Oldest Car Brands In The World: Here Are The Seven Oldest Car Companies Still In Existence

Cars have today become such an integral part of everyone's life today. It is today one of the most used modes for personal transportation. While many of us know that Mercedes-Benz built the world's first gasoline-powered car back in 1886, there have been a few car brands in existence even before, going as far as 1810.

Oldest Car Brands In The World: From Mercedes-Benz To Peugeot, Land Rover, Skoda, Opel, Tatra & Others

Many of them have stood the test of time and nearly 200 years later, are still in existence. Here are seven of the oldest car brands in the world.

Note: Many of these brands weren't initially car manufacturers at the time of establishment, but over time expanded into the automotive segment and have remained a part of it in some way or other ever since.

Oldest Car Brands In The World: From Mercedes-Benz To Peugeot, Land Rover, Skoda, Opel, Tatra & Others

7. Renault

Renault was established in the year 1899, by three brothers: Fernand, Louis and Marcel Renault in France. While Louis Renault handled the design and building, Fernand and Marcel handled the business and management side of the company.

Oldest Car Brands In The World: From Mercedes-Benz To Peugeot, Land Rover, Skoda, Opel, Tatra & Others

Renault, although a car brand from the start, expanded into other streams such as building trucks, buses and commercial cargo vehicles. Then during World War I, the company even built military aircraft engines, along with other agricultural and industrial machinery.

Today, Renault is one of the largest car companies in the world, with its presence in over 100 countries around the world, including India.

Oldest Car Brands In The World: From Mercedes-Benz To Peugeot, Land Rover, Skoda, Opel, Tatra & Others

6. Land Rover

Land Rover is England's first car brand, founded back in 1896. However, at the time of establishment, the company was called Lancashire Steam Motor Company. The brand underwent a number of changes over the year, before finally changing the name to 'Land Rover' in 1978.

Oldest Car Brands In The World: From Mercedes-Benz To Peugeot, Land Rover, Skoda, Opel, Tatra & Others

The company initially produced steam lawn mowers, before eventually starting the production of steam-powered vans. The company is considered a British icon and to this date, serves the Royal Family.

Oldest Car Brands In The World: From Mercedes-Benz To Peugeot, Land Rover, Skoda, Opel, Tatra & Others

5. Skoda Auto

Skoda Auto was founded in 1885 and was initially called Laurin & Klement. The company was based out of the Kingdom of Bohemia and initially manufactured bicycles and motorcycles. The company first started building cars in 1905, before being bought over by Skoda Works, allowing it to be renamed 'Skoda Auto'.

Oldest Car Brands In The World: From Mercedes-Benz To Peugeot, Land Rover, Skoda, Opel, Tatra & Others

Skoda over the years has gone on to become one of the world's biggest car brands. The company in 2000, became a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group.

Oldest Car Brands In The World: From Mercedes-Benz To Peugeot, Land Rover, Skoda, Opel, Tatra & Others

4. Mercedes-Benz

The brand 'Mercedes-Benz' as we know it today, technically came into existence in 1926. However, the brand is a collaboration between two other companies: Daimler founded in 1890 and Benz & Cie established in 1883.

Oldest Car Brands In The World: From Mercedes-Benz To Peugeot, Land Rover, Skoda, Opel, Tatra & Others

Benz & Cie was founded by Carl Benz, Max Rose and Friedrich Wilhelm, as mentioned in 1883. Three years later, the trio built the 'Benz Patent Motorwagen' - said to be the world's first gasoline-powered vehicle.

Daimler on the other hand was founded by Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach in 1890. The company built petrol engines. Later in 1926, the two companies merged to form 'Mercedes-Benz'.

Oldest Car Brands In The World: From Mercedes-Benz To Peugeot, Land Rover, Skoda, Opel, Tatra & Others

3. Opel Automobiles GmbH

Opel was yet another German company which was first established in 1862 as a sewing machine manufacturer. The company expanded to bicycles in 1886 and later to cars in 1899 and a few years later, shifted its focus completely to automobiles, discontinuing its sewing machine manufacturing process.

Oldest Car Brands In The World: From Mercedes-Benz To Peugeot, Land Rover, Skoda, Opel, Tatra & Others

By 1913, Opel became the largest carmaker in Germany and even went on to become the biggest car manufacturer in Europe in 1930.

Oldest Car Brands In The World: From Mercedes-Benz To Peugeot, Land Rover, Skoda, Opel, Tatra & Others

2. Tatra

Tatra is the first automobile brand from Czech Republic. The brand was established in 1851 and was initially called Ignatz Schustala & Comp. The company underwent a number of name changes, before ending up with 'Tatra' in 1919. Their first car, however, came out in 1897 and was called the Prasident Automobile.

Oldest Car Brands In The World: From Mercedes-Benz To Peugeot, Land Rover, Skoda, Opel, Tatra & Others

Initially manufacturing cars, the company expanded to building trucks and tank engines during World War II for Germany. The company finally shut down the car manufacturing side of their business in 1999 and now specialise in all-wheel-drive trucks.

Oldest Car Brands In The World: From Mercedes-Benz To Peugeot, Land Rover, Skoda, Opel, Tatra & Others

1. Peugeot

Peugeot is the world's oldest car brand in existence. The company was established in 1810 and started off as a coffee-mill company by Armand Peugeot. The company expanded to motorcycle production first in 1830, before manufacturing cars in 1882.

Oldest Car Brands In The World: From Mercedes-Benz To Peugeot, Land Rover, Skoda, Opel, Tatra & Others

The brand's first car was built in collaboration with Leon Serpollet, however, it wasn't too successful. Later in 1890, the duo made their first car for mass production using a Panhard-Daimler engine. The brand is now a part of the PSA Groupe.

Oldest Car Brands In The World: From Mercedes-Benz To Peugeot, Land Rover, Skoda, Opel, Tatra & Others

So, there you have it. The seven oldest car brands still in existence. which brand's history surprised you the most? let us know!

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Read more on: #car talk
Article Published On: Monday, December 21, 2020, 18:49 [IST]
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