Top 10 Oldest Car Brands In The world 2025

The history of the vehicle is a fascinating tapestry that is weaved with ingenuity, ambition, and a never-ending drive for development for its entire existence. There have been many companies in the automotive industry that have come and gone over the years, but only a select few have endured the test of time and grown from their humble origins to become worldwide powerhouses. The top ten oldest automobile companies in the world are investigated in this article, which also offers a celebration of the enduring legacies that these brands have left behind.

List Of Top 10 Oldest Car Brands In The World 2025

1. Rover

1878 saw the beginning of The Rover Company, a British company that first began as a maker of bicycles. The company’s “safety bicycle,” which featured two wheels of size comparable to one another and a rear wheel that was operated by a chain, established the benchmark for contemporary bicycles. In 1904, Rover made its debut on the market for automobiles. Additionally, the business was responsible for the development of the Land Rover series, which contributed to the brand’s reputation for producing vehicles that were both well-engineered and stylish over the course of several decades. In recent years, the Rover brand has been rendered inactive; nonetheless, the Jaguar Land Rover company, which is the owner of the rights to the name, ensures that its legacy continues to be preserved.

2. Tatra

Tatra is one of the oldest and most unconventional automobile manufacturers in Central Europe. Its roots may be traced back to the Czech Republic. “Ignatz Schustala & Cie” was established in 1850 by Ignaz Schustala. Initially, the firm was in the business of manufacturing horse-drawn carriages, but it eventually expanded its operations to include the production of railway cars. Tatra manufactured its first automobile, the “Präsident,” in the year 1897. This automobile was also the first automobile to be manufactured in a factory outside of Central and Eastern Europe. Over the years, Tatra has maintained its position as a leading maker of heavy-duty trucks, gaining recognition for its forward-thinking and streamlined designs as well as its characteristic backbone tube chassis.

3. Peugeot

Peugeot has the distinction of being the oldest automobile brand that has been still in operation for an extended period of time. In the year 1810, the Peugeot family established a steel foundry in France, where they manufactured bikes, coffee grinders, and other metal products. This marked the beginning of their industrial history. Armand Peugeot, a pioneer in his field, did not present the first automobile produced by the company until the year 1889. It was a steam-powered tricycle manufactured by Peugeot. Only one year later, Peugeot manufactured its very first automobile powered by an internal combustion engine. The distinctive lion emblem of the brand, which was initially meant to represent the durability and sharpness of the saw blades associated with the firm, has developed into a symbol of the superiority of French automobile makers.

4. Opel

In the year 1862, Adam Opel formed a firm in Russelsheim, Germany, with the purpose of manufacturing sewing machines. This was the beginning of the massive German automobile manufacturer known as Opel. In the year 1886, the firm began producing bicycles as part of its expansion. Following Adam’s passing, his sons, who at the time were also passionate cyclists, directed the company in the direction of the rapidly expanding vehicle market. In the year 1899, Opel began manufacturing automobiles. The company quickly established a reputation for making vehicles that were both dependable and economical, turning it into a major brand in Europe.

5. Mercedes-Benz

The Mercedes-Benz brand, in its current form, was officially established in 1926 as a result of the merger of Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG) and Benz & Cie. However, the origins of the Mercedes-Benz brand can be traced back to the very beginning of the car industry. It is generally agreed that Karl Benz’s three-wheeled “Patent Motorwagen” was the world’s first genuine vehicle. This invention was granted a patent in January of 1886. In the latter part of the same year, Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach came up with their very own motorized carriage vehicle that was four-wheeled. These two distinct businesses operated separately up until the momentous merger that cemented their position at the very top of the automotive industry’s history.

6. Oldsmobile

Oldsmobile, which was established by Ransom E. Olds in the year 1897, is a key part of the history of automobiles in the United States. With the introduction of its “Curved Dash” model, the firm is sometimes recognized with being the provider of the first mass-produced automobile on a progressive assembly line. Additionally, the company became the first high-volume gasoline-powered automobile manufacturer in the United States. Despite the fact that the Oldsmobile brand was terminated in 2004, its heritage of ingenuity and its contribution to the rise of the vehicle in the United States of America have not been lost.

7. Fiat

In the year 1899, a group of investors, among whom Giovanni Agnelli was one of them, established the company that would later be known as Fiat, which is an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino. Since the launch of its very first model, the Fiat 4 HP, the firm has experienced rapid expansion, making it a fundamental component of the Italian automotive industry. The Italian automobile manufacturer Fiat, which is famous for producing compact, fuel-efficient, and fashionable automobiles like as the classic Fiat 500, has been instrumental in the mobilization of Italy and has increased its influence around the world through mergers and acquisitions, most recently with Chrysler.

8. Skoda

It is a monument to effort and transformation that Skoda’s past is worth looking at. Laurin & Klement was the name of the firm that was established in 1895 by Václav Laurin and Václav Klement. The company was initially established as a bicycle manufacturer in the Kingdom of Bohemia, which is now known as the Czech Republic. Almost immediately, they started manufacturing bikes, and in 1905, they introduced their very first automobile, which was called the Voiturette A. Laurin & Klement amalgamated with the industrial conglomerate Skoda Works in 1925, and ever since then, the brand has become synonymous with reliable engineering and value. It is presently owned and operated by the Volkswagen Group.

9. Renault

1899 saw the beginning of the Renault corporation, which was established by the three brothers, Louis, Marcel, and Fernand Renault. The Renault Voiturette 1CV, the company’s first automobile, was, in fact, sold in the latter half of the year 1898. Almost immediately, the company became well-known as a result of its achievements in the world of motor racing, which turned out to be a wonderful kind of PR. During World War I, Renault was responsible for a number of groundbreaking technologies, including the direct-drive transmission and the innovative FT tank. Renault is still a significant player in the international market today, and it is well-known for the wide variety of passenger cars and commercial vehicles it manufactures, as well as its unwavering dedication to the development of electric mobility.

10. Cadillac

Henry M. Leland formed the Cadillac Motor Company in 1902, and it was named after Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, the man who was responsible for the founding of Detroit. Cadillac’s early claim to fame was its dedication to precision manufacturing and the interchangeability of parts, which was a groundbreaking notion at the time its products were being manufactured. Because of this innovation, the firm was awarded the prestigious Dewar Trophy by the Royal Automobile Club of England, and it was also the inspiration for the brand’s well-known tagline, “Standard of the World.” Within a short period of time, Cadillac became a symbol of both American engineering and luxury, and it continues to be one of the most successful luxury divisions within General Motors.