Popular car brands that actually own other car brands!

Exploring the world of car manufacturers and their parent companies can be quite difficult. Many might stick to the thought that a particular brand operates independently, but in reality, it often belongs to a larger conglomerate. This is true for both high-end luxury brands and commonly known mainstream ones.
For instance, a brand like Audi, which gives a luxury and high end performance, is actually owned by it's parent, Volkswagen Group, which a massive automotive corporation that also owns other well-known brands like Porsche, Lamborghini, and Bentley.Similarly, Toyota which stands a household name for reliable and efficient cars, owns the luxury brand Lexus.
Understanding these relationships can provide consumers with a deeper insight into the automotive industry, revealing how interconnected and interdependent these companies are. Let us know how parent companies are related to the companies they own.


BMW is a well-known German luxury car manufacturer and is also the parent company of Mini and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Originally it was established as an engine producer under the name Rapp Motorenwerke, the company rebranded iytself to Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) in 1917. This changewas the beginning of its journey towards becoming a global automotive powerhouse. In 1922, BMW merged with Bayerische Flugzeug-Werke, an aircraft company, to expand its capabilities and reach.
Today, BMW Group is a renowned player in the automotive industry, owning not only the BMW brand but also the the high-end Rolls-Royce and the iconic Mini. Additionally, BMW Motorrad which stands at the company's motorcycle division, is part of this impressive portfolio.


The Volkswagen Group, a prominent German automotive giant, owns a diverse array of well-known vehicle brands. It's headquarters stand in Wolfsburg, Germany. Surprisingly,it holds a majority share in Audi, Scania, and Porsche, it has a significant influence in both the luxury and commercial vehicle markets. In addition to that, the group wholly owns Skoda Auto, Lamborghini, and Ducati, further expanding its arms across various segments of the automotive industry. the various range of subsidies include- Bugatti, Traton, MAN, IAV, Renk, WirelessCar, Lamborghini, Porsche, Ducati, Scania, Skoda, Audi, Seat, and MOIA. Volkswagen is headquatered in in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, German.


Toyota Motor Corporation is a a global automotive leader, It was founded in 1937 by Kiichiro Toyoda, over the years, Toyota has grown into a vast conglomerate with a diverse portfolio. As a parent company, Toyota owns several prominent brands, including Lexus, its luxury vehicle division, and Daihatsu, known for its small cars. Additionally, Toyota owns Hino Motors, which specialises in commercial vehicles and trucks.
Toyota’s influence extends beyond these wholly owned subsidiaries. The company holds significant stakes in other automakers, such as a 20% share in Subaru Corporation and smaller stakes in Mazda, Suzuki, and Isuzu.


The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance is a strategic partnership between three major automotive manufacturers: Renault, Nissan, and Mitsubishi. This alliance was formed to enhance competitiveness and innovation and operates as a unique collaboration rather than a traditional merger. Renault, based in France, Nissan, headquartered in Japan, and Mitsubishi which is also based in Japan, together control a significant portion of the global automotive market.
Renault owns brands like Dacia and Alpine, while Nissan includes Infiniti and Datsun under its umbrella. Mitsubishi is a renowned brand for its robust SUVs and trucks, adding to the alliance’s diverse portfolio. This partnership allows the companies to share technology, platforms, and resources, leading to cost efficiencies and accelerated innovation, particularly in electric vehicles and autonomous driving technologies.


Hyundai Motor Group calls Seoul, South Korea, its home base. This parent company looks after Hyundai Motor Company, which turns out a broad selection of cars known to be dependable and cutting-edge. The group also has Kia Corporation under its wing, a brand that's made a name for itself with its eye-catching and budget-friendly vehicles. In 2015, Hyundai set up Genesis Motors, a division that makes high-end cars packed with the latest tech. Hyundai Motor Group's reach goes beyond just making cars for everyday folks. It also owns Hyundai Mobis, a big player in car parts supply, and Hyundai Rotem, which builds train systems and defense gear.


Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, known simply as Geely, is one of the largest Chinese multinational companies headquartered in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, People’s Republic of China. The company was founded in 1986 by its owner Li Shufu and was initially a manufacturer of refrigerator parts and panels, then of motorcycles and carburetors, and finally of cars since 1997. Because of acquisitions of other companies in the recent years Geely possesses several well-known vehicle brands nowadays.
Geely made its foray into the consumer automotive market with the very popular Geely Auto brand as well as the Chinese nebulous premium brand Lynk & Co and the performance electric vehicle halo brand Zeekr. The company also manages the Volvo Cars and electric car manufacturer Polestar. In addition, Geely is in control of British sports car manufacturer Lotus as well as Malaysian automotive brand Proton.
Geely’s business involves more than passenger cars, because it also has commercial vehicles such as the London Electric Vehicle Company and Farizon. Besides the passenger car business, the company has already made its presence felt in the motorcycle business with brands coming from Benelli and Qianjiang Motorcycle.
Did you like this article? Please let us know in the comments below!