Things to know about car logos

1. Audi

Audi’s logo is simple and clean. The four rings of the logo represents four car companies (Audi, Horch, DKW, and Wanderer) that merged in 1932 to create Audi’s predecessor company, Auto Union.

2. BMW

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG

what the blue and white quadrants represent the Bavarian Free State colours - but in the opposed order - because it was illegal to use national symbols in a commercial trademark.

3. Chevrolet

The bowtie is stylised version of the cross of the Swiss flag, since Louis Chevrolet was born in Switzerland.

4. Ferrari

As described by Enzo Ferrari just once...

"The horse was painted on the fuselage of the fighter plane of Francesco Baracca - a heroic airman of the First World War. In ’23, I met count Enrico Baracca, the hero’s father, and then his mother, countess Paulina, who said to me one day, ‘Ferrari, put my son’s prancing horse on your cars. It will bring you good luck’. The horse was, and still is, black, and I added the canary yellow background which is the colour of Modena."

5. Lamborghini

The reason behind the iconic Lamborghini bull is that the animal is Ferruccio Lamborghini’s zodiac sign (he was born on April 28, 1916, which makes him a Taurus). He was also a fan of bull fighting, which is why the bull looks like it’s ready to ruin someone’s day.

6. Mercedes

Merc’s logo is a bold statement of intent, not some romantic ideal or a wild beast ready to mess someone up. The three-pointed star simply represents the brand’s domination of the land, the sea, and the air. How incredibly German.

7. Mitsubishi

 The origin of the logo is reflected in the company name. ‘Mitsu’ means ‘three’ in Japanese, while ‘hishi’ (pronounced ‘bishi’) means water chestnut, and is also the same word that the Japanese have long used to denote a rhombus or diamond shape.

8. Porsche

Porsche’s logo is a clear-cut case of using the coat of arms of the Free People’s State of Württemberg (of former Weimar Germany), of which Stuttgart was the capital (where the cars are made).

9. BUGATTI

The history of the Bugatti logo is a bit uncertain. The ‘E’ and ‘B’ are obvious references to the founder, Ettore Arco Isidoro Bugatti. The dots around the perimeter are possibly a reference to the attention to detail found in the cars, such as the safety wiring on many fasteners. The company has previously referred to the sixty red dots as ‘pearls’ that help reflect the combination of technology and elegance in their cars.

10. FORD

Henry Ford‘s right-hand-man, Harold Wills, printed business cards to earn money as a teen, and when Mr. Ford needed a logo, Wills pulled out his old printing set and used a font that he had used for his own cards. The oval was added in 1912, and blue was added for the Model A in 1927.

11. Hyundai

The Hyundai logo is deceptively simple. While at first glance it’s just an H in an oval, the subtleties of the design carry more meaning than that. The oval is meant to symbolize expansion of the company globally, while the ‘H’ is two people shaking hands.

12. JAGUAR

Originally the Swallow Sidecar Company, Jaguar gained its new name in 1945, though why this particular animal was chosen is uncertain (though it makes a much better hood ornament than a swallow…). It’s thought the leaping jaguar is meant to represent the speed, power, and quickness of the cars.

13. Renault

The Renault diamond logo was first used in 1924 (it was previously circular), and had a very functional purpose originally – the center of the badge was cut out to allow sound from the horn, positioned directly behind, to escape.

14. ROLLS ROYCE

The Rolls Royce logo is about as uninteresting as their cars. The logo, and the company name, is derived from the founders’ names, Charles Stewart Rolls and Frederick Henry Royce, hence the two ‘R’s. What’s perhaps more interesting in the history of the hood ornament, the ‘Spirit of Ecstasy.’ 

15. TOYOTA

The Toyota logo is comprised of three ellipses, representing the heart of the customer, the heart of the product, and the ever expanding technological advancements and opportunities that lie ahead. Another interpretation is that it represents the three interlocking aspects of the culture of the company – freedom, team spirit, and progress. Also, in Japanese ‘Toyo’ means an abundance of, and ‘ta’ is rice (though the name Toyota was chosen as it was the founder’s name, not for its literal meaning). In some Asian cultures, those blessed with an abundance of rice are believe to be blessed with great wealth.

16. VOLKSWAGEN

The Volkswagen logo is simple, but the name has an interesting meaning – in German, it translates as the “Peoples’ Car”.

17. VOLVO

Volvo means ‘I Roll’ in Latin, and the circle/arrow logo is the conventional map symbol for steel (which for a long time was Sweden’s most famous industry). That circle/arrow symbol isn’t arbitray, it represents the shield and spear of Mars, also the alchemical symbol for iron. Chinese automaker Geely purchased Volvo from Ford in 2010.