry. It was in the United States that Henry Ford in 1908 created the first mass car Ford T. The Americans were able to turn the car into a business. Ford put mechanical engineering on the assembly line, which greatly simplified, reduced the cost and accelerated the assembly process. This event was a breakthrough that affected the whole world and America in particular. By definition, a car in the US should be cheap and accessible to everyone. Ford magician The first inventions of Henry Ford were unsuccessful. The Fordmobile, created in 1893, looked like a cart without a horse and caused at least bewilderment among the townsfolk. And in order to assemble his first engine, Ford had to tinker with it for several months.
Having created an ATV in 1893, Henry Ford could not find a single buyer for it - the result was not in demand, because they simply did not know anything about it! Henry had no choice but to sit in his brainchild himself and drive around all potential customers. However, for his work, he received only ridicule. But, nevertheless, he did not give up.
At the beginning of the 20th century, a new passion - auto racing began to attract more and more fans and, accordingly, rally participants. Therefore, in 1902, Henry called to a “duel” and overtook the American champion Alexander Winton in a car of his own production, and in 1903, the already hired driver Oldfield repeated the experiment, advertising the Ford “999” racing model. The victory brought Ford some fame, and most importantly, it helped win the hearts and wallets of future partners. The result of these efforts was June 16, 1903, when twelve investors, including the Dodge brothers, invested a total of $ 28,000 in the company, which was headed by Henry Ford - Ford motor company. Huge expanses and low cost of materials naturally provoked engineers to creativity and hypertrophy: huge engines with low efficiency (150hp per 6 liters), large-scale hydromechanical automatic transmissions, and, accordingly, the gigantic size of the cars themselves. In addition, the inaccuracy of the patterns, which had large tolerances for errors, was justified by the principle: large gaps are not visible on a large car. However, to this day, many of the already legendary American cars are highly maintainable. This is due to the simplicity of designs and the strong continuity of technology. On modern car American-made, you can still see a 35-year-old engine, in a new body kit: newer hinged units, consumables and electronics.
Cars made in the USA were originally produced exclusively for the local market. Since the US domestic market was already large enough at the beginning of the automotive industry, the Americans had no need to make cars for export. And if suddenly a car made in America got to another part of the world, then its maintenance was very problematic. As a rule, spare parts for american cars could only be found in the USA, and they did not differ in particular reliability. As a result, American cars entered the modern history as large, comfortable, simple, unpretentious in maintenance. And… cool! Not beautiful or bright, namely cool. WITH big amount chrome parts, expressive design and a huge engine under the hood. Because of all these pluses and minuses, American cars never really became popular anywhere except in the USA.
“Japan is a car as a means of transportation” Before the Second World War, there was practically no large automobile industry in Japan, although attempts to produce own cars were repeatedly undertaken in the 10–20s of the twentieth century. But even if several copies were made, it still did not reach mass production.
The Japanese, the Japanese...
Almost all of Japan's modern automobile industry, based on mass production methods, was created after World War II, and in just a few years. To provide mass production cars, the Japanese economy, which found itself after the end of World War II in an exclusively difficult conditions needed a push. This was the impetus for the Korean War. Japanese companies supplied american army trucks and other vehicles. Although these deliveries were a small fraction of the vehicles used during the war, the position of the companies that produced them had changed greatly. Along with this, during the production and maintenance of American cars, Japanese engineers got the opportunity to study the design features of the car.
In the course of all these events, the essence of the Japanese car was formed. Transportation of goods, people, from point A to point B. A truly Japanese car is the simplicity and reliability of the design, ascetic interior, lack of design, economical engine, the small size of the car itself, low cost. High Quality assembly and reliability were achieved through the introduction and use of robots, the refinement of production technology. If we talk about the production of cars, then all that the Japanese needed at that time was inexpensive, reliable car on every day - workhorse. The geographical location and features of the national character also did their job. In the 60s, a Japanese car looked like a box on wheels: complete asceticism in the design of the body and interior, nothing superfluous, no luxury, only the bare necessities.
Design, a variety of configurations were abolished in order to reduce cost and increase production speed. The total saving of resources also affected the characteristics of the engines. Japan is the birthplace of small cars, the small size and weight of cars made it possible to use small engines with minimal fuel consumption. Japanese cars were created exclusively for the domestic market and fully satisfied the needs of the local population. Japanese manufacturers captured almost the entire domestic market, including thanks to the government, which actively supported the development of local businesses. However, the rest of the civilized world did not understand the Japanese car until the oil crisis of 1973 happened. Gasoline prices skyrocketed and then economical Japanese cars came in handy. Unlike the main competitors from Europe and the USA, Japanese cars turned out to be much more economical. And within a few years, Japan has become the world's leading exporter of cars. However, new markets dictated their terms. In order to remain competitive, Japan needed to change its cars. American and European consumers wanted more. So Japan began to master design, comfort and luxury.
For this, specialists from abroad were invited. So far the most successful models were developed by Western designers and foreign competitors were easily recognized in their appearance. Compare for example Mitsubishi Galant and BMW of the third series (E-36 body), Lexus LS400 and Mereedes S-class with W126 body, and the similarity of Lexus LS430 with Mereedes W140 was noticed by the whole world automotive press. By far, Japan's biggest contribution to the global auto industry is economy. Profitability in everything: from the organization of production ( stocks thought out to the smallest detail, minimal production costs, all materials are recycled, most of the work is done by robots), to the cars themselves (finishing materials, design, engine and components). Japan showed the whole world its special look at the car - a car as a means of transportation, a car for every day. Simple, grey, soulless yet reliable, economical, affordable and practical. Japan didn't make the first mass car, it made the modern mass car.
