The top German car companies are known worldwide as the best of the best. Not only are they incredibly well made, but they are also stylish and perform better than all others in their respective classes. Making the choice to purchase a German made car is easy, but deciding on which brand requires some additional knowledge.
The top automobile manufacturers in Germany each have their own unique identity and approach to cars and engineering. Let’s explore each of them and then look to the past to see how this incredible industry found its footing.
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The Top 5 German Automobile Manufacturers
1. Audi
This well-known German car brand has a focus on luxury vehicles. They are responsible for several types within this category. Over the years, their Quattro series of sports cars have become part of the Audi namesake. Another popular model is the TT series, which are smaller cars.
The company began as a conglomerate of four companies (hence the logo). Today it is a part of Volkswagen.
2. BMW
This company is also known for luxury cars, but they also build race cars and sports cars for the public. You can trace the origins of BMW all the way back to the beginning of the automobile industry in Germany. As one of the most popular manufacturers, they are best known for unparalleled excellence in their engineering.
3. Mercedes-Benz
This is one company that is synonymous with luxury. They also build sports cars and Mini-Coopers, but they are best known for their luxury vehicles.
4. Porsche
While the previous companies on this list are known for their luxury cars, Porsche is all about the sports car. Each model they’ve produced has reached icon status. While Italian car brands may have a strong grip on the sports car, Porsche has made a name for itself over the years without a doubt.
5. Volkswagen
The name of this company translates to “the car of the people,” which perfectly describes the company’s focus on high-quality, affordable vehicles. Volkswagen is best known for the Beetle and Rabbit, but they have built a number of different vehicles over the years.
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The Origins of The German Car Industry
The automobile industry in Germany is among the largest employers in the world, with over 747,000 workers. This is where the modern car was born, and to this day Germany is known as one of the most innovative and competitive automobile industries in the world.
Germany also has the fourth highest total vehicle production in the world, and the top numbers in Europe since the 1960s. All of this began with two men: Karl Benz and Nikolaus Otto. These two were working on four-stroke internal combustion engines in the 1870s and Benz fit this design to a coach in 1887.
This led to the modern day car as we know it. In 1901, Germany was already manufacturing 900 cars a year. In 1926, Daimler-Benz was formed and sold cars under the name “Mercedes-Benz.” BMW was founded in 1916 but they didn’t begin making cars in 1928.
The German market was slow-growing, which left opportunities open for General Motors and the Ford Motor Company to move in. The Great Depression in the 1930s sent the German industry into a downward spiral. There were over eight-six automobile companies in Germany, but after the 1930s, only twelve survived.
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Four of the remaining companies: Horch, Dampf Kraft Wagen, Wanderer, and Audi formed a joint venture called the “Auto Union” in 1932. The Nazi Party’s rise helped to bring the industry back to its feet. A policy known as Motorisierung was put into place to raise the people’s quality of life.
This was meant to showcase a more relevant and legitimate governing body for Germany. Major highways were built, in addition to the Volkswagen project, which was meant to create a car that was well-made, but inexpensive. It was referred to as a “people’s car.”
World War II saw many of the factories destroyed, but the surviving companies picked up the pieces and switched from military production, back to automobiles.
Today, there are five German companies and seven brands that have an iron grip on the industry:
- Volkswagen
- BMW
- Daimler
- Adam Opel
- Ford-Werke
Within these companies, there are various brands like Audi and Porsche that continue to innovate and push the industry forward. Over six million cars are made in Germany each year, and another 5.5 million are made overseas by German car brands.
Including the United States, China, and Japan, Germany is among the top four automobile makers in the world. Volkswagen alone competes with Toyota and General Motors as one of the top companies in the world. The Chevrolet Volt and specifically the GM Voltec Powertrain Technology was invented and developed by German engineer Frank Weber.
To this day, GM’s most important vehicle parts are manufactured in Germany.
Final Thoughts
The top German car companies also happen to be among the best made and best selling car companies in the world. This is no coincidence; Germans are known for incredible engineering and quality in everything they do. Next time you’re ready to buy a car, consider German technology.
