The global automotive market is intricate, with a complex network of companies, mergers, and subsidiaries. Pinpointing your car’s origin isn’t as simple as it seems. Amidst exiting automakers, a new wave of electric vehicle-focused entrants has emerged, including giants like Tesla and startups like Canoo. This guide explores major U.S. car brands, detailing ownership, vehicle lineup, and manufacturing sites. It covers brands that left the market but maintain a presence through used cars.
Acura
Acura stands as the luxury division of Japan’s Honda Motor Company. Its lineup includes popular models like the Acura RDX compact luxury crossover, the Acura MDX three-row crossover, and the recently revived Acura Integra hatchback. Acura’s U.S. market vehicles are manufactured both in Japan and across North America. The brand has been a fixture in the U.S. automotive landscape since 1986.
Alfa Romeo
The renowned Italian automaker Alfa Romeo is now part of Stellantis, a merger involving Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and the French PSA Group. Alfa Romeo offers vehicles such as the Giulia sedan, compact Tonale crossover, and Stelvio high-performance crossover in the United States. After a lengthy absence, the brand re-entered the U.S. market nearly a decade ago.
Aston Martin
Aston Martin, the British luxury sports car manufacturer, operates as a boutique automaker in England. Its lineup features high-end sports cars like the Vantage, DB11, and DBS, along with its inaugural SUV, the Aston Martin DBX. Throughout its over-century-long history, the company has faced bankruptcy seven times. It is now under the control of a consortium led by Formula One team owner Lawrence Stroll.
Audi
The German brand Audi falls under the Volkswagen Group umbrella. Its U.S. lineup encompasses a diverse range of vehicles, from the Audi A3 sedan to the Audi Q8 SUV and the Audi R8 sports car. Audi has embarked on an electric journey with the e-tron family of battery-electric vehicles, including the performance-oriented Audi e-tron GT. Manufacturing facilities for Audi vehicles are spread across the globe.
BMW
Headquartered in Munich, BMW boasts an extensive portfolio of cars and SUVs available in the United States. As part of the BMW Group, its lineup includes the iconic BMW 3 Series and a variety of sport utility vehicles, such as the BMW X3, X5, and X7. While many of its cars are crafted in Germany, the bulk of its SUV lineup is produced in South Carolina. BMW features two sub-brands: the high-performance BMW M division and the electric-oriented BMW i sub-brand. The latter has recently introduced models like the BMW i4 sedan, BMW iX SUV, and BMW i7 luxury flagship sedan.
