History and meaning of

automotive symbols
Have you ever wondered why the Audi in front
of you has a logo of four interlocked rings?
Star in three corners in Mercedes-Benz
represents what?
Or that Volkswagen was Hitler's idea?
BMW Propeller
In 1913, Karl Friedrich Rapp and Gustav Otto founded
two separate aircraft factories that would later merge to
form BMW or Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (Bavarian
Motor Works).

The story
The circular BMW logo was a representation of a spinning
propeller of a Bavarian aircrafts which were painted with
regional colors white and blue.
It is said that the pilot saw the propeller as alternating
segments of white and blue, hence the logo.
Audi Rings
German engineer August Horch founded his own automobile
company A. Horch & Cie in 1899.
August Horch was sued and forced to look for a new name.
Horchs business partner Franz Fikentschers son came up
with the name Audi

Audi
The rings of Audi represent the four Germany auto
manufacturers that merged in 1932, creating Auto Union.
Audi
Horch
DKW
Wanderer



In1985, when Auto Union ultimately became the Audi we
know today

Volkswagen
After World War I, Germany's economy was shot and cars was very expensive.
Hitler spoke at 1933 Berlin Auto Show of his idea to create a new and affordable
car.
Porsche met with Hitler in 1934, who asked that the car to have the following
specifications: it should have a top speed of 100 km/h (62 mph), a fuel
consumption of 42 mpg, and could carry 2 adults and 3 children.
After Germany was defeated in World War II, the British took over the
Volkswagen factory and the KdF-Wagen was renamed the Beetle. The British
then sought to give control of the company - first they asked the Ford Motor
Company, then the French Government, other British car manufacturers and
lastly, Fiat. All turned down this "free offer" because they thought the Beetle's
design was inferior and that the company would be a money drain.
Mercedes-Benz
First appeared in a similar form on a 1909 Daimler.
The three-pointed star of Mercedes-Benz was designed by
Gottlieb Daimler to represent the companys mechanical
superiority for use on land, sea and air.
The modern version was first used on cars in 1937, during the
height of the Third Reich and Hitlers grip on Europe. Hitler
was said to prefer Mercedes-Benz because it represented
German superiority.





Guess the logos
Toyota Mitsubishi
Honda Chevrolet
Guess the logos
lexus
Peugeot
Mazda Infiniti