The United States is home to many global vehicles and auto parts manufacturers. It has one of the largest automotive markets and the world’s second-largest market for vehicle sales and production with approximately 8-10 million manufactured annually. According to the International Trade Administration, in 2017, America exported almost 2 million light vehicles and almost 130,000 medium and heavy trucks to more than 200 markets around the world.
The American automotive industry began in the 1890s and with the invention of the automobile and the mass production techniques of Henry Ford; the United States quickly came to dominate the automobile industry. By the end of the 1920s, General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler emerged as the “Big Three” and automobile production soared to meet growing demand. In the early 1970s, the increased competition from foreign auto manufacturers and high oil prices severely affected the American automobile market, which results in the rise of Japan as the leading automaker by the 1980s. Later in 2008, a global-scale recession reduced automobile sales in the United States and it was overtaken by China. However, through the boom and bust years of the 20th century, the American automotive industry showed signs of a modest recovery in early 2012.
Today, the automotive industry of the United States embodies both the incessant push of innovation and the power of heritage. The ‘Big Three’ of the U.S. are still prominent brands with General Motors and Ford in the top five best car manufacturers in the world list. Currently, one out of every six jobs in the United States is directly or indirectly related to the automobile. By 2022, almost 73% of all consumer vehicle sales in the United States are expected to be utility vehicles and about 27% will be cars. The American car brands are building a backbone for the country’s economy and some of them are worth mentioning.
Let’s discuss some of the biggest car giants of the United States and have a look on their logos:
Ford
Founded: 1903
Founder: Henry Ford
Current Status: Running
Headquarters: Dearborn, Michigan, United States
Owner: The Vanguard Group, Evercore Wealth Management, and the Ford family
Website: www.ford.com
One of the ‘big three’ automakers of the United States, Ford is the fifth-largest automaker in the world and second-largest in the U.S. This American car company specializes in sedans, crossovers, SUVs, trucks, vans and also sells luxury cars under the Lincoln brand. Additionally, in the past, Ford manufactured tractors and automotive components. Ford has several joint- ventures, which include Ford Sollers in Russia, Ford Lio Ho in Taiwan, AutoAlliance Thailand in Thailand, Ford Otosan in Turkey, and Changan Ford in China. It also has an 8% stake in Aston Martin, a 49% stake in Jiangling Motors, and owns Brazilian SUV manufacturer Troller.
This American car manufacturer was founded back in 1903 by Henry Ford with $28,000 in cash from twelve investors. During its early years, the company manufactured few vehicles and the first model was sold on July 23, 1903. In the next five years, Ford produced Models A, B, C, F, K, N, R, and S. To compete with the luxury segment of the automobile market, Ford acquired Lincoln in 1922. Similarly, to compete with mid-priced cars, this U.S. car manufacturer company created a new brand ‘Mercury’ in 1939. In 1990 and 1994 respectively, Ford also acquired Jaguar Cars and Aston Martin, which were later sold to Tata Motors in 2008. In April 2018, this American car brand announced that in the next four years passenger cars except for the Mustang and the Focus Active will be discontinued in the North American market.
Ford has manufacturing operations not only in the United States but also in the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Australia, China, Germany, Turkey, Brazil, Argentina, and South Africa. Today, Ford has about 202,000 employees at around plants and facilities worldwide.
Chrysler
Founded: 1925
Founder: Walter Chrysler
Current Status: Running
Headquarters: Auburn Hills, Michigan, United States
Owner: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
Website: www.chrysler.com
This American subsidiary of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. is one of the ‘Big three’ automakers of the United States. Now known as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC, it is an American luxury car brand and sells cars worldwide under its brand name Chrysler, as well as Jeep, Dodge, and RAM trucks. Additionally, it also provides the automotive parts & accessories division and performance automobile division under the Mopar and SRT brand respectively. With almost 100 years of history behind it, Chrysler has undergone massive transformation ever since its beginning.
Founded in 1925, the company has spent the last few years bouncing between highs and lows. In 1928, Chrysler established two divisions, namely De Soto and Plymouth. Later, this American car brand also acquired the Dodge Brothers company. Walter Chrysler, the director strategically managed to dominate every sector of the automobile market by introducing Plymouth, De Soto, and Dodge in the low-priced, medium-priced, and high-priced fields respectively. Just in 12 years of business, this US auto brand became the second largest car manufacturer in the world. However, the world oil crisis of the early 70s changed the scenario and the company was in real danger of being bankrupt. It was saved by $1.5 billion in loan guarantees from the US government. In 1987, Chrysler bought the famous Italian automaker Lamborghini and acquired American Motors Corporation. In the mid-‘90s this American car brand gained financial stability and in 2014, Chrysler became a subsidiary of Fiat S.p.a.
Today, Chrysler continues to stand for style and substance. It provides performance, efficiency, the latest technology, world-class designs, and topmost quality at a very affordable price.
GMC
Founded: 1911
Founder: William C. Durant
Current Status: Running
Headquarters: Detroit, Michigan, United States
Parent Company: General Motors
Website: www.gmc.com
A division of American automobile manufacturer General Motors, General Motors Truck Company specializes in trucks and Utility vehicles. Additionally, it sells vans, buses, sport utility vehicles, and military vehicles marked worldwide by General Motors. This American car brand has been placed among the top compact and crossover SUVs (the GMC Terrain). No sophisticated elements and no glamour, just raw power is the motto of this US auto brand.
In 1909, GM acquired a commercial truck brand, ‘Rapid Motor Vehicle’ and another independent manufacturer, ‘Reliance Motor Car, which was further merged in 1911 to form General Motors Truck Company, as a holding company for Buick. In 1912, the first mass-produced truck was released and over 22,000 were produced and sold. During World War II, this American car brand produced 600,000 trucks for use by the United States Armed Forces. By the 1960s, the company started producing trucks for personal use and introduced its first full-size personal use pickup truck, ‘GMC Sierra’. The 70s brought a bond between this American Car Company and Chevrolet. GM introduced a truck series that created product similarity between GMC and Chevrolet GMC vehicles have different trim levels, larger engines, and often higher prices.
Today, GMC is the second-largest North American automaker in the truck division ahead of Pontiac but behind Chevrolet. Over a century, this American car company managed to refine and perfects its commitment to precision and quality. Its latest model ‘GMC Sierra 2018’ is stealing the heart of every car lover.
Chevrolet
Founded: 1911
Founder: Louis Chevrolet and William C. Durant
Current Status: Running
Headquarters: Detroit, Michigan, United States
Owner: General Motors
Website: www.chevrolet.com
Chevrolet is an automobile division of General Motors. This American car brand has marked its place across the world with its quality, design, style, and value categories. Chevrolet is known for its commercial vehicles, trucks, passenger cars, and sports cars. Cars of this American brand are sold in almost every automotive market across the globe, except South Asia, South Africa, Hong Kong, Macau, North Korea, Cuba, Iran, Sudan, and Syria. Chevrolet has set up its business in more than 100 countries and selling more than 4 million vehicles a year. Due to the name recognition and influence of Chevrolet as a marque of general motors, Chevrolet is used as a synonym at that time for products of General Motors.
This US-based car brand was co-founded by Louis Chevrolet with ousted General Motors founder William C. Durant in 1911. Durant used the company to gain a controlling stake in General Motors with a reverse merger that occurred in 1918, and then the Chevrolet was merged into GM as a separate division. The first prototype of the brand was ready even before the startup and in 1913, the Series C Classic Six was introduced at the auto show held in New York. The first Chevrolet was sold for $2,152, which had the top speed of 65 miles per hour. In 1935, this American auto brand launched their first Suburban, which is the longest-running Chevrolet nameplate holder.
As of 2016, the Chevrolet is the record holder of the most NASCAR victories. Chevrolet Camaro and Chevrolet Corvette are some of the cars that have helped Chevrolet to build its empire.
Cadillac
Founded: 1902
Founder: William Murphy, Lemuel Bowen, Henry M. Leland
Current Status: Running
Headquarters: New York City, New York, United States
Owner: General Motors
Website: www.cadillac.com
Cadillac is an American luxury car brand and a division of General Motors. It is one of the oldest automobile brands in the world and second in the United States. Cadillac was the first American car to win the Royal Automobile Club of the United Kingdom’s Dewar Trophy. With European competitors challenging the United States market, this American car brand decided not only to grow its business in Asia but also to start manufacturing in China. Now, its primary markets are the United States, China, and Canada. However, vehicles are distributed in 34 additional markets across the globe.
Established in 1902 by Henry Leland, this American car brand was formed from the remnants of Henry Ford’s second failed company and named after a French explorer Antoine Laumet de La Mothe, Sieur de Cadillac. The brand introduced its first automobile in the same year, which was practically identical to Ford Model A. In 1909, the company was purchased by General Motors and began producing commercial vehicles and institutional vehicles.
In 2000, the brand propagated a new design philosophy for the 21st century known as “Art and Science”, which means “incorporates sharp, sheer forms and crisp edges.” From 2007 to 2013, Cadillac has raised sales tremendously and sold almost 190,000 cars worldwide. Over the years, this American car brand maintained its reputation for luxury and innovation.
Dodge
Founded: 1900
Founder: John Francis Dodge and Horace Elgin Dodge
Current Status: Running
Headquarters: Auburn Hills, Michigan, United States
Owner: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
Website: www.dodge.com
Dodge is a mid-priced division of American Car Company Chrysler and sells lower-priced badge variants of Chrysler-badged vehicles as well as performance cars. The company was originally a supplier of bicycles and vehicle parts for Detroit-based car manufacturers.
Founded in 1900, this American car brand manufactured a wide range of automobile parts, including precision engines, power plants, drivelines, and other components for the city’s growing number of automobile firms. By 1914, the Dodge brothers established an automobile factory and produced their first car – the Dodge Model 30. As of 1916, the company sold more than 70,000 cars and was ranked second place for U.S. sales. Despite all the success, the sales were dropped to seventh place by 1927, and eventually it was acquired by Chrysler Corporation in 1928.
Nowadays, Dodge is known as a strong muscle-car brand. Among all the models produced by this American brand, the Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger remain the most popular.
Jeep
Founded: 1941
Founder: Not Known
Current Status: Running
Headquarters: Toledo, Ohio, United States
Owner: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
Website: www.jeep.com
Another division of FCA US LLC, Jeep is known for its sports utility vehicles and off-road vehicles. Besides, it also manufactures pickup trucks in the past, and with the Grand Cherokee reached into the luxury SUV zone. This American auto brand is a symbol of freedom, adventure, authenticity, and passion.
Introduced in 1941, the Jeep became the primary light 4-wheel-drive vehicle of the United States Army and the Allies. By 1945, the production of the first civilian Jeep was started. In 1987, Chrysler purchased the Jeep brand from American Motors Corporation (AMC). One of its models, the Jeep Grand Cherokee greatly contributed to Chrysler’s amazing sales in 2014.
This American automobile company has been building jeeps under license by various manufacturers around the world, which include Mahindra in India, EBRO in Spain, and several in South America. Mitsubishi built more than 30 models in Japan between 1953 and 1998.
Lincoln
Founded: 1917
Founder: Henry M. Leland
Current Status: Running
Headquarters: Dearborn, Michigan, United States
Parent Company: Ford Motor Company
Website: www.lincoln.com
Lincoln is an American luxury car brand and a division of Ford Motor Company. After the divestiture of Land Rover, Jaguar, Volvo, and Aston Martin, this US car brand became the sole luxury nameplate of Ford Motor Company. Its product range consists of SUVs, sedans, and crossovers. Moreover, Lincoln also manufactured limousines and livery vehicles throughout its existence.
Founded in 1917 by one of the founders of Cadillac automakers, Lincoln was acquired by Ford Motor Company in 1922. This American luxury car brand was named after the founder’s hero- Abraham Lincoln. In the 1930s, the brand launched two V12 engine models that resulted in almost 10 times growth in production. In the 60s, some custom-built cars of the state were introduced that were basically converted from standard Continental models by the Lehmann-Peterson coachbuilding firm. In 2012, Lincoln was rebranded under its original name, Lincoln Motor Company.
Today, Lincoln vehicles are officially sold in North America, Middle East, China, and South Korea. Also, Lincoln sold 188,383 vehicles worldwide in 2017
Buick
Founded: 1903
Founder: David Dunbar Buick
Current Status: Running
Headquarters: Detroit, Michigan, United States
Owner: General Motors
Website: www.buick.com
Buick is a premium automobile brand of the American automaker General Motors. The brand is one of the oldest American automakers and specializes in selling luxury vehicles. Car from this American manufacturer is known for reliability making it high in consumer reports brand reliability ratings. Buick sells vehicles in the United States, Mexico, Canada, and China being the main market.
This US car brand was founded in 1899 as the Buick Auto-Vim and Power Company but renamed to Buick in 1903. The first two Buick automobiles were made in 1899 and 1900. However, the first Buick car that was manufactured to be sold was the 1904 Model B.
Tesla
Founded: 2003
Founder: JB Straubel, Martin Eberhard, Ian Wright, Elon Musk and Marc Tarpenning
Current Status: Running
Headquarters: Palo Alto, California, United States
Owner: Not Known
Website: www.tesla.com
This American multinational corporation is known for electric vehicles, solar panel manufacturing, and lithium-ion battery energy storage. The company’s motto is to offer electric cars to the average consumer at an affordable price. The Tesla Roadster 2008 was the first car manufactured by the brand and currently, it sells the Tesla Model S, Model X, Model 3, Powerwall and Powerpack batteries, solar panels, solar roof tiles, and related products.
Other American car brands that cannot be neglected
• Mercury
Years: 1937-Present
Website: www.mercuryvehicles.com
• Pontiac
Years: 1926-Present
Website: www.pontiac.com
• Rossion
Years: 2006-Present
Website: www.rossioncars.com
• Panoz
Years: 1989 -Present
Website: www.panoz.com
• Saleen
Years: 1984-Present
Website: www.saleen.com
These American car brands have undergone huge transformation to get a competitive edge over the competition, and ability to match steps with world’s premium car brands without losing individual quality.