A collection of Brand Car Logos and their meanings (I)
AUDI
AUDI logo
The name Audi is based on a Latin translation of the surname of the founder August Horch, itself the German word for “listen!”The Audi emblem is four overlapping rings that represent the four marques of Auto Union. The Audi emblem symbolizes the amalgamation of Audi with DKW, Horch and Wanderer: the first ring represents Audi, the second represents DKW, third is Horch, and the fourth and last ring Wanderer. Its similarity to the Olympic rings caused the International Olympic Committee to sue Audi in International Trademark Court in 1995.
BENZ
MERCEDES-BENZ LOGO
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. It is currently a division of the parent company, Daimler AG (formerly DaimlerChrysler AG), after previously being owned by Daimler-Benz. There have traditionally been two logos on a Mercedes-Benz car: the three-pointed-star hood ornament (in the grille on sportier models, trucks and buses) and the more formal logo, with lettering and a laurel wreath, that appears on grille shells. The star evolved over time: By 1916, the three points were within a circle, with four smaller stars on an outer band, and either the Mercedes name or the name of one of the two Daimler plants beneath. Another change came in 1921, when the radiator (and later, hood) emblem was surrounded by a ring. This symbol was patented in 1923, and has remained essentially unchanged since. By June of 1926, Daimler Moteren Gesellschaft and Benz & Cie were merged into a single entity: Daimler-Benz AG. The new logo, predictably, was a combination of the two: The three-pointed star remained, as did the laurel wreath encircling it. The Mercedes and Benz names combined, and have remained thus for more than 80 years. Mercedes in Spanish is for “grace”, and three pointed star symbolizes the mechanization in the area of land, water and air.
VOLKSWAGEN
VOLOKSWAGEN LOGO
The Volkswagen Automobile Company, also known as Volkswagen Passenger Cars or just VW, is an automobile manufacturer based in Wolfsburg, Germany, and is the original brand within the Volkswagen Group, which contains the car brands Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, Skoda and truck maker Scania. Volks Wagenwerk in German means “car for common people”. VW in the logo is the acronym of Volks Wagenwerk, and can also be seen as composed of three “V”s, meaning victory-victory-victory.
TOYOTA
TOYOTA LOGO
Toyota Motor Corporation is a multinational corporation headquartered in Japan, and is currently the world’s largest automaker. The three-ellipse logo of Toyota Motor Company was first used in early 1990. The biggest ellipse on the outside of the logo symbolizes “earth”, and the other two ellipses in the middle vertically make up a “T”, which stands for “Toyota”.
FORD
FORD LOGO
The Ford Motor Company is an American multinational corporation and the world’s fourth largest automaker based on worldwide vehicle sales, following Toyota, General Motors, and Volkswagen. The logo of Ford Company adopts the company name “Ford”, which is white set in the blue background. Henry Ford, the founder, likes small animals, so the logo designer draw the word “Ford” into the pattern of a white rabbit.
BMW
BMW LOGO
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW), (English: Bavarian Motor Works) is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company. Founded in 1916, it is known for its performance and luxury vehicles. It owns and produces the MINI brand, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. The circular blue and white BMW logo or roundel allegedly portrays the movement of an airplane propeller, to signify the white blades cutting through the blue sky – an interpretation that BMW adopted for convenience in 1929, twelve years after the roundel was created. In fact, the emblem evolved from the circular Rapp Motorenwerke company logo, from which the BMW company grew. The Rapp logo was combined with the blue and white colors of the flag of Bavaria to produce the BMW roundel so familiar today.
ROLLS-ROYCE
ROLLS-ROYCE LOGO
Rolls-Royce p.l.c. is a British aircraft engine maker, and the second-largest in the world, behind GE Aviation. The company has related businesses in the defence aerospace, marine and energy markets. The two overlapping “R”s in Rolls-Royce logo symbolize the harmonious relationship of two people, “we have each other in mind”. The Rolls Royce logo has an incredibly professional and competent rectangular structure. Company name is efficiently inscribed inside the Rolls Royce logo shape, making it look more practical and methodical. The Rolls Royce logo rectangle is divided into three fractions, one being larger and central segment whereas the other two are smaller yet same in size.
FERRARI
FERRARI LOGO
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. The famous symbol of the Ferrari race team is a black prancing stallion on a yellow shield, usually with the letters S F (for Scuderia Ferrari), with three stripes of green, white and red (the Italian national colors) at the top. The road cars have a rectangular badge on the hood (see picture above), and, optionally, the shield-shaped race logo on the sides of both front wings, close to the door.
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