The major automakers with present presences in the United States are listed below, along with the brands they sell.
BMW, Mini, and Rolls-Royce are all owned by BMW Group. Smart and Mercedes-Benz are owned by Daimler AG. Lincoln and Ford are owned by Ford Motor Co. Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac all belong to General Motors. Hummer is back as a GMC subsidiary brand. In order to co-develop EVs, GM and Honda have an official collaboration. Acura and Honda are owned by Honda Motor Co. It collaborates with GM. Sony Honda Mobility is the name of the electric vehicle firm they founded with Sony. Genesis, Hyundai, and Kia are all owned by Hyundai Motor Group. Mazda is owned by Mazda Motor Corp. Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Infiniti are all owned by the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. Following the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Peugeot S.A., a new company called Stellantis was created. According to the explanation, the word is derived from the Latin verb “stello,” which means “to dazzle with stars.” Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, and Ram are now under Stellantis and are FCA brands that are offered in the United States. Other Stellantis automobile brands include Citroen, DS Automobiles, Opel, Peugeot, and Vauxhall. Subaru is owned by Subaru Corp. Jaguar and Land Rover are owned by Tata Motors. Owned by Tesla. Lexus and Toyota are owned by Toyota Motor Corp. Additionally, it owns stock in Suzuki and Subaru. The automotive brand VinFast, along with VinHomes, VinBigData, VinBioCare, and VinBrain, are all owned by VinGroup. Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, Scout, and Volkswagen are all brands owned by Volkswagen AG. Volvo, Polestar, and Lotus are all brands owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (ZGH).
In This Article...
BMW’s two problems
If you believed that the Mini Cooper was initially a symbol of Britain, you should know that BMW, a German luxury automaker, owns and manufactures Mini automobiles. Following a deal with Volkswagen Group, who now have custody of Bentley, BMW is now the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, another British luxury car brand that attracts attention everywhere it travels.
In 1917, the engine manufacturer Rapp Motorenwerke changed its name to Bayerische Motoren Werke, and in 1922 it amalgamated with the aircraft manufacturer Bayerische Flugzeug-Werke. It initially began selling aviation engines before extending its manufacture to include motorcycles and cars in the future.
In relation to the Volkswagen group, numerous well-known automobile brands are owned by this German automotive behemoth. Volkswagen currently owns all of Audi, Scania, and Porsche, as well as Skoda Auto, Lamborghini, and Ducati in its entirety. The Volkswagen Group obviously makes great decisions when selecting its auto brands because they can claim to hold some of the best and most recognizable auto brands in the world.
In order to mobilize its populace for the future, the brand needed to have a car for the masses. Only a few of the models were produced before the start of World War II, at which point the factory shifted its focus to producing military vehicles.
Following the war, production of the company’s iconic Beetle began to pick up again, eventually reaching a total of over 21 million. Volkswagen’s corporate headquarters are in Wolfsburg, Germany. These assets are within the corporation’s control:
- Volkswagen
- Bentley
- Audi
- Bugatti
- Porsche
- SEAT
- Lamborghini
- Skoda
- MAN
- Scania
- Ducati
Bentley
Bentley Motors Limited is a British luxury vehicle manufacturer, designer, and marketer. Bentley Motors Limited, with its main office in Crewe, England, was established by W. O. Bentley (1888-1971) in 1919 in Cricklewood, North London. The organization rose to prominence after winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1924, 1927, 1928, 1929, and 1930. Since 1998, Bentley has been a Volkswagen Group subsidiary; as of 2022, it has been combined with Audi, VW’s premium brand division.
From the iconic sports-racing Bentley 41/2 Litre and Bentley Speed Six to the more modern Bentley R Type Continental, Bentley Turbo R, and Bentley Arnage, prominent models range from those to its current model line, which includes the Flying Spur, Continental GT, Bentayga, and Mulsanne. These vehicles are sold all over the world, with China being its largest market as of November 2012.
The majority of Bentley vehicles are currently put together at the company’s Crewe facility, with a small number being put together at Volkswagen’s Dresden factory in Germany and bodywork for the Continental and Bentayga being made at the Volkswagen Bratislava Plant.
Following a string of mergers and acquisitions, including Rolls-1931 Royce’s purchase of a Bentley that was then in receivership, Bentley and Rolls-Royce eventually merged and then eventually split again. The UK government nationalized Rolls-Royce in 1971 when it was placed into receivership. The aerospace and automotive sectors of the corporation were divided into two separate firms, the latter of which kept the Bentley division. Vickers, an engineering corporation, later acquired Rolls-Royce Motors. Vickers then sold Rolls-Royce to Volkswagen AG in 1998.
The aerospace firm Rolls-Royce Plc, which has continued to license both to the automotive division, has kept the intellectual property rights to the name Rolls-Royce as well as the company’s logo, not Rolls-Royce Motors. Thus, the Bentley name and logos, vehicle designs, model nameplates, production facilities, and administrative offices were all sold to VW together with the Spirit of Ecstasy and Rolls-Royce grille shape trademarks (which VW later transferred to BMW), but not the rights to the Rolls-Royce name or emblem. Rolls-Royce Plc, a manufacturer of aeronautical equipment, eventually sold both to BMW AG.
Here are some of the most notable companies that own ultra-luxury and performance carmakers, including Lamborghini, Volkswagen, Rolls-Royce, and BMW.
- Several of the priciest, most opulent, and most powerful supercars on the market today are produced by subsidiaries of much larger corporations.
- For instance, Porsche, Lamborghini, Bentley, and Bugatti are all owned by the Volkswagen Group.
- However, only a small number of supercar brands don’t have larger automotive parent corporations.
One might assume there are dozens upon dozens of automobile manufacturers fighting for our business based on the sheer number of various marques on the road.
However, despite their high prices and illustrious names, even the most upscale manufacturers of ultra-luxury and supercars sell the majority of their products through a small number of enormous corporations.
In reality, General Motors is where your car actually originates, whether you purchase it from Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC, or Buick. Alfa Romeos, Fiats, Jeeps, and Dodges are all included in the considerably wider category of Fiat Chrysler. Contrary to popular belief, this also applies to the most opulent, costly, and potent cars money can purchase.
Continue reading to find out which bigger firms are the real owners of independent names like Bentley, Bugatti, and Rolls-Royce.
Who owns Bentley and Rolls Royce?
Rolls Royce was founded in 1931, while Bentley was founded in 1919. Rolls Royce acquired Bentley during the Great Depression through a blind bid, and from that point until 2003, the only difference between a Rolls Royce and a Bentley was a “Badge” on the automobile. Otherwise, the cars were identical. Customers would merely state their preference—Bentley or Rolls—in writing.
In 1998, Vickers Engineering, the business that owned Rolls Royce and Bentley, sold the vehicle industry to VW AG, a Porsche SE-controlled company that was looking to diversify its brand portfolio. They bought Rolls-Royce/Bentley, Bugatti, and Lamborghini in 1998.
In the end, much to the dismay of VW AG, it was Roll Royce/Bentley that had been acquired by BMW, which had also intended to buy Rolls Royce Motors from Vickers.
The Rolls Royce name and logo, however, were not held by the automotive company but rather by the aerospace firm, who also owned the factory, designs, talent, and the Bentley name and emblem. When BMW bought the rights to use the name Rolls Royce and the logo from the aerospace business, they swiftly capitalized on this small distinction.
The drama now starts. Except for the moniker Rolls Royce, VW owns everything associated with Rolls Royce/Bentley. BMW only owns the trademark Rolls Royce.
BMW could have just begun applying the Rolls Royce logo to its 7-series vehicles, but doing so would have virtually destroyed the Rolls Royce Brand’s value, much like Mercedes did with the Maybach Brand.
Furthermore, the grill and hood ornament design are necessary to make a Rolls look like a Rolls. What is a Rolls Royce, after all, without the recognizable grill and the Spirit of Ecstasy logo on top, which, much to the dismay of BMW, was owned by VW AG (Bentley Motors)
The new Bentley Motors could now just carry on as usual, with the exception that all the vehicles would be “badges” bearing the flying B insignia. A year was not enough time to re-engineer the automobiles to use a different supplier because they were in the middle of producing cars for clients who wanted the Rolls Royce logo and utilizing parts provided by BMW, who might cut off that supply with a year’s notice (VW)
As a result of these negotiations, VW agreed to sell BMW the blueprints for the distinctive grill and hood ornament, and BMW in exchange granted VW permission to use the Rolls Royce name and insignia for Bentley Motors for an additional five years. This provided both businesses some breathing room to organize themselves. Bentley will keep completing orders for vehicles with the Rolls Royce name and will redesign a new lineup of vehicles without using BMW components. In 2003, both companies released new automobiles after BMW built a new facility in England using parts from the 7 Series.
Therefore, Bentley is now the actual Rolls Royce legacy manufacturer. The modern Rolls Royce is essentially a high-end BMW with a Rolls Royce grill and badge.
In conclusion, in 1931, Rolls Royce acquired Bentley, and the two companies merged to form ONE. In 1998, BMW acquired the Rolls Royce brand. Bentley currently owns Rolls Royce in spirit while BMW owns Rolls Royce in name since the authentic traditions of Rolls Royce are offered under the Bentley label.
Bentley and BMW are they the same?
The two brands were almost identical at one point in the 1960s, when Rolls owned Bentley for nearly 70 years, with the exception of their distinctive hood ornaments. But today, Bentley, a division of Volkswagen AG, and Rolls-Royce, now owned by BMW, have chosen different routes to success.
Who is the Bentley brand’s owner?
Walter Owen Bentley, who preferred to be called W.O., was the youngest of nine siblings and was born in 1888. On July 10, 1919, he created the business that bears his name. Nearly a century later, his name is now recognized all over the world for producing automobiles with an unmatched fusion of performance and the best materials and craftsmanship. The man who radically altered the automotive industry is profiled below.
W.O. Bentley started Bentley Motors. In 1919, the first automobile bearing his name rolled out of New Street Mews in London.
From humble beginnings, the business grew stronger than ever, relentlessly pursuing both luxury and performance. This combination could seem contradictory if not for the company’s five triumphs at Le Mans in the 1920s and its sixth in 2003. Then it might be mentioned that Bentley continues to produce the most renowned contradictions on the road right now.
Nearly a century later, W.O.’s vision still directs our attitudes, deeds, and goals. Bentley Motors, based in Crewe, England, and owned by Volkswagen AG since 1998, continues to be the world’s most coveted high performance grand tourer manufacturer.
Are BMW engines used in Bentleys?
In 1998, BMW started providing engines to Rolls-Royce and Bentley, especially a V12 engine for the Silver Seraph and a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine to replace the 6.75-liter in the Arnage. In the Arnage, only BMW V8 engines were used from 1998 to 2000.