Car brands by badges with names: a complete guide to car emblems ()

Have you ever found yourself thinking that you can't tell the difference? Audi from Infiniti in traffic, and the logo Peugeot seems like a mysterious hieroglyph to you? You are not alone: ​​according to statistics, 68% of drivers confuse at least 3-5 car emblems from the top 20 global brands. This article will not just teach you to recognize car brands by icons — she will reveal the hidden meanings of logos, talk about the evolution of design and tell you how not to get into trouble when buying a used car with a “re-glued” emblem.

We have collected current for 2026 logos of 50+ car brands - from the legendary ones Ferrari and Lamborghini to niche Tesla and BYD. We paid special attention Chinese brands that are actively displacing Europeans in the Russian market: Their logos often copy the designs of premium brands, which misleads buyers. At the end of the article you will find a logo knowledge test and a checklist “How to check the authenticity of an emblem when inspecting a car.”

Why car logos are so similar: historical roots

If you think that all premium brand logos represent ring with a letter inside, you are absolutely right. This design technique goes back to the beginning of the 20th century, when cars were a symbol of luxury and technological progress. The first brand to use the ring logo was Mercedes-Benz in 1909 - their three-pointed star in a circle symbolized dominance on land, sea and air. In 10 years BMW “stole” the idea of a circle, but replaced the star with a stylized airplane propeller (the company began as an aircraft manufacturer).

Interesting fact: animal emblems also have ancient roots. Logo Ferrari with a black stallion appeared thanks to the First World War pilot Francesco Baracca, whose mother advised Enzo Ferrari to use this symbol as a talisman. But Lamborghini It was not by chance that he chose the bull - the founder, Ferruccio Lamborghini, was a passionate fan of bullfighting and was born under the sign of Taurus. Today, such logos are associated with power and dynamics, but initially they were the personal amulets of the brand creators.

• 🔄 Ring logos: Mercedes, BMW, Volvo, Hyundai - symbolize globality and technological progress
• 🦁 Animals: Ferrari (stallion), Lamborghini (bull) Peugeot (lion) - reflect the character of the brand
• ⚡ Abstract symbols: Toyota (three ellipses), Mitsubishi (three diamonds) - encodes the name or philosophy of the company
• 🏛️ Heraldry: Alfa Romeo (snake and cross), Maserati (trident) - references to the history of the regions

Top 10 most recognizable emblems: how to distinguish them at first sight

Even those who are far from the world of cars know these logos. But do you know what details help distinguish them from each other in a split second? Let's take, for example, BMW and Mercedes: both are round in shape, but the Bavarian brand has propeller segments blue and white (colors of the Bavarian flag), and from the Stuttgart manufacturer - three-pointed star on a silver background. Another life hack: if you see an emblem with four rings, that's for sure Audi (symbolizing the merger of four companies in 1932), not Olympus or some Chinese clone.

The most commonly confused brands among Japanese brands are Toyota and Mitsubishi. Remember: Toyota three ellipses form a stylized "T" and Mitsubishi — three red diamonds (the name translates as “three diamonds”). Korean brands also have distinctive features: the emblem Hyundai resembles a handshake (a symbol of trust), and Kia — stylized letter "K" in an oval. American brands often use shields or winged symbols: Ford - blue oval with white font, Cadillac - coat of arms with a crown.

Brand	Key detail of the logo	What is often confused	How to distinguish
BMW	Blue and white segments	C Mercedes or Mini	U Mercedes - star, u Mini wings
Audi	Four rings	C Olympus or Changan	U Audi the rings are intertwined, in clones they are separated
Toyota	Three ellipses	C Mitsubishi or Suzuki	U Mitsubishi - rhombuses, y Suzuki — letter "S"
Ferrari	Black stallion	C Porsche (also a horse)	U Porsche horse in the coat of arms of Stuttgart
Tesla	Stylized letter "T"	With logo SpaceX	U Tesla no circle like SpaceX

Chinese brands vs European: how not to buy a “double”

The Russian market is flooded with Chinese cars, the logos of which often copy the designs of European and Japanese brands. The most popular "mimicries": Changan (similar to Audi), Haval (reminds Volvo), Geely (emblem like Jaguar). The main danger: unscrupulous sellers can re-glue the emblems on used cars, passing off a Chinese car as a European one. For example, Lifan with a logo in the form of a stylized flag can easily be confused with Lexus, if you don't look closely at the details.

How to protect yourself from deception? Pay attention to:

1. Quality of the emblem: premium brands have metal icons with clear edges, while Chinese ones often have plastic ones with blurred contours.
2. Location on the body: y BMW the emblem on the hood is shifted to the left, Mercedes - strictly in the center.
3. Related signs: for example, at Toyota There is always a model inscription on the back door (Camry, Corolla), and Chinese clones may not have it.

Inspect the badge fastening (the originals have hidden latches)

Check for holograms or engravings on the back side

Check the logo with the VIN code through the service vinformer.su

Touch the material (metal vs plastic)

Compare the color of the emblem with the original photos of the brand-->

Be especially careful with brands BYD, Chery and Great Wall — their emblems are often faked for “tuning” old foreign cars. For example, a logo BYD (three blue rectangles) can be pasted on Hyundai Solar 2005 model to pass it off as an "electric car". Check VIN-code and check with the database traffic police!

What does a fake BMW emblem look like?

Fake badges often have:

1) Uneven edges of the blue segments (the original is perfectly smooth)

2) Dull metallic luster (original - chrome plated with a mirror effect)

3) Adhesive marks on the back side (the original is attached with latches)

4) The shade of blue does not match the corporate one BMW RAL 5017

Premium logos: what the logos hide Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Maserati

Luxury brand logos are not just symbols, but entire stories. Let's take Rolls-Royce: Their famous "Spirit of Ecstasy" figurine appeared in 1911 and depicts a woman with her arms outstretched, symbolizing freedom and speed. I wonder what this figure can be tilted - if the owner wishes, it will be installed at an angle to reduce air resistance. And here is the emblem Bentley with a winged "B" has aviation roots: founder Walter Owen Benley was a pilot and used this symbol on his planes even before he began making cars.

Italian premium brands are also full of symbolism:

• 🎭 Maserati: Neptune's trident is a tribute to the brand's hometown of Bologna, where there is a fountain with this symbol in the square.
• 🏆 Alfa Romeo: a snake devouring a man is the coat of arms of the Visconti family, which ruled Milan in the 14th century.
• 🦅 Aston Martin: Wings with the letter "A" are a reference to the myth of Icarus and the desire for freedom.

Fun fact: emblem Lamborghini with a bull has a personal meaning for each model. For example, Murciélago named after the bull that spared a bullfighter in 1879, and Aventador - in honor of the legendary bull killed in 1993. Such details make premium brand logos real works of art, and not just brand names.

Electric Vehicle Emblems: How to Tesla, BYD and others indicate eco-technologies

Electric car logos often encode the idea of sustainability and innovation. For example, the logo Tesla - this is not just the letter "T", but cross section of an electric motor (if you look closely, the top part resembles a rotor). But BYD (Build Your Dreams) uses three blue rectangles to symbolize battery, electronics and ecology. Chinese brand NIO chose an abstract logo in the form of a blue sky and green earth, emphasizing the connection with nature.

European electric vehicle manufacturers are also playing on eco-themes:

• ⚡ Renault Zoe: a logo with a leaf inside a rhombus is a direct allusion to “green” technologies.
• 🌍 Volkswagen ID.: The letter "I" is wrapped in a circle, symbolizing a closed cycle of energy.
• 🔋 Polestar (daughter Volvo): two stars - a reference to the North Star as a symbol of reference in the world of eco-mobility.

Be wary of new Chinese EV brands like XPeng or Zeekr - their logos often copy the design Tesla or BMW i. For example, the logo Zeekr (daughter Geely) is a stylized "Z" in an oval, reminiscent of a logo Infiniti. Always check VIN-code through services like vinfree.infoto avoid fakes.

Emblems of Soviet and Russian cars: from VAZ up to Aurus

Domestic logos reflect industrial heritage and state symbols. For example, the logo Lada (formerly VAZ) is a stylized rook (symbol of ancient Russian shipbuilding), inscribed in the shield. It is interesting that until 1990 the badge had the inscription “VAZ”, but after rebranding only the rook symbol remained. Logo GAS with deer goes back to the 1930s, when the Gorky Automobile Plant produced trucks GAZ-AA - The deer symbolized strength and endurance.

Modern Russian brands are trying to distance themselves from the Soviet legacy:

• 🏛️ Aurus (limousines for the president): a double-headed eagle in a circle is a direct allusion to state symbols.
• ⚡ Mosvich (revived brand): stylized letter "M" with lightning - a reference to electric cars.
• 🛡️ UAZ: A shield with the letter “U” is a symbol of off-road reliability.

Why on the old ones VAZ-2101 the emblem was red, and on the new ones Lada Vesta - silver?

The color of the emblem changed along with the brand image:

1) 1970-1990s: Red symbolized Soviet industry.

2) 2000s: blue color - transition to a market economy.

3) 2010s - present: silver - the desire for premiumness.

The logo deserves special attention KAMAZ - stylized image winged horse (Pegasus) in a red circle. This symbol was chosen in the 1970s, when the plant was just starting to produce trucks, and was supposed to be associated with power and speed. Today's emblem KAMAZ - one of the most recognizable in the world of freight transport, along with Scania and Volvo Trucks.

How to remember emblems: the “5 seconds” technique

To learn to recognize a car brand by its icon in a few seconds, use the association technique:

1. Form: circle - BMW/Mercedes; oval - Ford/Toyota; shield - Alfa Romeo/Mitsubishi.
2. Color: red - Ferrari/Alfa Romeo; blue - Volvo/Ford; green - Land Rover.
3. Symbol: animal - Lamborghini/Peugeot; star - Mercedes/Subaru.
4. Letters: "V" — Volkswagen; "H" — Honda/Hyundai; "S" — Suzuki/Skoda.
5. Details: rings - Audi; propeller - BMW; trident - Maserati.

Train with mobile apps like Logo Quiz or Car Logos, where you can test your knowledge in a playful way. Another effective way is keeping a diary: Take photos of unfamiliar logos on the street and later Google them. After a month of such training, you will be able to name the make of 90% of the cars in the stream!

Remember: some brands have regional versions of logos. For example, Toyota in Japan it uses red ellipses, and for the international market it uses silver ones. Volkswagen in China it adds hieroglyphs to the logo. Always check the details if you plan to buy a used foreign car - a discrepancy between the emblem and the region may indicate re-export or counterfeit.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions about car emblems

🔍 Why BMW the logo looks like a propeller, but the company denies this version?

Officially BMW states that the logo reflects the colors of the Bavarian flag (blue and white), and the myth of the propeller originates from a 1929 advertising poster where an airplane with a propeller cast a shadow in the shape of the logo. However, auto industry historians have found drawings from 1917 that actually mention the propeller as an inspiration for the design. Most likely, the company simply wants to distance itself from its aviation past to focus on cars.

🚗 How to distinguish the emblem Infiniti from Nissan?

Infiniti (premium division Nissan) has a logo in the form endless path - two silver lines forming a horizontal figure eight. U Nissan the emblem is simply the name of the brand in an oval with a chrome trim. By the way, Infiniti is the only Japanese premium brand that does not use animals, coats of arms, or abstract symbols associated with Japan in its logo.

⚠️ What to do if there is no emblem on the car?

The absence of an emblem may indicate:

• 🔧 Tuning: the owner removed the badge to install "European number plates" or deformation.
• 🚨 Forgery: the car could have been “dressed up” under another brand (often found among Lexus, issued for Toyota).
• 💥 Road accident: the emblem could fly off upon impact (especially true for plastic badges).

Check VIN-code via traffic police or service avtocod.ru, and also inspect the places where the emblem is attached to the hood and trunk - there may be traces of glue or scratches there.

💰 Why are premium brand emblems so expensive? Original icon Mercedes costs 5,000+ rubles!

The price of original emblems consists of several factors:

1. Material: premium badges are made from stainless steel or alloy with chrome plating, not made of plastic.
2. Protection: the originals have laser engraving and holograms from fakes.
3. Licensing: For each logo, the brand pays a royalty to the designers (for example, "Spirit of Ecstasy" Rolls-Royce protected by patent since 1911).
4. Installation: On some models (eg Bentley) the emblem can only be removed by removing the radiator grille.

Cheap analogs (from 500 rubles) are often made of plastic and fade in the sun within a year.

🔄 Is it possible to change the emblem on a car legally?

In Russia, replacing the emblem not prohibited, but there are nuances:

• ✅ You can set the icon of a different model same brand (for example, change the logo Toyota Corolla on Toyota Camry).
• ⚠️ You can't install a logo of another manufacturer (for example, glue BMW on Lada) - this violates the law “On Trademarks” (Article 14.10 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, fine up to 500,000 rubles).
• 📄 If you change the emblem as part of tuning, save the receipts and documents for the parts - this will help avoid problems when registering.

Exception: if the car discontinued (for example, ZAZ or Moskvich-412), you can install any emblems without consequences.