Car logos and brand names: meaning and history of every brand available at Rentop

A car logo tells a story: a family crest, a pilot's superstition, a merger of two companies. Understanding the meaning of a car logo means understanding why one brand rolls with a rearing horse and another with interlocked rings.

This guide covers the history and meaning of the logo for every brand available at Rentop in Dubai, organized by country of origin, with the lowest daily rental price observed at Rentop for cars in stock. For a wider selection, see our main car rental page and the list of all brands.

Germany is home to logos often born from mergers between automakers.

Audi is founded in 1909 in Ingolstadt by August Horch. Its four rings, adopted in 1932, represent the merger of Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer into Auto Union. Audi in Dubai starts at 250 AED per day at Rentop.

BMW is founded in 1916 as an aircraft engine manufacturer. Its blue and white circle draws from the colors of the Bavarian flag. BMW in Dubai starts at 399 AED per day at Rentop.

Mercedes-Benz is born in 1926 from the merger of Daimler and Benz. Its three-pointed badge symbolizes dominance on land, sea, and air. Mercedes-Benz in Dubai starts at 189 AED per day at Rentop.

Porsche is founded in 1931 as an engineering firm. Its crest reprises the coat of arms of Stuttgart, featuring a horse unrelated to Ferrari's. Porsche in Dubai starts at 849 AED per day at Rentop.

Volkswagen is founded in 1937. Its name means the people's car, summed up by its circled VW initials. Volkswagen in Dubai starts at 300 AED per day at Rentop.

Opel launches its first automobile in 1899. Its lightning bolt enclosed in a circle symbolizes speed and the brand's innovative spirit. Opel page, currently without stock at Rentop.

Italy sets the most theatrical tone in this guide.

Alfa Romeo is born in 1910 in Milan under the name A.L.F.A. Its logo combines the red cross of Milan and the biscione, a crowned serpent emblematic of the Visconti family. Alfa Romeo page, currently without permanent stock at Rentop.

Ferrari is founded in 1939 by Enzo Ferrari. Its rearing horse comes from a World War I pilot's plane, offered by the pilot's mother to Enzo Ferrari as a good luck charm; the yellow background honors Modena. Ferrari in Dubai starts at 2499 AED per day at Rentop.

Fiat, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino, launches its first car in 1899 in Turin. Fiat page, currently without stock at Rentop.

Lamborghini is founded in 1963 by Ferruccio Lamborghini. Its bull pays homage to the founder's passion for bullfighting. Lamborghini in Dubai starts at 1499 AED per day at Rentop.

Maserati is born in 1914 in Bologna, founded by the Maserati brothers. Its trident draws inspiration from the statue of Neptune standing on Piazza Maggiore in the city. Maserati page, currently without stock at Rentop.

Pagani is founded in 1992 by Argentine-Italian engineer Horacio Pagani, a former Lamborghini composites engineer. Its oval logo simply bears his initials and the mention Automobili Modena.

The United Kingdom is home to the largest number of brands in this guide.

Aston Martin is founded in 1913 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford. Its stylized wings evoke speed from the very beginning. Aston Martin in Dubai starts at 2499 AED per day at Rentop.

Bentley is founded in 1919 by Walter Owen Bentley. Its wings framing a B symbolize the power sought by its founder. Bentley in Dubai starts at 1400 AED per day at Rentop.

Jaguar launches its first cars under this name in 1935. Its leaping feline symbolizes agility and power. Jaguar in Dubai starts at 599 AED per day at Rentop.

Land Rover is born in 1948, presented at the Amsterdam show as a sturdy agricultural all-terrain vehicle. Its green oval badge remains associated with this heritage. Land Rover in Dubai starts at 599 AED per day at Rentop.

Lotus is founded in 1952 by engineer Colin Chapman. The yellow and green in its logo evoke energy and speed. Lotus page, currently without stock at Rentop.

McLaren begins in 1963 as a racing team founded by driver Bruce McLaren. McLaren in Dubai starts at 2399 AED per day at Rentop.

MG is founded in 1924 in Oxford by Cecil Kimber, under the name Morris Garages. Its octagon was registered that same year; the brand has belonged to the Chinese group SAIC since 2007. MG in Dubai starts at 85 AED per day at Rentop.

Mini is launched in 1959 by the British Motor Corporation, designed by engineer Alec Issigonis. Mini in Dubai starts at 350 AED per day at Rentop.

Rolls-Royce is born in 1904 from the meeting of Charles Rolls and Henry Royce. The hood of their cars has been adorned with the Spirit of Ecstasy since 1911. Rolls-Royce in Dubai starts at 2499 AED per day at Rentop.

Japan has built simple logos, often reduced to a single letter.

Honda is founded in 1948 by Soichiro Honda and Takeo Fujisawa. Its logo is simply a capital H. Honda in Dubai starts at 350 AED per day at Rentop.

Infiniti, Nissan's luxury division, is launched in 1989 for the American market. Its logo evokes a road receding toward a vanishing point. Infiniti in Dubai starts at 399 AED per day at Rentop.

Isuzu is founded in 1916 in Tokyo. Its name comes from the Isuzu River, near the Shinto sanctuaries of Ise. Isuzu page, currently without stock at Rentop.

Lexus, Toyota's luxury division, is launched in 1989. Its logo stylizes the letter L in a closed elliptical shape. Lexus page, starting at 1099 AED per day at Rentop.

Mazda is founded in 1920 under the name Toyo Cork Kogyo, initially focused on cork. Its current logo, adopted in 1997, draws wings around an M. Mazda in Dubai starts at 180 AED per day at Rentop.

Mitsubishi descends from a group founded in 1870 by Yataro Iwasaki. Its three red diamonds combine two Japanese family crests. Mitsubishi in Dubai starts at 85 AED per day at Rentop.

Nissan is founded in 1933. Its name means sun production, symbolized by its red circle on a blue background. Nissan in Dubai starts at 399 AED per day at Rentop.

Suzuki is founded in 1909 by Michio Suzuki, initially a manufacturer of looms. Suzuki in Dubai starts at 90 AED per day at Rentop.

Toyota is founded in 1937. Its logo with three ellipses, adopted in 1989, also draws the letter T. Toyota in Dubai starts at 100 AED per day at Rentop.

South Korea arrived later in the automotive industry, with an identity designed for export markets.

Genesis, an independent luxury brand from Hyundai, is launched in 2015. Its stylized wings symbolize speed and elegance. Genesis page, currently without stock at Rentop.

Hyundai is founded in 1967. Its oval logo, adopted in 1990, features a tilted H representing a handshake. Hyundai in Dubai starts at 90 AED per day at Rentop.

Kia has its origins in 1944 under the name Kyungsung Precision Industry. Its name literally means rising out of Asia toward the world. Kia in Dubai starts at 80 AED per day at Rentop.

American brands range from Detroit automakers to the newest electric companies.

Cadillac is founded in 1902. Its coat of arms reprises the heraldry of the family of Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, the French explorer who founded Detroit. Cadillac in Dubai starts at 699 AED per day at Rentop.

Chevrolet is founded in 1911 by Swiss pilot Louis Chevrolet and industrialist William Durant. Its bowtie remains one of the most recognized logos in the world. Chevrolet in Dubai starts at 179 AED per day at Rentop.

Chrysler is founded in 1925 by Walter Chrysler. Its five-pointed star has replaced several more elaborate badges over the decades. Chrysler page, currently without stock at Rentop.

Dodge begins in 1900 as a machine shop founded by the Dodge brothers, before launching its first cars under its own name in 1914. Dodge in Dubai starts at 499 AED per day at Rentop.

Ford is founded in 1903 by Henry Ford. Its oval blue logo draws directly from his handwritten signature. Ford in Dubai starts at 499 AED per day at Rentop.

GMC is created in 1911 from the merger of two truck manufacturers within General Motors. GMC in Dubai starts at 425 AED per day at Rentop.

Jeep appears in 1941 with the Willys MB, the all-terrain vehicle designed for the American military. Jeep page, currently without stock at Rentop.

Lucid is founded in 2007 under the name Atieva, before being renamed Lucid Motors in 2016. The brand currently has no stock at Rentop.

Polaris is founded in 1954 in Minnesota. Its eight-pointed symbol reprises the star that gives the brand its name. Polaris page, currently without stock at Rentop.

Tesla is founded in 2003 by engineers Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning; Elon Musk joins in 2004 as principal investor. Its T logo reprises the cross-section of an electric motor. Tesla in Dubai starts at 2999 AED per day at Rentop.

China is the origin that is advancing most rapidly in Dubai's car fleet, with recently born brands.

BYD is founded in 1995 in Shenzhen by Wang Chuanfu, initially a manufacturer of rechargeable batteries. Its initials stand for Build Your Dreams today. BYD page, currently without permanent stock at Rentop.

Chery is founded in 1997 in China's Anhui province. The stylized A in its logo refers to the province's name. Chery in Dubai starts at 85 AED per day at Rentop.

Exeed is launched in 2017 as the premium brand of the Chery group. Exeed in Dubai starts at 130 AED per day at Rentop.

Haval is launched in 2013 by Great Wall Motor, founded in 1984. Its oval logo features a stylized watchtower from the Great Wall. Haval in Dubai starts at 112 AED per day at Rentop.

JAC has its origins in 1964 as a manufacturer of auto parts, before its official founding under this name in 1999. Its oval logo evokes a charging port. JAC in Dubai starts at 96 AED per day at Rentop.

Jetour is founded in 2018 as an independent subsidiary of Chery. Its name combines jet and tour. Jetour in Dubai starts at 260 AED per day at Rentop.

Kaiyi is founded in 2014 as a subsidiary of Chery. The Y in its logo recalls the silhouette of a fighter jet. Kaiyi page, currently without stock at Rentop.

France is among the very first countries to build cars, with logos of great age.

Bugatti is founded in 1909 in Molsheim, Alsace, by Italian Ettore Bugatti. Its red oval, bordered by sixty silver dots, symbolizes power and passion. The brand currently has no stock at Rentop.

Citroen is founded in 1919 by Andre Citroen. Its chevrons reprised the shape of the gears the engineer used to manufacture before automobiles. Citroen in Dubai starts at 100 AED per day at Rentop.

Peugeot is a family business tracing back to 1810, but it is in 1858 that the family registers its lion, chosen for its strength and teeth, echoing the saws the business once made. Peugeot page, currently without permanent stock at Rentop.

Renault is founded in 1899 by brothers Louis, Marcel and Fernand Renault. Its diamond, adopted in 1925, reprised the angles of the radiator grilles of the time. Renault page, currently without permanent stock at Rentop.

Four brands in this guide come from Northern and Eastern Europe, outside the most common origins.

Koenigsegg is founded in Sweden in 1994 by Christian von Koenigsegg. Its ghost comes from a fighter squadron of the Swedish air force, whose former hangar became its factory. The brand currently has no stock at Rentop.

Rimac is founded in Croatia in 2009 by Mate Rimac. Its coat of arms features a stylized R, symbol of the technological modernity claimed by the brand. The brand currently has no stock at Rentop.

Skoda is founded in 1895 in Bohemia, in what is now the Czech Republic, initially as a bicycle manufacturer. Its winged arrow, adopted in 1926, symbolizes movement. Skoda page, currently without stock at Rentop.

Volvo is founded in Sweden in 1927. Its symbol reprises the chemical sign for iron, associated since antiquity with solidity. Volvo page, currently without stock at Rentop.

Knowing the history of a logo changes nothing about the daily rental rate, but it helps you choose between an Italian rearing horse, a German badge or a French diamond. All the brands presented here remain available on their dedicated page, with or without stock at Rentop today.

To compare rates by category, head to the main car rental page or explore monthly rentals, which offer better rates for extended stays.