Imagine that you are standing in front of a giant virtual car showroom, where the shelves are neatly arranged all the cars on the planet - from rare Ford Model T 1908 to futuristic prototypes Mercedes AVTR. Such a task - “showing all the cars in the world” - seems impossible: according to data OICA (International Organization of Automobile Manufacturers), only released in 2023 85 million cars more than 50 brands. But we structure this chaos: in the article you will find not just lists, but practical insights for car enthusiasts, collectors and those planning a purchase.
It is important to understand: “all cars” do not only mean production models. This includes:
- 🚗 Passenger cars (from subcompacts to luxury sedans)
- 🚛 Commercial vehicles (pickups, vans, trucks)
- 🏍️ Special equipment and motorcycles (yes, they are also sometimes classified as “cars” in the broad sense)
- ⚡ Concept cars and prototypes (those that never went into production)
We will focus on serial models, which can be bought, restored, or at least seen in museums. Let's also figure out how distinguish a rare model from a mass one - this is critical for investing in a retro car.
I bet you didn't know what existed in the world over 1.4 billion registered vehicles (data Statista for 2026), and annually this fleet is replenished by 70–90 million new cars? At the same time 80% of all models accounts for only 20 brands - the remaining 30+ manufacturers share the remaining 20%. These statistics explain why there are so many sightings on the roads. Toyota Corolla or Volkswagen Golf, and, for example, Morgan Plus Six or Koenigsegg Gemera - a great rarity.
1. How are all the cars in the world classified: a system of types and classes
Before diving into brands and models, you need to understand how cars are being systematized. There is no single standard in the world, but the most common classification is according to:
- 📏 Dimensions and body type (sedan, station wagon, coupe, convertible, hatchback, liftback, minimarket, pickup, etc.)
- 💰 Class (segment) - from “A” (small city cars) to “F” (premium sedans)
- 🛣️ Patency (city, crossovers, SUVs, frame jeeps)
- ⚡ Engine type (ICE, hybrids, electric vehicles, hydrogen)
For example, Toyota RAV4 - this is compact crossover (C segment) with a gasoline or hybrid engine, and Rolls-Royce Cullinan — full-size luxury SUV (F segment) with V12. The difference is not only in price, but also in purpose: the first is designed for everyday use, the second - for status and comfort.
They stand apart specialized vehicles:
- 🚑 Ambulance (Mercedes-Benz Sprinter in medical equipment)
- 🚓 Police cars (Ford Crown Victoria or Dodge Charger in the USA)
- 🚒 Fire trucks (Scania P-series with stairs)
- 🚛 Military equipment (Humvee or UAZ Patriot in the army version)
These vehicles are often modified for specific tasks and may not have civilian analogues.
⚠️ Attention: When buying a used car, check it original equipment. For example, Volkswagen Transporter can be either a cargo van or a passenger minibus (Caravelle or Multivan). Conversion without documents is fraught with problems during registration.
2. Top 10 most popular cars in history (and why there are so many of them)
If we talk about the most common cars, then the leader remains Toyota Corolla: released since 1966 more than 50 million copies. But the top 10 also includes other legends:
| Model | Years of production | Number of sales, million | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Corolla | 1966–present | 50+ | Reliability and adaptation to different markets |
| Volkswagen Golf | 1974–present | 37+ | The perfect balance of price and quality in Europe |
| Ford F-Series | 1948–present | 40+ | Leader among pickup trucks in the USA |
| Honda Civic | 1972–present | 27+ | Economy and sports versions (Type R) |
| Volkswagen Beetle | 1938–2019 | 23+ | Iconic design and simplicity of construction |
Interesting fact: Lada 2107 (including all modifications of Zhiguli) occupies 6th place with 17 million copies sold. This is the only Russian car in the top 20 world leaders. Reason for popularity - ease of repair and adaptation to bad roads. For example, in Africa and Latin America, "sevens" are still used as taxis.
But anti-rating - cars that sold the worst:
- 🚗 Tucker 48 (1948) - only 51 copies (fraud scandal)
- 🚗 BMW 507 (1956–1959) - 252 pieces (too expensive for its time)
- 🚗 DeLorean DMC-12 (1981–1983) - ~9,000 pieces (famous for Back to the Future)
These models today are objects for investment: their price at auctions reaches millions of dollars.
Before buying a vintage car, check the model history on the website Conceptcarz.com or HowManyLeft.co.uk (for British cars). These resources show how many copies have survived to this day.
3. Geography of the automotive industry: where cars are produced for the whole world
The map of the global auto industry looks like this:
- 🇨🇳 China — leader in volume (27 million cars in 2023). Released here Geely, BYD, Changan, as well as localized models Volkswagen and Toyota.
- 🇺🇸 USA - home for Ford, General Motors, Tesla. Feature: great demand for pickups and large SUVs.
- 🇯🇵 Japan — Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda. Famous for its reliability and hybrid technologies.
- 🇩🇪 Germany — Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche. Leader in premium and sports cars.
- 🇰🇷 South Korea — Hyundai, Kia, Genesis. Rapid growth due to price/quality ratio.
Russia occupies a modest place in this list: in 2023, ~700 thousand cars were produced (mostly Lada, GAZ, UAZ and localized Renault/Nissan). However, after the departure of Western brands in 2022, the market refocused on Chinese stamps (Chery, Haval, Geely) and domestic developments (for example, Mosvich 3 based on JAC JS4).
Important nuance: country of origin ≠ brand. For example:
- Dacia (Romanian brand) belongs to Renault (France), and is assembled in Romania, Morocco and Russia.
- Skoda (Czech brand) included in Volkswagen Group (Germany), but some models are produced in India and Algeria.
- Volvo (Swedish brand) belongs to Geely (China), but the head office remains in Sweden.
This affects price of spare parts, warranty service and even taxes (for example, the EU imposes duties on cars assembled outside the European Union).
⚠️ Attention: When buying a foreign car, check VIN code through services like CarVertical or AutoDNA. Some models assembled in third countries (for example, Kia Rio from Uzbekistan) may have differences in configuration and build quality.
4. Electric cars and the future: which cars will replace internal combustion engines
According to BloombergNEF, to 2040 electric cars will make up 58% of all new car sales. Already today the leaders are:
- ⚡ Tesla Model Y - the best-selling electric car in the world (1.2 million in 2023)
- ⚡ BYD Song - a Chinese crossover that has overtaken Tesla on sales in Asia
- ⚡ Volkswagen ID.4 — European bestseller with a range of 500+ km
- ⚡ Hyundai Ioniq 5 — winner of the “World Car of the Year 2022” award
But the transition to electric traction is proceeding unevenly:
- 🇳🇴 In Norway 80% new cars — electric (thanks to benefits).
- 🇨🇳 In China, every fifth car sold is an electric car.
- 🇷🇺 In Russia, the share of electric vehicles is less than 1% (problems with infrastructure and prices).
Main barriers for buyers: high cost, shortage of charging stations and charging time (even at fast stations - 20–40 minutes to 80%).
The EU will ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2027 (European Union decision of 2023). This means that manufacturers will accelerate the production of electric cars and hybrids. For example, Volvo has already announced that from 2030 it will become all-electric brand, and Jaguar will abandon internal combustion engines by 2026.
Alternative technologies:
- 🔋 Hydrogen cars (Toyota Mirai, Hyundai Nexo) - refueling in 3-5 minutes, but the infrastructure is almost non-existent.
- 🔄 Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) (Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV) - a compromise for those who are not ready for a full transition.
- ☀️ Solar panels (for example, Lightyear One) - only prototypes for now.
Explore a map of charging stations in your area (service PlugShare)
Calculate actual mileage in winter (drop up to 30% from declared)
Check the cost of insurance (electric cars are often higher)
Check the warranty for the battery (optimally - 8 years/160 thousand km) -->
5. Rare and exclusive cars: what to invest in
If you are looking for a car not for driving, but for... collection or investment, please note:
| Category | Examples of models | Average price, $ | Annual cost growth, % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic cars (1950–1980) | Porsche 911 (2.7 RS), Mercedes 300SL Gullwing | 500 000 – 5 000 000 | 8–12% |
| Japanese sports (1990s) | Nissan Skyline GT-R R34, Toyota Supra MK4 | 100 000 – 500 000 | 15–20% |
| Supercars (2000–2010) | Ferrari Enzo, Bugatti Veyron | 1 000 000 – 10 000 000 | 5–10% |
| Electrical rarities | Tesla Roadster (2008), BMW i8 | 80 000 – 200 000 | 20–30% |
The most promising for investment today - Japanese cars of the 1990s and early electric cars. For example, 2008 Tesla Roadster (the company's first production electric car) is now worth $200 000+, although it was originally sold for $109,000. A Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 (famous for the movie "Fast and Furious") went from $30,000 in 2010 to $300,000+ in 2026.
Where to look for rare cars?
- 🏛️ Auctions: RM Sotheby’s, Bonhams, Bring a Trailer (for American cars).
- 🌍 Online platforms: Mobile.de (Europe), JDM Buyer (Japan) Avito (Russia).
- 📦 Specialized dealers: e.g. Girardo & Co. (London) for classic cars.
⚠️ Attention: When buying a vintage car from abroad, consider customs duties and certification. For example, in Russia, cars older than 30 years can be imported at a preferential rate (5% instead of 15–20%), but confirmation of historical value will be required (examination RAR).
How to check the authenticity of a rare car?
1. Request ownership history (preferably with 3+ previous owners).
2. Check body and engine numbers for compliance with factory records (through the manufacturer’s archives).
3. Explore welds and paint — on restored cars you can often see traces of handicraft repairs.
4. Use services like Carfax (USA) or CarVertical (Europe/Russia) to check for theft or accident.
6. How to find information about any car in the world: useful resources
To examine a specific model, use these tools:
- 📚 Official sources:
- Manufacturers' websites (Toyota Global, BMW Group)
- Spare parts catalogs (ETKA for VW/Audi, EPC for Mercedes)
- 🔍 Data aggregators:
- AutoWP.ru — technical characteristics of all models
- Motor1.com — news, test drives, comparisons
- Wikipedia (sections for specific models often contain historical data)
- 📊 Statistics and analytics:
- JATO Dynamics — sales by country
- OICA - production data
- Euro NCAP — crash test results
To check used cars:
- 🇷🇺 Autocode, CarVertical (by VIN)
- 🇺🇸 Carfax, AutoCheck
- 🇪🇺 HistoVec (France), Dekra (Germany)
These services show real mileage, Road accident, collateral history and even service records (if the car was serviced by official dealers).
If you need technical documents (for example, wiring diagrams or repair manuals), look for them at:
- WorkshopManuals.com (paid, but full guides)
- RussianCarManuals.ru (for domestic cars)
- Enthusiast forums (for example, Drive2.ru or Bimmerpost.com for BMW)
Before buying a used car, always check the VIN code in three places: on the windshield, on the registration card and on a plate in the engine compartment. A discrepancy is a sign of broken numbers or theft.
FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions about cars in the world
🔹 How many car brands will exist in 2026?
According to OICA, valid today about 60 automakers (including sub-brands). However, if we take into account brands that have left the market (for example, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn), then the total number exceeds 200. The full list can be found at Wikipedia in the "List of Automobile Manufacturers" section.
🔹 Which car is the most expensive in the world?
Today the record belongs to Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé (1955) - in May 2022 it was sold at a closed auction for $143 million. The leader among production models is Rolls-Royce Boat Tail (2021, $28 million).
🔹 Is it possible to legally buy a concept car?
Theoretically yes, but in practice it is extremely difficult. Most concepts remain the property of the manufacturer and are kept in museums (e.g. BMW Vision Next 100 or Audi AI:CON). The exception is single copies sold at charity auctions (for example, Lamborghini Veneno for $4.5 million).
🔹 Which cars are prohibited in Russia?
Starting from 2022, the import and sale of new cars from brands that have suspended operations on the Russian market are prohibited in the Russian Federation: Volkswagen, Toyota, Ford, Renault etc. There are also restrictions on cars with right hand drive (except for specially certified models). Used cars older than 3 years can be imported without restrictions (but with payment of duties).
🔹Where can I see all the cars in the world in one place?
Physically - nowhere, but virtually you can use:
- Google Arts & Culture (3D tours of car museums)
- NetCarShow.com (photos and videos of all modern models)
- Forza Horizon 5 (video game with 500+ licensed cars)
For a live inspection, visit the showrooms in Dubai (Dubai Motor Show), Geneva (Geneva International Motor Show) or Beijing (Auto China).