The automotive industry has undergone many changes. Partnerships dissolve, separations occur, and businesses file for bankruptcy. A variety of car brands have formed. Some of these brands have their cars on the market but as used cars.
Furthermore, many car brands have utilized technology to great effect. Automotive brands have become more profitable and efficient. A few major brands have also improved their reliability and customer service.
The following guide will examine the most popular car brands sold in the United States, who owns them, what they sell, and where they produce them. The list includes a few manufacturers that no longer sell new cars but have produced models that can be found in the used car market.
Acura
Honda's luxury division, Acura, is part of the Japanese company. The most popular Acura models are the RDX, the MDX three-row crossover, and the TLX sedan. Japan, Canada, and the United States are the countries where they build cars for the US market. They have been selling their vehicles in the US since 1986.
Aston Martin
Aston Martin is an English supercar company based in the UK. It currently makes high-end sports cars, including the DB11, DBX, Vantage, and DB11. The publicly-traded company was once owned by Ford Motor Company but has gone bankrupt seven times since its inception.
Audi
Volkswagen Group owns the German automaker, Audi. Their American lineup includes a variety of vehicles, including Audi A4 sedans, Audi Q8 SUVs, and Audi R8 sports cars. The company has been rolling out its e-Tron battery-electric vehicles for the past few years. Audi builds its cars in numerous locations around the world.
BMW
In the United States, BMW sells a wide range of vehicles, including cars and SUVs. Models include BMW 3 Series, BMW X3 and BMW X5, and other sport utility vehicles. BMW belongs to the BMW Group. Most of its SUV lineup is produced in South Carolina, while many cars are built exclusively in Germany. A sub-brand of BMW is the BMW M high-performance, and the other is BMW I electric car.
Bentley Motors
The Bentley automobile company is an iconic British ultra-luxury car manufacturer now owned by the Volkswagen Group. Aside from the Continental coupe and convertible, the company also manufactures the Flying Spur sedan series and the Bentayga crossover. In 2019, Bentley Motors celebrated its 100th anniversary.
Bollinger Motors
Bollinger Motors was founded in 2015. After relocating from New York to Michigan, the electric truck manufacturer will produce bare-bones but expensive B2 electric pickup trucks and B1 electric SUVs. These vehicles are expected to hit the market by 2022.
Bugatti
There are several supercars manufactured by Bugatti, including today's lightning-fast Chiron. Volkswagen owned Buggati for two decades, but now the electric sports car maker Rimac owns the company, with Porsche (part of the Volkswagen Group) holding a minority stake.
Buick
Buick is one of four brands of General Motors cars on the US market. Buick used to sell sedans and station wagons but now only sells crossovers, including the Buick Encore, Encore GX, Envision, and Enclave. Buick is primarily built in North America, except for the Chinese-built Envision.
Cadillac
Cadillac is one of the most popular luxury car brands in America. It offers sporty sedans, luxury crossovers, and SUVs, including the powerful Cadillac Escalade. A Cadillac electric vehicle will be launched in 2022, the Cadillac Lyriq, by the high-end General Motors brand. Founded in 1902, Cadillac represents luxury and status.
Canoo
Canoo is an electric vehicle company based in Los Angeles with plans to introduce vans, pickup trucks, and commercial vehicles. In 2022, Canoo Lifestyle Vehicles (vans) will be available for purchase with a starting price of $34,750. The pickup will be available by 2024.
Chevrolet
Chevrolet, under General Motors, produces a wide range of cars and trucks, such as the Chevrolet Corvette and Chevy Camaro, as well as the Chevrolet Silverado family of pickup trucks and the Chevrolet Suburban SUV. While the company has largely abandoned the sedan market, they have moved strongly into the electric vehicle space with the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Chevrolet Bolt EUV. Chevy is one of America's largest vehicle manufacturers.
Chrysler
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Europe's PSA Group merged to create Stellantis, producing Chrysler cars. Presently, Chrysler markets only three models: the Chrysler Pacifica and Chrysler Voyager minivans and the aging Chrysler 300 sedan. You can buy only one plug-in hybrid minivan, the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid.
Dodge
As the flagship brand of Stellantis' US operation, Dodge is known for its performance. The Dodge brand was once a full-line brand that included the Ram pickup lineup but now sells the Dodge Charger sedan, the Dodge Durango SUV, and the Dodge Challenger sports coupe. It was founded in 1914 by brothers John and Horace Dodge.
Ferrari
Ferrari manufactures some of the best sports cars in the world. This Italian manufacturer of supercars, founded in 1929, is now a public company. The company has been owned by Fiat and its successors, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, for decades. Piero Ferrari still owns 10% of the company, known for its Rosso Red race cars and prancing horse logo.
Fiat
Stellantis, the parent company of Fiat, has a strong brand in Europe. As buyer tastes have shifted from cars to SUVs, it has been less successful in the US. Currently, Fiat markets just two vehicles, a crossover built in Italy called Fiat 500X and a car built by Mazda called the Fiat 124 Spider.
Fisker
California-based Fisker is a maker of electric vehicles that plans to release its first model, the $37,499 Fisker Ocean, in 2022. According to the manufacturer, this will be the most sustainable car. Three more vehicles are slated for release in the coming years.
Ford
The Ford F-150 full-size pickup truck, one of the most popular vehicles in the country, is built by Ford Motor Company, one of the largest automobile companies in the United States. The Ford Motor Company is based in Dearborn, Michigan, producing and selling cars worldwide. Ford Motor Company has long been a leading American automaker, and it is known for its low-cost, high-volume Ford Model T.
GMC
The General Motors division that produces GMC products specializes in SUVs and pickups, most of which are mechanical clones of Chevrolet models. Denali is a sub-brand of GMC that sells exclusive products. With the arrival of the 2022 GMC Hummer EV pickup and SUV next year, the Hummer name will return to the United States for the first time since 1991.
Genesis
Hyundai Motor's Genesis luxury division is part of the Korean company. Originally just a single model within Hyundai's lineup, Genesis has developed into three affordable luxury sedans: the flagship G90 and two stylish SUVs. Next year, the brand will introduce an all-electric SUV dubbed the GV60.
Honda
Its US plants manufacture many of its vehicles, including the Honda Civic, Honda Accord, and Honda CR-V. Honda is a Japanese automaker that sells a full line of vehicles in the United States. Among the products they manufacture are motorcycles and outdoor power equipment.
Hummer
Military vehicle maker AM General created a civilian HMMWV (Humvee) brand under the Hummer name. In 1999, General Motors purchased the company to market hulking SUVs and pickups, such as the demilitarized Hummer H1. The Hummer name will return to GMC electric vehicles in 2022 after GM shuttered the brand in 2010.
Hyundai
Korean conglomerate Hyundai Motor Group, which makes everything from cars to ships, is owned by the Hyundai Motor Group. Hyundai USA sells a wide variety of cars and SUVs, and the Hyundai Santa Cruz pickup truck will be introduced in 2022. Starting with the Ioniq 5 crossover, the Ioniq brand is rapidly expanding its line of electric vehicles. Hyundai produces a large number of its cars in the United States.
Infiniti
The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance's Infiniti division is a luxury brand. Yokohama, a Japan-based company, has a variety of sedans, crossovers, and SUVs sold in the American market. The Infiniti QX80 SUV is the company's flagship vehicle.
Jaguar
Jaguar is an automobile maker owned by the Jaguar Land Rover Automotive PLC, which is in turn owned by the Tata Group. Ford Motor Company and British Leyland have owned the company at various historical points. Jaguar's success was once dominated by sports cars and sedans, but it now thrives on its Jaguar F-Pace SUV. Currently, Jaguar offers one electric vehicle, the I-Pace.
Jeep
A part of Stellantis is the Jeep brand. As the military General Purpose vehicle developed into a civilian vehicle after World War II, Jeep was forged from the Willys-Overland Company. Jeep Wrangler, an iconic vehicle based on the original Jeep, continues this heritage today. With its Jeep Gladiator pickup and its SUV lineup, Jeep offers a variety of off-road-capable vehicles. It is being resurrected for 2022 when it will produce large, luxury SUVs under the Jeep Wagoneer name.
Karma
Karma Automotive is a manufacturer of luxury electric and long-range hybrid cars based in Southern California. High-performing four-door sports sedans, the Karma GS-6 and Karma GS-e6, have low slung body styling. China's Wanxiang Automobile Group owns the Karma brand.
Kia
Korea's Hyundai Motor Group is known for its Kia brand of cars. They sell a wide array of automobiles in the United States, including the subcompact Kia Rio and three-row SUV Kia Telluride. Almost all of the company's best-selling vehicles are produced in West Point, Georgia.
Lamborghini
Lamborghini is an Italian automaker within the Volkswagen Group. The Lamborghini Huracan is one of the company's current supercars, along with the Lamborghini Urus, its first high-performance crossover.
Land Rover
Land Rover is one of Jaguar Land Rover Automotive PLC's brands owned by the Indian conglomerate Tata. Land Rover sells only sport utility vehicles, such as the opulent Range Rover and the dependable Land Rover Defender.
Lexus
Lexus is Toyota's luxury brand. Lexus sells a diverse lineup of luxury vehicles, including the Lexus IS sedan and Lexus LX SUV. The Lexus RX crossover is the company's bestseller.
Lincoln
Lincoln is a classic luxury car brand owned by Ford Motor Company, one of America's largest automakers. The sedans Lincoln was famous for are no longer offered. Lincoln now markets a family of SUVs with the Lincoln Aviator, Lincoln Nautilus, and Lincoln Navigator.
Lordstown Motors
Lordstown Motors, founded by a former General Motors executive, plans to produce a commercial electric pickup truck in a former GM factory in Lordstown, Ohio. The Lordstown Endurance pickup has a unique design with wheel hubs equipped with electric motors.
Lotus
Lotus is an English automobile manufacturer famous for producing race cars and lightweight sports cars. Chinese conglomerate Zhejiang Geely Holding Group acquired the company in 2017. The Lotus Elise, which has since been retired from production, served as the platform for the first Tesla production vehicle, the original Tesla Roadster.
Lucid Motors
The company is based in California and manufactures automobiles. The Lucid Air sedan is the company's first product. With over 500 miles of range on a single charge, the Lucid Air is designed to focus on extreme performance and range. Manufacturing will be based in Arizona.
Maserati
Maserati is an Italian sports and luxury car company owned by Stellantis, which also owns Chrysler, Jeep, Ram, and a few other auto brands. The Maserati Levante SUV, Ghibli, Quattroporte sedans, and the MC20 sports car are the company's current models.
Mazda
Mazda is a Japanese automaker based in Hiroshima partly owned by Toyota. It is known for its light and agile family of cars and SUVs, including the legendary Mazda MX-5 Miata. Among its joint ventures is the Fiat 124 Spider, which Mazda will produce with another automaker.
McLaren
Woking, England, is home to the McLaren Group, including McLaren Automotive. In addition to McLaren 720S and McLaren Artura's high-performance hybrids, the company produces high-end sports cars.
Mercedes-AMG
In addition to Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG produces the company's highest-performing cars. From the Mercedes-AMG A35 4MATIC sedan to the Mercedes-AMG G 63, Mercedes-AMG engineering and tuning have been used on cars and SUVs.
Mercedes-Benz
Daimler AG is a German luxury carmaker that produces and sells vehicles worldwide, including many of its SUVs in Alabama. Mercedes markets a wide range of automobiles in the United States, including the entry-level A-Class and the Mercedes S-Class, Mercedes GLS SUV, and classic Mercedes SL Roadster.
Mini
Despite its British appearance, the Mini brand comes from Germany. Starting with tiny cars in 1957, the Mini brand now includes subcompacts, compacts, convertibles, subcompact SUVs, and the Mini Countryman and Mini Electric Hardtop. The Netherlands, Austria, and England produce Mini vehicles.
Mitsubishi
The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance encompasses Mitsubishi Motors. As a result of the 2016 union, the Mitsubishi Outlander based on the Nissan Rogue performs much better than other Mitsubishi models like the feeble Mitsubishi Mirage in our ranking and reviews.
Nissan
Nissan belongs to the sprawling Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance. With its headquarters in Japan and a US operation in Franklin, Tennessee, Nissan designs and manufactures cars, SUVs, and trucks for the US market. You can choose from low-cost models such as the Nissan Versa to powerful pickups such as the Titan. In 2022, the company will introduce a new generation of the Z car.
Polestar
The Japanese manufacturer Subaru builds various cars and SUVs, including the outdoorsy Subaru Outback and sporty Subaru WRX. Almost every Subaru car it sells comes standard with all-wheel drive, except the Subaru BRZ sports car. Toyota owns almost 20% of Subaru's shares. The automaker operates manufacturing plants in Japan and Lafayette, Indiana.
Suzuki
As a Japanese company, Suzuki is more famous for its motorcycles than its cars, but it once sold cars, trucks, and SUVs in the US until it announced it was leaving in 2012. The company has three vehicles in the US: the Suzuki Kizashi, the Suzuki SX4, and the Suzuki Infiniti QX50.
Tesla
In California, Tesla manufactures a range of high-performance battery-electric vehicles, including Model S fastbacks, Model 3 sedans, Model X SUVs, and Model Y crossovers. Cybertruck, a controversial Tesla product, will be produced in 2022.
Toyota
Toyota is one of the largest automobile manufacturers globally, with manufacturing and sales facilities worldwide. Toyota has been building cars in the United States for its Lexus and Toyota brands for 35 years. It operates ten plants in the United States. Many Toyota vehicles are on the market, including the Camry, Corolla, RAV4, and 4Runner. The company is one of the top manufacturers of hydrogen-powered hybrid cars.
Volkswagen
The Volkswagen Group is one of the world's largest automotive conglomerates based in Wolfsburg, Germany. In addition to manufacturing and selling cars worldwide, the company offers a host of brands under its umbrella. US fans of the company are most familiar with its iconic Volkswagen Beetle. Volkswagen currently sells a wide variety of models, including the Volkswagen GTI and Volkswagen Atlas. Earlier this year, Volkswagen started selling the battery-electric Volkswagen ID.4 in the United States.
Volvo
Swedish automaker Volvo is best known for its commitment to vehicle safety. The company pioneered the modern design by giving other automakers the right to use the modern three-point seatbelt. Volvo is a division of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, a Chinese conglomerate. The company sells a range of sedans and SUVs in the United States, including gasoline-powered models, hybrids, and electric motors.
Are you interested in learning more about cars and their maintenance? Head over to the KeepDriving website and check out our blog post on how to replace the rear window wiper blade.
