If you’re a car enthusiast, you probably have a favorite brand. But have you ever wondered who makes your car? While you might think that the name on your vehicle’s hood tells you everything you need to know about where it was manufactured and what it can do, that’s only half the story.
Car brands sold in the US are mixed in spin-offs, sub-brands, partnerships, and joint ventures, which makes it a dynamic affair. The past decade has also seen the emergence of new brands and electric cars.
In this article, we look at some of the major brands of automobiles sold in the United States, who owns them, and where they’re manufactured.
Aston Martin
Aston Martin is a British automobile manufacturer based in England. Ford Motor Company once owned the publicly-traded company. They currently manufacture a range of high-end sports cars, such as the Aston Martin Vantage, DB11, and DBS, as well as their first SUV, the Aston Martin DBX.
BMW
Based in Munich, Germany, BMW sells a wide range of vehicles in the United States, including cars and SUVs. Its models include the iconic BMW 3 Series and a range of sport utility vehicles such as the BMW X3, X5, and X7. While many of its cars are manufactured entirely in Germany, most of its SUVs are manufactured in South Carolina. BMW has two sub-brands: BMW M for high-performance vehicles and BMW I for electric cars.
Chevrolet
Chevrolet is one of the most well-known automobile manufacturers in the United States. With the production of the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Chevrolet Bolt EUV, the company has largely exited the sedan market. Still, it has made a significant entry into the electric vehicle market. The Chevrolet Division of General Motors sells various cars and trucks, such as the iconic Chevy Corvette and Chevy Camaro, the Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck family, and the Chevrolet Suburban SUV.
Dodge
Dodge is the performance brand of the Stellantis conglomerate’s US operation. The company was founded in 1914 by brothers John and Horace Dodge. The Dodge brand only sells the Dodge Challenger sports coupe, the Dodge Charger sedan, and the Durango SUV. It used to sell the now-spun-off Ram pickup lineup as part of its entire line.
Ferrari
Ferrari is one of the world’s most recognizable sports car manufacturers. Founded in 1929, the Italian supercar manufacturer is now a public company. It comes after years of ownership by Fiat and its offspring, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Piero Ferrari, the son of Enzo Ferrari, continues to hold a 10 percent stake in the business famous for its Rosso Red race cars and prancing horse logo.
GMC
GMC is a General Motors division specializing in SUVs and pickup trucks, most of which are mechanical replicas of Chevrolet models. Denali is GMC’s upscale sub-brand. With the arrival of the GMC Hummer EV pickup and SUV, the automaker will bring the Hummer name back to America.
Hyundai
The Hyundai Motor Group is a division of the massive Hyundai conglomerate in Korea, which manufactures everything from automobiles to ships. Many of the cars sold by Hyundai are manufactured in the United States. Hyundai USA sells a diverse range of cars and SUVs and the Hyundai Santa Cruz pickup truck in the United States. Starting with the Ioniq 5 crossover, they are rapidly developing the Ioniq sub-brand of electric vehicles.
Jeep
Following World War II, the Jeep, which served as the military’s General Purpose vehicle, transitioned into civilian life. Today, the iconic Jeep Wrangler carries on the legacy of the original Jeep. Jeep currently sells a variety of SUVs as well as the Jeep Gladiator pickup truck, both of which have exceptional off-road capability. The Jeep Wagoneer name has been resurrected by the automaker for a new line of large, luxury SUVs.
Kia
Kia is a car brand owned by the Hyundai Motor Group in Korea. From the small Kia Rio to the wildly popular three-row Kia Telluride SUV, they offer a range of vehicles in the US. The company produces many of its best-selling cars in West Point, Georgia.
Maserati
Maserati is an Italian sports and luxury car manufacturer owned by Stellantis, which also owns Chrysler, Jeep, Ram, and several other car brands. Maserati currently manufactures the Ghibli sedan, Quattroporte sedan, MC20 sports car, and Levante SUV.
