Vehicle manufacturers have always needed a way to instantly differentiate their products from rivals. While some simply settle for writing just their brand names, the majority of them option for a logo instead, with a meaning behind them which isn’t entirely obvious.
Even though most of us can easily recognize the majority of these car logos and badges existing today, very few actually know the meaning behind these car logos and badges. So, in this article, we'll be looking at some of these car logos and the hidden meanings behind them.
1) Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz has used its three-pointed star logo for years. According to the Daimler company, it represents the car maker’s drive towards universal motorization with its engines dominating the land, air and sea. Well, indeed, the Mercedes-Benz logo is a symbol for the company’s plan for world domination.
2) BMW
The name is an initialism for the German meaning
Bavarian
Motor
Works. The black exterior circle comes from the logo of BMW’s predecessor, Rapp, while the blue and white chequered roundel represents the flag of Bavaria. The company says it “radiates openness and clarity” and has been very much designed with digital media in mind.
3) Toyota
The fascinating Toyota logo has multiple layers. Its two inner, perpendicular ellipses symbolize the merging of the hearts of customers and the company. Another claim is that the three ovals represent the three cultural aspects of the company: freedom, team spirit, and progress. You can even see the car maker’s name hidden in the lines of the logo.
4)
MitsubishiThe logo that the Mitsubishi company has used for almost 150 years originated from the founder’s idea to combine two important family crests: the triple-oak-leaf crest of the Tosa Clan from where he was born and the three-tiered water chestnut leaves of his family.
5) Acura
The Acura brand takes its logo design from the shape of an upright pair of calipers enclosed in an oval. As a tool used for pinpointing exact, detailed measurements, calipers fit the car maker’s name, with the prefix “acu", meaning sharp or precise.
6) Mazda
Mazda’s logo has been drastically redesigned over the years, but its current form is a highly stylized letter “M” with its arms raised like wings, symbolizing the brand’s "flight toward the future".
7) Volvo
The name Volvo is Latin for ‘I roll’. The logo of a circle with an arrow pointing diagonally up and to the right comes from a Roman symbol for Mars, the god of warfare. Because of this, the symbol came to also stand for iron, as weapons at the time were made from the metal. Volvo’s founders had been in the iron industry, and iron had qualities such as strength, safety and daurability, which they wanted reflected in their cars.
8) Audi
The four interlocking rings of Audi’s logo represent the four individual companies that formed the Audi family when they merged in 1932. The DKW (motorcycles and small cars), Wanderer (midsize cars), Audi (deluxe midsize cars), and Horch (high-end, luxury vehicles).
9) Hyundai
While the Hyundai logo may just look like an italicized letter 'H' to most people, it also bears a secret meaning as the stylized silhouette of two individuals shaking hands. One individual is a company representative and the other is a satisfied customer.
10)
InfinitiIf you didn’t know yet, Infiniti is Nissan’s luxury car brand. Its logo is simple but original, with an interesting meaning. There’s a partial oval surrounding a road that loses itself into the distance or maybe into infinity. The logo is similar to that of Oldsmobile, which shows a road spanning into the distance and finally veering to the right.
11) Lexus
Lexus is a luxury brand made by Toyota and made its appearance only in 1989. Due to the little history behind, the brand’s logo hasn’t got a very deep or elaborate meaning. It simply comes from the name Alexis, the original name they planned to give the car. The name further became A Lexus, and finally Lexus.
12) Honda
Honda’s silver ‘H’ logo comes from Soichiro Honda, the founder, who used to be a mechanic, tuner and racer with his biggest dream to own a car factory. He managed to do that by transforming Honda into the largest builder of motorcycles and the second largest builder of cars in Japan.
13) Nissan
The simple ‘NISSAN’ logo that you see today, is a modern interpretation of Datsun’s original logo. It's history began when Nissan acquired the control of the old Datsun which used as a logo, their name in a blue rectangle over a red circle which symbolizes the ‘Rising Sun’ of Japan’s national flag. They utilize chrome, which conveys modernity, creativity and sophistication.
14) Volkswagen
The first letter 'V' stands for ‘volks’ (German for people), with the ‘W’ meaning ‘wagen’ (cars). The ‘V’ stacked on top of the ‘W’ also conveys the idea that people ride in the cars, which makes sense. It’s simple, probably one of the simplest logo’s in the automobile world, yet iconic.
15) Rolls-Royce
The creators of the most prestigious company in the world, Frederic Henry Royce and Charles Stewart Rolls agreed to the name of the Rolls-Royce Car Group in 1904. The Rolls-Royce sign consists of two letters “R”, which represents the partnership and friendly association between the two co-founders.
The "Spirit of Ecstasy” or “The Flying Lady” is described as a graceful goddess who chose road travel as her supreme pleasure.č
Photo credits: caricos.com; carlogos.org
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