11 Best German Car Brands (Updated 2023) That Exceed Your Expectations

German car brands are known for producing high-quality vehicles that give us great performance and looks. They use cutting-edge technology to create modern class vehicles and other brands are following suit. 

The German automotive manufacturer is considered to be the most competitive and innovative in the world. They are the third-largest automobile manufacturer in the world. 

The major German Automobile brands produce almost six million vehicles annually. It is the leading country in the European Union with a market share of 35.6%. 

The German luxury car brands BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Porsche are posting record sales figures with their luxury and high-performance brands in 2023. 

They’re not known for making the cheapest cars, but their higher prices match higher build quality and lower maintenance costs. Speaking of looks, ergonomics, and quality, German cars are way above the rest.

It is quite difficult to stand out from the car brands, as every year German automakers do their best to produce more reliable and powerful cars with an attractive appearance.

However, after reading this article, it is easy for you to rate them as the best German car brands.

What Are Top German Car Brands?

The main German luxury car brands are BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Audi, and Volkswagen, which have been producing attractive and high-performance models for many years.

And these manufacturers are known as some of the most famous brands in the world. German sports cars are among the best-selling cars in the United States. 

This is because these companies use state-of-the-art technology, excellent design, and high performance. 

At Locar Deals, We have rounded up some of the best German car brands currently in operation and some that have sadly stopped production.

1. Volkswagen
2. Audi
3. BMW
4. Mercedes Benz
5. Porsche
6. Opel
7. Alpina
8. Gumpert
9. Isdera
10.  Smart
11.  Bitter

How German Car Brands Become Supreme Of Vehicles?

Germany is the cradle of the modern automotive industry. The first German automobile from 1885 set the tone for the automotive revolution worldwide. 

The nation’s legacy goes back more than 100 years and is embedded in German culture. Precision technology is valued above all and opens the door to bold new ideas.

Benz Start Production

The first successful automobile to enter series production in Germany was the Benz Patent Motorwagen, which was designed by Karl Benz in Mannheim in 1885.

 It was the world’s first automobile and would obviously change human transportation for the better.

Daimler Introduction

Gottlieb Wilhelm Daimler also worked independently on a four-stroke internal combustion engine. Gottlieb would build a car in a similar way and in 1887 would found his own car company – Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft.

Audi Start Working 

On July 16, 1909, automobile pioneer August Horch founded August Horch Automobilwerke GmbH in Germany. 

A short time later, he changed the company name to the Latin translation of his surname: Audi Automobilwerke. In 1932, German luxury car brands, Audi merged with Horch, DKW, and Wanderer to form Auto Union AG.

Mercedes-Benz was Formed

Daimler and Benz went through an economic downturn together, initially agreeing to standardize design and production and finally merging in 1926 to form the Daimler-Benz company. 

After the name of the most successful Daimler model, all the cars that the company produced from then on were called Mercedes-Benz.

Volkswagen began its journey 

Volkswagen, founded by the Nazi regime in 1937, was the first German automaker to produce family cars for ordinary people like the Thing, Amarok, and Beetle.

In the postwar period, the company led the automobile revolution in West Germany. His engineering achievements are widely praised.

List of 11 Best German Luxury Car Brands (Updated 2023)

All German car brands use precision technology to produce highly efficient, high-performance vehicles. And they have a worldwide reputation for quality and innovation. 

German automobile manufacturers have a long tradition of producing reliable luxury cars with a focus on functionality and quality. 

German vehicle companies consistently exceed drivers’ expectations in terms of performance and appearance. 

This specialty makes all German auto companies world leaders in auto production, and many of them rank higher than comparable American, Korean and Japanese car brands.

Let’s take a look at the list of the top 11 German car brands.

1. Volkswagen

• Founded: 1937
• Headquarter: Wolfsburg, Germany
• Parent: Porsche SE
• Owner: The Volkswagen Group
• Official Site: Volkswagen

Volkswagen Group, also called Volkswagen Group, is one of the top German car brands, founded by the German government in 1937 to mass-produce a popular low-priced car. 

For their foundation, they have been making advanced technologies, high quality, and attractive appearance accessible to many people, for example with the best-sellers like the Beetle or the Golf. 

The Beetle was considered the world’s best-selling car for most of the 20th century. One of the fastest cars in the world is sold by the Volkswagen Group through its subsidiary, Bugatti, Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, with a top speed of around 430 km / h. 

Volkswagen Group has many subsidiaries and sells vehicles of 12 brands such as Porsche, Audi, Bentley. Its top models include Volkswagen Golf, WP, and Vento.

2. Audi

• Founded: 1909
• Headquarter: Ingolstadt, Germany
• Parent: Volkswagen Group
• Owner: The Volkswagen Group
• Official Site: Audi

Audi is known for its technology and style, as well as for its performance, thoughtful interior, and Quattro all-wheel drive. Audi AG was founded in 1932 by August Horch. 

The four rings of the popular German car brands Audi logo each stand for one of the four automobile groups that have merged to form Audi’s predecessor Auto Union. In the mid-1960s, Volkswagen’s largest company was bought by Volkswagen. 

Their lineup is made up of extremely competent vehicles, most of which, like the A4 sedan and Q7 SUV, are so consistently good at all that they almost feel cold and clinical. 

Audi’s top model, the R8, is called one of the best handling cars on the road today and is one of the most livable.

3. BMW

• Founded: 1916
• Headquarter: Munich, Germany
• Parent: BMW Group
• Owner: BMW Group
• Official Site: BMW

BMW is an established manufacturer in the automotive industry and arguably the leading automotive brand in Germany. It was founded in 1916 and is synonymous with Bayerische Motoren Werke.

BMW manufactures a wide range of vehicles, some of them are among expensive vehicles on the market and others have access to the normal Joe. 

As a leader in innovation since the founding of the company, BMW introduced its first fully electric car in 1972. 

Top German luxurious car brands BMW bought the British Rover Group in 1994 and Rolls-Royce in 2003. The most iconic BMW model of all time is the E30 M3. 

As the first M3 ever, this started the success of a single nameplate that very few automakers were able to replicate. 

Other famous BMW models were BMW i8, BMW 507, and Isetta, which distinguish BMW from other brands.

4. Mercedes Benz

• Founded: 1926
• Headquarter: Stuttgart, Germany
• Parent: Daimler AG
• Owner: Daimler AG
• Official Site: Mercedes Benz

One of the top German luxury car brands Mercedes-Benz is known for its iconic luxury and design. Mercedes-Benz AG is one of the most luxurious car manufacturers in the world. 

Around 2.1 million cars and almost 375,000 vans were sold in 2020. This brand was created in 1925, in time for the merger of Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG) and Benz & Cie. 

Even today there are some legendary origins in all Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The logo debuted in 1926 and represents air, land, and water. With its innovative and infinitely cool “wing doors”, the 300SL is probably the most iconic car with butterfly doors that has ever been built. 

The well-known models include the Mercedes Benz 600, the S-Class Hybrid, and the Sprinter.

5. Porsche

• Founded: 1931
• Headquarter: Stuttgart, Germany
• Parent: Volkswagen AG
• Owner: Volkswagen Group
• Official Site: Porsche

Porsche is one of the best car brands of all time. Porsche has developed numerous technologies that have improved vehicle performance, safety, and advanced environmental innovations in the automotive industry. 

Today, with more than 30,000 vehicles, Porsche is the world’s most successful german sports car racing brand. No other model is better known in the world than the Porsche 911.

Suggestion For Reading: 9 Best German Sports Cars on the Automotive List.

 Its rear engine, the boxer-boxer-boxer engine, has remained constant since it was first manufactured. The company continues its proud tradition of innovation with super sports cars like the 918 Spyder and the GT3 RS.

6. Opel

• Founded: 1862
• Headquarter: Rüsselsheim am Main, Hesse, Germany
• Parent: General Motors, PSA Group, Stellantis
• Owner: GM
• Official Site: Opel

Opel is one of the largest auto companies in Europe. It is part of the best German car brands and was founded by Adam Opel in 1862. Opel is the most trustworthy brand in Germany. 

With the Ampera electric drive, Opel has established a new segment in the European automotive market and has strengthened its pioneering role in advanced mobility solutions. 

One of Opel’s iconic models, the VX220 has amazing performance, exceptional handling, the best-looking car, and an accessible presence on the road that have made it a hit with everyone. 

And nobody forgot the Opel GT, a small car with exquisite lines and, despite its modest basics, actually a fun car to drive.

7. Alpina

• Founded: 1965
• Headquarter: Buchloe, Germany
• Parent: BMW
• Owner: BMW
• Official Site: Alpina

Alpina is known for developing high-performance vehicles in close cooperation with BMW. It was founded in 1965.

Today, everything at Alpina revolves around its BMW customization, operating as a completely independent company from BMW, but working permanently with you to design and customize high-performance versions of BMW. 

The models currently available are the Alpina XD3 and XD4, SAV based on the X3 and X4 vehicles. 

And sedans that include the numerous B4 variants or the B5 and B6, built from the 4, 5, and 6 series. But for the true epitome, the Alpina B7 is the alpha and omega of Alpina and BMW design.

8. Gumpert

• Founded: 2004
• Headquarter: Denkendorf, Bavaria, Germany
• Parent: Ideal Team Ventures Limited
• Owner: Apollo Global Management
• Official Site: Gumpert

Gumpert is amongst the best German car company and it was founded in 2004. Gumpert Apollo, Gumpert’s best car, is a street-legal car recognized for its speed and driving feel.

 In January 2016, the company was bought by the Hong Kong consortium Ideal Team Venture, which also owns the De Tomaso brand. 

After the takeover by the new owner, the company was renamed Apollo Automobil GmbH.

9. Isdera

• Founded: 1982
• Headquarter: Saarwellingen, Germany
• Parent: Isdera AG
• Owner: Eberhard Schulz
• Official Site: Isdera

The German company “Isdera” is one of the least-known car manufacturers in the world, although it has existed in its current form since 1982, while one of its five models was launched more than a decade before the founding of the company.

 Isdera was famous for its unique design. The Isdera Commendatore 112i is a supercar from the 1990s with 260 km / h, 400 hp + V12 engine.

The Commendatore has a low, slim spherical design and two double doors. Every Isdera brand high-performance sports car is handcrafted by a small team of craftsmen, and the only way to buy a new Isdera was to call the CEO directly.

10. Smart

• Founded: 1994
• Headquarter: Böblingen, Germany
• Parent: Daimler AG
• Owner: Mercedes-Benz AG
• Official Site: Smart

The German car brand Smart produces micro and small cars. Smart actually stands for Swatch Mercedes ART to reflect the connection between a Swatch company and Mercedes-Benz.

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The Smart brand is a fully electric car for 2018. The Smart EQ Fortwo remains the best-selling car in Smart history. 

Other popular models are Smart Brabus Forfour, Smart Brabus Fortwo, and Smart Cabrio Tailor Made.

11. Bitter

• Founded: 1971
• Headquarter: Schwelm, Germany
• Parent: Opel
• Owner: Erich Bitter
• Official Site: Bitter

The German car brand Bitter is known for producing premium luxury sports cars. Bitter SC 3.9, Bitter’s best model, was available as a coupe, convertible, or sedan.

The coupe was the most popular variant with 461 copies built and this copy is one of the last examples to be completed.

The Bitter Automotive Company produced vehicles between 1973 and 1989. Since 1989, Bitter has made several prototypes with a view to possible small-batch production, but none of them have been successful.

Top FAQ Related All German Car Brands

Final Thought

With all the famous German car brands mentioned in the list, each car brand is different from the other. Each brand has its own specialty that has been seen and recognized around the world. Every automotive company mentioned is a masterpiece.

It is interesting to note that automakers today are more focused on developing vehicle technologies that outperform other automakers. We hope you enjoy the blog. Tell us which German car brand you like best.