Do You Know the Stories Behind Popular Car Brand Names?

Mercedes-Benz:

The company was named after the daughter of Emil Jellinek, who was responsible for the distribution of Daimler cars and the surname of Carl Benz. Mercedes-Benz AG is responsible for the global business of Mercedes-Benz Cars and Mercedes-Benz Vans, with over 170,000 employees worldwide. A blend of luxury, sportiness & performance, The Best Or Nothing!

Cadillac:

Cadillac was named after a famous French explorer Antoine Laumet de La Mothe Cadillac. In fact, Cadillac is a small town in the south of France. The Cadillac Motor Car Division, a division of the American automobile manufacturer General Motors Company, Cadillac's bold and innovative range of luxury vehicles appeal to those who dare to drive the world forward.

Audi:

Audi in Latin means “Horch”, which was actually the surname of the founder of the company August Horch. In English, it means “listen”. Audi AG is a German automotive manufacturer of luxury vehicles headquartered in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, Germany. As a subsidiary of its parent company, the Volkswagen Group, Audi produces vehicles in nine production facilities worldwide. Whether sporty, luxurious, or compact, Audi has a car for you!

Alfa Romeo:

The Italian brand ALFA was famous in the past, with ALFA actually being an acronym for, “Anonima Lombarda Fabrica Automobil”. Years later when ALFA was bought by Nicola Romeo, they added his surname in the brand name. Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian premium car manufacturer and a subsidiary of Stellantis. The company was founded on 24 June 1910, in Milan, Italy. Alfa Romeo, the Italian car brand that brings you style!

Volkswagen:

In German, Volkswagen means, “People’s car”. The idea of the name came from Ferdinand Porsche who wanted to create cars that are affordable for the majority of the people. The biggest advantage the Volkswagen cars have is, though they come with novel technology and innovation, they still have an eye-catchy design that gives a comfortable ride and safety. Ultimately, Volkswagen vehicles are cheap, well assembled, safe, and have good performance levels!

Toyota:

This company took its name from the surname of the Founder Sakichi Toyoda. Some years later they decided to run a competition in order to find a better-sounding name and Toyota was the winner. As a matter of fact, Toyota in katakana is written with eight strokes, a number that is considered lucky in Japanese culture. Japan's Toyota Motor Corp overtook Germany's Volkswagen in vehicle sales last year, regaining pole position as the world's top-selling automaker for the first time in five years. Let's Go Places, is the verbal expression that captures the essence of the Toyota brand! Fascinating!

As old Willie Wikkelspies said, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet. (William Shakespeare, for those of you who do not know him by his Afrikaans name.) If you have enjoyed this piece and would like to read more, please visit the Midas Swellendam blog, where you will find six more cars and the stories behind how they were named.

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