Each car has its own logo ( emblem), and each has its own story.
Will identify the brand cars you can use the icon and today we will talk about the meaning of logos of different cars.
Rolls-Royc
A figurine of a winged woman – “Spirit of Ecstasy”.
The creation story has a hint of romance. Once upon a time, the sculptor Charles Sykes was commissioned by his friend, a motorsport enthusiast, Lord Montague, to decorate his car with a figurine. Sykes created an elegant figurine depicting a woman in flowing clothes, creating the illusion of flight - a kind of allusion to Lord Montagu's affair with his secretary. Charles Rolls and Henry Royce drew attention to this figure. They also decided to order a figurine from Sykes, which could become standard for decorating all cars of the brand.
Since 1911, Rolls-Royce cars have had a figurine in the form of a “flying girl,” which was only officially recognized as a symbol of Rolls-Royce in 1921 and was included in the price of the car.
? KODA
The emblem acquired its modern appearance at the Pilsen Skoda company: it was there that features were born that have survived to the present day with minimal cosmetic changes. In 1923, two official versions of the Skoda logo appeared. The first badge was in use for only two years, until 1925. We are talking about an arrow with five feathers and the name of the brand, framed in a circle. The second sign has survived to this day: an arrow with three feathers.
There are a variety of legends about the meaning and origin of this arrow-shaped logo, and none of them has been officially confirmed. As they say, the author of the idea is the commercial director of Pilsen Skoda Maglich, who meant the sign in the form of an image of either the head of an Indian in a hat with feathers, or a rooster. According to a number of documents, the emblem was the product of a competition that was held under the supervision of the technical director of Pilsen Skoda, but the name of the designer has not survived to this day. The Skoda company is developing dynamically, and this dynamics inevitably transfers to its brand. In 1994, the Skoda logo debuted in a stylish new color scheme.
The meaning of the Skoda logo
What does the Skoda logo mean? The most reliable answer to this question can be obtained in the brand’s brand museum in the car’s native Czech town: the large ring framing the emblem symbolizes the impeccability of production; the wing, which some perceive as a gear, signifies the manufacturability and innovation of the product, as well as its prevalence throughout the world; the arrow, or beak, emphasizes the high quality of cars and the direction of production into the future; a small circle (eye) emphasizes the accuracy and precision of all production processes.
Toyota
The first, most common...
The Toyota emblem symbolizes the thread threaded through the eye of a needle. The fact is that the Japanese company Toyota Automatic Loom Works produced weaving machines until 1933. A little later, the company switched to car production and the Japanese, as people who respect traditions, did nothing to change the sign. The Japanese manufacturer also gave the logo a poetic and philosophical meaning. Namely: the intersecting two ellipses symbolize the heart of the car and the driver, and the large ellipse that unites them speaks of the prospects and broad capabilities of the corporation.
There is another version...
The Toyoda company was named after its leader Kiichiro Toeda and was engaged in the production of weaving looms. In 1935, the company switched to automobile production and was renamed Toyota Motor Corporation, for several reasons:
Convenient pronunciation;
The word "Toyota" in Japanese consists of eight traits, and according to the company's founders, it was attractive because the number 8 in Japan is considered lucky and lucky.
Subaru
Subaru was the first Japanese car company to use a name from its native language.
The company's name was given by Fuji Heavy Industries President Kenji Kita in 1954.
The company's name refers to a constellation of six stars, also known by its original Japanese name, mutsuraboshi, in the constellation Taurus. We know it as the Pleiades constellation. Since Fuji Heavy Industries was formed by the merger of six companies, the Subaru name is meant to symbolize this.
Subaru also means "to unite" in Japanese.
Mercedes-Benz
According to the most common and convincing version, the Mercedes company with its characteristic symbol arose as a result of the merger of two manufacturers - Benz and Daimler. This happened back in 1926, and a three-rayed star was born, first surrounded by a laurel wreath, and later in 1937 - by a circle. The new Daimler-Benz venture embodied the achievements of both companies in Mercedes cars with great success.
The Mercedes-Benz logo is perhaps a symbol of the company's confidence in its excellence. The three-pointed star symbolizes the company's superiority in all areas - on land, in the air, in water.
B MW
BMW's history began with aviation, and the company's logo remains true to its roots. The blue triangles of the BMW logo symbolize the airplane's propellers in motion, while the white triangles represent the sky peeking out from behind them. In fact, the company played an important role in the Second World War, as it was one of the main suppliers of aircraft engines for German aircraft.
The current BMW logo design is said to have originated from the circular design of a rotating airplane propeller. The white and blue checker boxes are supposed to be a stylized representation of a white/silver propeller blade spinning against a clear blue sky. The theory is further strengthened with the statement that the image originates in the First World War, in which the Bavarian Luftwaffe flew planes painted in blue and white. It also reflects BMW's origins as a manufacturer of military aircraft engines during World War I that BMW began as a manufacturer of aircraft engines. According to the company magazine, “BMW Werkzeitschrift” (1942), the BMW logo appeared when a BMW engineer was testing the company's first 320 engines. He admired the reflection of the bright disk of the spinning propeller, which looked like the aura of two silver cones.
Audi
Audi has an extremely difficult fate. The company's founder, August Horch, named his first business A. Horch & Cie back in 1899 (Horch translates from German as “listen”). However, ten years later Augustus was driven out of his own company and he was forced to found a new one. At first he used the old name, Horch, but his former partners took this brand away from him through the courts.
At first glance, the Audi logo is simple and clear, right? But everything is not as simple as it seems. Each of the four rings symbolizes one of the four founding companies of the Audi group in 1932: DKW, Horch, Wanderer and Audi.
Volkswagen
The letter 'V' in the company logo is an abbreviation for “volks”, which means “people” in German. ‘W’ is short for “wagen”, which means car in German. That is, the company wanted to show that their car is a car for the people.
The logo was created by Franz Xavier Reimspiess, a Porsche employee (the man who perfected the Beetle engine in the 1930s), and was chosen after an open competition. The letters "W" and "V" are combined into a monogram. During Nazi Germany, the emblem was stylized as a swastika. After the plant came into British possession, the logo was inverted, and later the background became blue instead of black. His work was considered the best in the VW logo competition. Franz was even rewarded by paying him a bonus of 100 Reichsmarks (about $400).
Porsche
Porsche is named after the German designer Dr. Ferdinand Porsche, who was the author of many inventions and innovations: in particular, back in 1897, he created a car using solar energy, and in the mid-1930s he created the Volkswagen project, a car which over time became the most common in the world. Although Porsche founded his own design firm back in 1931, it was only in 1948 that his son Ferry began to assign this name to the cars he developed. Their production began in 1950. The rearing horse on the company emblem is borrowed from the coat of arms of the city of Stuttgart, which was founded in the Middle Ages on the site of a stud farm (at first the name was Stuten Garden, “Garden of Mares”): the horns, red and black stripes are borrowed from the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Württemberg, whose capital was Stuttgart. This “combined” coat of arms appeared as the Porsche emblem in 1952.
P eugeot
The Peugeot company was formed in 1812 when brothers Jean-Pierre and Jean-Frédéric Peugeot converted their “windmill into a steel mill.” Their first products were cylindrical rods for watch movements. Later, the Peugeot plant turned into a real family business. Over many decades, they produced a variety of goods: metal parts, machine tools, umbrellas, irons, sewing machines, spoked wheels, and later bicycles. Yes, indeed, we can say that Peugeot’s entry into the automotive industry began with bicycles. At the time of the production of bicycles, Peugeot was considered the best bicycle manufacturer. In 1898, Armand Peugeot began producing steam cars, and a year later (having met Daimler) switched to gas internal combustion engines. The lion on the Peugeot logo was copied by jeweler Justin Blazer from the coat of arms of France in 1847 . At the beginning, the logo was used as a sign of the quality of the steel produced, but later, acquiring different forms (but maintaining the concept), it smoothly moved to cars.
Emile Peugeot and Jules Peugeot are the founders of the company, the fathers of the Peugeot Fr?res company, they made an offer to the jeweler and part-time engraver from the deep province of Franche-Comté, Julien Belezer, to draw the logo of their new company, which will be a distinctive feature of Peugeot products from competitors.
O pel
The famous German company, founded in 1899, produced bicycles, motorcycles, cars and trucks. Since 1928, its factories became the property of the American corporation General Motors. In addition to Germany, cars are produced in Belgium, Spain, Poland, and Portugal. The company's logo was changed frequently, but in the end the logo in the form of the letter "O" crossed out by a zigzag lightning bolt was adopted. This is a tribute to the successful Blitz truck, which was produced for about 30 years.
M aserati
On December 14, 1914, Alfieri Maserati founded the Officine Alfieri Maserati company in Bologna. As the basis for the Maserati logo, Mario Maserati (Alfieri and Mario are brothers) took the image of the trident of Neptune, the sculpture of which is located in the city square in Bologna.
But if the image of the trident was taken from a sculpture, then the idea itself has a completely different origin.
History of the logo
Once, in the Bologna forest, Alfieri Maserati was attacked by a wolf with obvious unfriendly intentions. But then a man with a pitchfork in his hands arrived to help Alfieri. Thanks to the pitchfork and the man’s courage, the wolf was defeated and Alfieri was saved. The rescuer, in gratitude, became a racer in the Maserati team. And the image of the life-saving pitchfork was decided to appear on the car logo.
The meaning of car logos - interesting to know updated: February 18, 2017 by: website
79,166 ViewsChoosing the right name and emblem in the automotive business is one of the most important tasks. Over the entire history of the automotive industry, a huge number of car brands have appeared in the world - at least a thousand of them; At the same time, car enthusiasts know no more than a hundred names. Without knowing the emblems, it is not easy to understand such diversity. Each manufacturer tries to reflect the unique features of the product in its logo, while it is easy to see general principles in the total mass of symbols. What do the emblems of famous car brands look like and what do they mean? How did the names of common cars come about?
This Japanese brand appeared quite recently - in 1986. The Honda division chose the image of a caliper in a circle as its symbol. This tool is designed to highlight the constant Japanese precision when creating cars - at first glance it should be clear that the car has no flaws. This can be seen in the name - Acura is consonant with the English word accuracy - precision, accuracy.
In addition, the logo resembles the first letter of the brand name and a slightly modified first letter of the name of the parent company - H. The design is very simple, which is due to the difficulty of selecting a unique image at the end of the 20th century, but has many possible meanings.
Alfa Romeo
The Italian company took part of its logo from the coat of arms of its home city - Milan. The left half of the round icon is a red cross on a white background. The right half is a green snake eating a man - this is the coat of arms of the Italian Visconti dynasty, which ruled the country in the Middle Ages.
Aston Martin
The modern Aston Martin logo appeared in 1927. It represents open eagle wings - a symbol of speed and pride. This choice of logo is due to the fact that the company intended to produce fast sports cars. Because of this, the old icon - the intertwined letters A and M - was replaced with a stylized image of a bird.
Even a person far from the automotive world will recognize at first glance the four rings, the symbol of the German company Audi. Closed circles represent the merger of the founding companies in 1932: Audi, Horch, Wanderer and Dampf Kraft Wagen. The last three disappeared after the war, but Audi rose from the ashes in 1965 and borrowed the old logo.
There are three variations of the Bentley winged logo: the letter B on a green background is intended for sports cars, on a red background for luxury cars, and a black background is a symbol of power. Eagle wings, borrowed by the Italians, mean, like Aston Martin, speed and majesty.
The circle with blue and white sectors in a black ring with the letters BMW is no less known to everyone than the Audi rings. The meaning of the symbol is twofold: on the one hand, the circle resembles a rotating airplane propeller - this recalls both speed and the history of BMW associated with the production of aircraft engines. On the other hand, the white and blue colors are a tribute to the flag of Bavaria, where the company is located. In general, the logo has remained virtually unchanged since its inception in 1920 - only the font of the letters changed in the middle of the 20th century.
Brilliance
Brilliance translated from English means brilliance, brightness. These are the cars that the Chinese company produces, despite their low cost. The brand's logo is very simple - it means the same thing, only in the form of Chinese characters.
The red oval of the emblem is bordered with pearls - it immediately becomes clear that this is due to the elite quality of the cars produced by the company. The name of the company is the surname of its founder, Ettore Bugatti.
Buick is a division of the American company General Motors, founded by Scots. Like representatives of other proud British families, David Buick, the founder of the Buick company, had his own family coat of arms - three shields in red, white and blue - which was taken as the logo of the car brand.
In the BYD logo, pure plagiarism from BMW is visible to the naked eye. The emblem is noticeably simplified - there is no volume, the circle is divided into only two parts. The story, of course, has nothing to do with this. The distortion of the popular brand did not in any way affect the popularity of the Chinese company - its cars are among the most common in Europe.
Cadillac
American Cadillac cars are known throughout the world as elite class vehicles. Cadillacs are produced in Detroit, the industrial capital of the United States. This city was founded in 1701 by the Frenchman Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, whose family coat of arms was taken as the emblem of the car brand.
Chery is not a misspelling of the word cherry, as you might think; The company name is a Chinese word meaning “prosperity.” The logo is again ambiguous. You can see two letters C surrounding the letter A - this is an abbreviation of the full name of the corporation, Chery Automobile Corporation. If you look closely, clasped hands become visible, symbolizing strength and strength. Another option is that the letter A in the center of the logo means a road going into the distance.
Chevrolet
Everything is simple with the brand name - it was named after the French racer Louis Chevrolet, who agreed to use his name in the name of the American corporation in 1911.
The meaning of the General Motors division logo is more difficult to determine. There are several versions. According to official history, the golden cross symbolizes a bow tie, associated with wealth and high society. There are also rumors that the company's founder, William Durant, saw a similar cross on the hotel wallpaper. Another opinion expressed by his wife is that Durant adapted someone else's logo that he liked, which he saw in the morning newspaper.
Chrysler
Chrysler has a very standard badge for luxury cars in the form of wings, symbolizing speed and dynamism. The name of the company is the surname of its founder, Walter Chrysler, one of the iconic figures in the automotive world. He created a company that united many well-known car brands and became vice president of General Motors. Chrysler enjoyed the greatest popularity at the beginning of the 20th century - one of the most famous skyscrapers in New York, the Chrysler Building, was even built for the company. Today, the company has somewhat lost ground and produces family cars, being a division of the Fiat plant.
Two inverted Vs are symbols quite common in heraldry. But in this case, the emblem has a special historical meaning. The founder of the company, Andre Citroen, began his career in a workshop that produced parts for steam locomotives. Soon he began producing gears, a schematic image of which was used as the logo of the automobile company founded by the engineer.
Dacia is one of the most ancient names on our list. In ancient times, Dacia was the name given to the territory where Romania is located today. The Romanian automobile plant borrowed this name from the ancient Romans, who called the land of the Dacian tribes Dacia. These people worshiped animal totems - the wolf and the dragon, and their warriors wore scaly armor. The scale also became the emblem of the car, also resembling an inverted letter D. The silver shade was chosen in honor of the parent company, Renault.
According to the main version, the Koreans chose a sea shell as the Daewoo logo. However, the company’s name, translated from Korean as “great universe,” fits better with the version that the car icon symbolizes an open lily flower. Lily has always been associated with purity, majesty, and beauty.
Daihatsu
The company icon is an elongated initial letter of the brand name, resembling a bullet - a symbol of speed. You can also see an airplane wing in this figure. In general, elongation is associated with acceleration as well as compactness.
The name is more difficult to understand, since it is connected with the peculiarities of the Japanese language. The company is located in Osaka, which is reflected in the name, consisting of two hieroglyphs - dai and hatsu. The first is taken from the name of the city, and the second from the phrase “car production”. Thus, literally Daihatsu can be adapted into Russian, like the banal “Osaka Automobile Plant”.
Dodge is known for its muscle cars with tons of power. It is not surprising that the head of a mountain goat with huge horns was chosen as the brand emblem. However, in 2010, the logo changed - it now represents the simple name of the company founded by the Dodge brothers in 1900, decorated with red sloping lines. Because red goes faster.
FAW stands for "First Automobile Corporation." It is clear that the Chinese did not bother too much not only with the name, but also with the logo - it depicts the number 1. Eagle wings are also intended to represent the company as a leader - like a bird, FAW spreads its huge wings and shows its superiority.
In the case of Ferrari, the associative series when looking at the emblem is simple: stallion - gallop - speed - racing cars. So? But no. That's not what the horse in the logo means.
Enzo Ferrari, the founder of the company, was a fan, so to speak, of the First World War pilot, Francesco Baraca. He was an ace, and, like all professionals in his field, he had his own identification mark - a black horse painted on the body of the plane. Ferrari depicted this horse on the logo of his car, using as a background the yellow color associated with Enzo’s hometown of Modena. The top of the emblem is decorated with stripes of the Italian flag.
The Fiat brand name is an abbreviation indicating the location of the plant. Italian automobile factory in Turin - this is how it is deciphered and translated into Russian. It was decided to shorten the name to fit it on the emblem in 1901. The shape of the logo has changed constantly over the last century. Today the badge is made in the spirit of previous versions - a round chrome frame with a crimson rounded trapezoid in the center. Pride in its history distinguishes this Italian company.
The Ford emblem is one of the simplest on our list. The surname of the company's founding father and the trendsetter of automotive production in general is written in a beautiful font and inscribed in a blue oval. Minimalist, practical, impossible not to recognize – the ideal option.
The Polish passenger car plant took a simple path and took its abbreviation as its name. Until 2010, the plant produced cars under the Daewoo brand, but in recent years it has acquired its own production line.
The company's logo is simple and elegant - in the center of a white letter O on a red background the letters F and S merge. The red color is a symbol of power and challenge.
The Chinese company Geely did not fail to associate itself with grandeur. The white element of the emblem can be associated with the wing of a bird, but still it signifies a mountain (perhaps Everest itself) against the backdrop of a piercingly clear sky. The name of the company is translated from Chinese as “happiness”.
And again the abbreviation. Behind three simple letters hides not just anyone, but General Motors - the largest automobile manufacturing corporation not only in the United States, but until 2008 throughout the world. The company was created by the ambitious Grabowski brothers, who started with the creation of one truck and united small automobile factories of the entire state of Michigan under a single auspices.
Great Wall
“Great Wall” – from the name it immediately becomes clear where this brand of cars comes from. The logo is a schematic image of the battlement of that very great wall. The emblem has been in use since 2007 and is designed to evoke patriotism combined with majesty and unwavering grace.
The name of the company is the surname of its founder, Japanese Soichiro Honda. The emblem is a straight letter H. Not to be confused with an inclined H - this is Hyundai!
Hummer cars are no longer produced - since 2010, the assembly line has ceased operation. But it will be possible to meet them for a long time. The brand name is the abbreviation HMMWV adapted for better euphony - High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle, model 998. It is immediately clear that the vehicle is of military origin - and so it is, Hummers are widely used by the US Army in ground operations. They became available to civilians in 1979. A car emblem is simply the name of the brand; You can’t expect anything more stylish from the military.
Hyundai, Hyundai, Hyundai - whatever they call these cars. In fact, the Korean word Hyundai is pronounced "Handey". The company embodies the whole spirit of South Korea - the desire for modernity, high technology, and its name translates exactly like that - “new time”. The emblem is an elegant slanted letter H. It is similar to the Russian one because it is supposed to symbolize shaking hands, which looks exactly like this in the minds of Koreans.
Infiniti
Infinity is infinity, into which the road depicted on the brand logo goes. It was decided to abandon the original version - the familiar infinity sign in the form of an inverted figure eight. And in vain - the emblem would be more unique; a road that goes beyond the horizon is found in at least three other brands, as we have already seen.
Isuzu is an ancient company even by the standards of the automotive industry, founded in 1889. The construction of cars began only in 1916, when the use of diesel engines in cars began. The company received its modern name in 1934 - it was named after the Japanese Isuzu River. The logo resembles the letter I, growing upward, just like the company's never-ending expansion.
When Jaguar Cars was founded in Britain, there were obviously no questions about choosing a logo. A stylized wild cat, symbolizing grace, speed, and elegance, was created by artist Gordon Crosby. The Jaguar-shaped nameplate, however, is rare for safety reasons, but the brand name can be found on the hood of any Jaguar.
The Jeep logo is simple - it represents the company name, made in the most unremarkable style. But the name is very interesting, if only because it has become a household name. Initially, this word was simply consonant with the abbreviation GP - general purpose vehicle.
The KIA emblem is an abbreviation on a cherry background with a chrome oval border. This shape is a symbol of the globe, indicating the company’s goals to become a leader in the global automotive market. And the name speaks about this - it is translated as “enter the world from Asia.”
Koenigsegg
Probably, few people have seen Swedish Koenigsegg cars on Russian roads. The plant produces sports cars in small quantities, exclusively to order in exclusive versions. The company is young, founded in 1994 by Christian von Koenigsegg, who used his family coat of arms in the company logo - gold and orange diamonds with a blue border.
Lamborghini
Lamborghini is a division of Audi AG, which in turn is part of the Volkswagen group. The company is engaged in the production of elite supercars, which everyone dreams of, but have only seen in real life a couple of times.
The name is the surname of Ferruccio Lamborghini, who became a car manufacturer, starting with the creation of tractors. The bull on the emblem is easy to connect with this story - tractors just came to replace these strong animals. In addition, Taurus is the constellation under which the company’s founder was born. Lamborghini's passion for bulls is also emphasized by the names of the model range - Diablo, Murcielago, Gallardo and other famous supercars are named after bulls who participate in bullfights.
Land Rover
The legendary Land Rover and Range Rover SUVs are the brainchild of the British car manufacturer, a division of the American company Ford. The name speaks for itself: land - land and rover - all-terrain vehicle. The last word is also associated with lunar rovers, Mars rovers and other “moves” - it becomes clear that the owner of the car will conquer any land.
The brand logo is simple - the name is on a dark green background with a silver oval edging, which also evokes associations with the earth, rough terrain, over which Land Rover can easily pass.
Lexus is a subsidiary of Toyota that produces premium cars. The name was not chosen by chance - it is consonant with the English luxury - luxury, luxury. A truly luxurious car does not need an overly elaborate emblem - it is a smoothed letter L inscribed in a circle. Elegance in every feature is the hallmark of these cars.
The Chinese company Lifan produces a wide range of vehicles - from light scooters to huge buses. On our roads, however, you can only see passenger cars.
The name of the company is translated from Chinese as “go full sail.” It is logical that the emblem also depicts sails - three blue ones. Ironically, sailboats actually move at the speed of a walking person.
Lincoln cars are very prestigious, and the goal of the company's creators was recognition throughout the world. The brand's emblem speaks precisely about this - it is a stylized compass with arrows pointing in all 4 directions. The company is part of the Ford plant and is named after Abraham Lincoln, the American president for whom the founder cast his first vote.
Maserati
The company, which produces premium sports cars, was founded by the Maserati brothers. The logo is based on the coat of arms of their home city - Bologna - which has red and blue colors. The Trident of Neptune was taken in honor of the statue of this god in the central square of the city.
The full face of a flying bird with its wings spread is an obvious symbol of speed and freedom. You can also see an open flower in the Mazda logo. Perhaps the smooth and flexible letter M was taken from the coat of arms of Hiroshima. However, in reality it is just a stylized first letter of the Japanese company's name.
German Wilhelm Maybach founded the luxury car company in 1909 and named it after himself. Initially, the cars were produced to order, each of them was unique, but today not a single company can survive without mass production.
The two intertwined letters M in the logo are both the surnames of Wilhelm Maybach and his son Karl, and the abbreviation for Maybach Manufacture (yes, Maybach cars were originally assembled by hand).
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes produces almost all types of land vehicles - trucks, buses, premium cars. The company was named after the daughter of an Austrian industrial magnate, who ordered 10 cars from its founders (a fabulous sum at that time) with the condition that the cars would bear this name.
The logo in the form of a three-pointed star immortalizes the three founders of the company - Gottlieb Daimler, Wilhelm Maybach and Karl Benz, whose production was united into a single corporation. In addition, the star symbolizes the presence of Mercedes products in all three areas - on land, in the sky and at sea - since the company's predecessor, Daimler, originally produced engines for aircraft and ships. The emblem was created by Daimler himself.
Mitsubishi
The Mitsubishi logo was created by merging the family crests of the company's founders - three diamonds and three oak leaves. The name of the company translates as “three diamonds”; it was the red precious stones that were reflected on the car emblem, which has not changed throughout the history of the company.
Initially, the logo of the Japanese automaker was traditionally Japanese - it was a red rising sun with a blue stripe with the company name on it. Today they have gotten rid of such brightness in favor of modernity. Now the Nissan emblem is a silver ring with a chrome strip in the center, on which the word Nissan is written in black.
The Opel company is named after its founder, Adam Opel. This company did not do anything - it started with the production of sewing machines, then switched to bicycles. During the war, military trucks rolled off production lines. Today, family minivans and passenger cars are produced under the Opel brand.
The Opel badge is a silver lightning bolt inscribed in a ring. The symbolism is not difficult to understand - it means lightning speed, speed.
The Italian corporation Pagani produces such elite cars that even the word “supercar” is too small for them - only hypercars come off assembly lines. The company is known for producing the fastest car in the world - the Zonda F. The plant is named after Horatio Pagani, the founder of the company.
At the beginning of its existence, the French company also did not ignore bicycles; only later the production of Peugeot cars began. The company's logo has changed many times, but it has always retained the traditional lion, taken from the flag of the French province in which the Peugeot factory was located. Today the lion is depicted very schematically and with a touch of three-dimensionality.
At first glance, the Porsche brand logo resembles the coat of arms of some ancient and proud country. In general, this is true - the main part of the emblem represents the coat of arms of the state of Baden-Württemberg, in which the sports car manufacturer is located. Specifically, the company is located in Stuttgart, as evidenced by the name of the city in the center of the logo and the city symbol in the form of a black horse.
Renault's logo has changed even more often than Peugeot's - over more than a century of history, 12 versions of the logo have changed. At first, the logo featured the ornate initials of the Renault brothers; at one point the company switched to the production of tanks, and the formidable military vehicle found its place on the Renault emblem. Today the sign is a three-dimensional figure of a silver-colored diamond. It is easy to notice the unreality of its shape - by this the logo designer hints that Renault is ready to realize impossible ideas.
Rolls-Royce
The company is named after the founders, Frederick Royce and Charles Rolls. Its logo is minimalistic and ascetic - simple letters R, superimposed on each other and framed by a black rectangle. Don’t forget the nameplate that adorns the hoods of premium cars – a flying woman with her arms thrown back. This woman is a symbol of speed. Both emblems were purchased by BMW, under whose auspices Rolls-Royces are produced today.
The logo of the Swedish company Saab is a crowned red griffin, taken from the family coat of arms of the local Count von Skane, the ruler of the province in which the company was founded. Today the old company does not exist - cars under this brand are produced by the Swedish concern, and the owners of the Saab name do not have rights to the logo.
What happened to the Saab logo? The mythical winged beast migrated to trucks, the brand of which is named after the same province of Skana.
Seat is a Spanish brand whose logo is made in the form of a cut square letter S. The emblem combines silver and red colors, which immediately indicates the status of the cars and inspires the trust of buyers.
The Czech company's logo is a green arrow with a huge bird's wing, inscribed in a black ring. It is difficult to unravel the artist’s idea, but we can say that the arrow symbolizes the speed and swiftness of flight. The green color may signify the company's commitment to creating eco-friendly cars. The eye on the wing is a symbol of looking into the future, the desire to develop and introduce new technologies into machine production.
Subaru is a huge Japanese concern that unites six large companies in their heavy industry. The name refers to exactly this - translated from Japanese it means “to gather together.” The first cars of the plant were assembled on the basis of Renault.
The logo - six silver stars on a blue background - is an image of the Pleiades constellation, familiar to all Japanese. Six companies – six stars, everything is logical.
Suzuki produces not only passenger cars - it is much better known as a manufacturer of motorcycles and ATVs. The company was named after Michio Suzuki, its founder. Its logo features the Latin letter S in red, stylized as a Japanese hieroglyph.
Tesla, named after Nikola Tesla, has been mass producing electric vehicles since 2008. Its emblem looks like a chrome shield with the name printed on it, made in a somewhat futuristic font. An additional symbol is a stylized letter T.
Toyota did not immediately begin producing cars. Initially, it was the production of weaving looms and sewing machines, which is reflected in the company’s emblem - it symbolizes the thread threaded through the eye of a needle. Here you can also see secondary meanings - for example, the driver’s hands holding the steering wheel.
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German name that literally means “people's car.” It is precisely these machines, accessible to the general population, that are produced by the German corporation, which has united many smaller manufacturers under its name. The brand's logo - the intertwined letters V and W in a ring - was created through an open competition, which was won by a Porsche employee. During Hitler's reign, the letters were intertwined in the shape of a swastika - this symbol was changed immediately after Germany's defeat in the war. The company's factories then went to Britain.
The arrow and circle symbolize the shield and spear. This is the sign of Mars, the Roman god of war, the symbol of iron and the emblem of the entire masculine gender. There are many meanings, but it was the second one – the connection with metal – that justified the appearance of this sign on the emblem of the Swedish car brand. When the company was founded, Sweden produced the highest quality steel in the world, and it was with this quality that cars were to be associated. The chrome symbol is intersected by a blue stripe with the Volvo company name.
The Gorky Automobile Plant is known for its minibuses and light trucks, as well as the Volga series of passenger cars. Initially, the plant copied American Ford cars, and even this was visible in the emblem - a blue oval was used, and the letter G was a copy of the letter F. A graceful deer complemented the symbols of the plant in 1950, and the shape of the shield was taken from the coat of arms of Nizhny Novgorod, where GAZ is located .
In the past, the emblem of the Zaporozhye Automobile Plant depicted a dam, above which there was a stylized abbreviation ZAZ. The background was dark red, the image was golden - in the spirit of the USSR flag. Today, the logo is a chrome oval with the letter Z inscribed in it with smooth features.
The Likhachev plant did not have a logo for a long time - only in 1944 the designer of the ZIL-114 proposed a logo that is still in use today. It represents the abbreviation ZIL against the background of a rounded rectangle.
IzhAvto
The Izhevsk Automobile Plant has not produced cars under its logo since 2005. Today the Lada Granta is rolling off its production lines. But you can still find the emblem on old cars. It looks very peculiar - the letters I and Z are formed by narrow ovals, which are inscribed in a black figure.
KamAZ
Thanks to the Paris-Dakar races, KamAZ trucks are known not only in Russia and the CIS countries, but also in the West. They will also recognize the emblem of the Kama Automobile Plant - a galloping horse. The horse is a symbol of great strength and power, and this is what many associate with KamAZ trucks.
Lada
The leader of the domestic automobile industry is AvtoVAZ, or the Volzhsky Automobile Plant. It has a voluminous silver-blue logo, which depicts a floating boat inscribed in an oval ring. The emblem hints at the location of the plant on the banks of the Volga, along which merchant ships sailed in the past. In the outlines of the VAZ symbol you can see the first letter of the abbreviation.
Perhaps only residents of the countries of the former Soviet Union know about LAZ. Lviv buses in the past traveled along the roads of every Soviet city. The Ukrainian automobile plant produced cars under a very simple emblem - a bold letter L inscribed in a round ring.
Moskvich
The emblem of this car brand, produced at the plant of the same name, which went bankrupt in 2010, is red and represents the stylized battlements of the Kremlin walls. Both the name and the logo are associated with the capital of Russia.
A masterpiece of military and industrial style, the UAZ-469 was decorated with an emblem representing a bird inscribed in a ring. In 1981, the Ural Automobile Plant acquired a new logo - an image of a live seagull and a pentagon around it. Today, UAZ hoods are marked with a dark green emblem with the plant’s abbreviation in Latin letters.
Thus, among automobile logos, several basic concepts can be distinguished:
the main element most often fits into the ring;
European companies use the coats of arms of their lands;
the main trend is the association of the brand with speed and luxury;
Company names most often use the names of their founders.
There are a great many car emblems in the world; all manufacturers try to reflect their history, philosophy and values in the logo. Symbols are changing, old companies are disappearing, new manufacturers are ascending to the automotive Olympus - how many more interesting emblems will we learn about in the future?
2016-09-13 (64 Average votes: 5,00 from 5) In a nutshell, an emblem (from ancient Greek ἔμβλημα “insert”) is an image that expresses a certain idea. Historically, the emblem arose in ancient Greek city policies as an insert-decoration on the shield or helmet of warriors. In Rome, it already indicated status and social position or belonging to one or another legion. Today, emblems are generally used for two purposes, namely for identification and for protection. Emblems are widely used in the designation of law enforcement agencies, as well as in.Sometimes a graphic representation of an emblem is called a logo; this is customary in cases where the emblem also acts as a trademark registered for profit. Designers design the emblem itself, not the logo of the emblem. The essence of an emblem as a concept is always a certain idea. For example, the simple emblem of the Red Cross shows that the people from this organization adhere to a Christian view and help all people, regardless of worldview, religion or skin color.
There are certain rules governing the emblems of international organizations such as the Red Cross. During armed conflicts, the protective emblem must only be red and only on a white background.
During the escalation of any conflict, the Red Cross helps victims of both warring sides. Some Islamic countries found the international Red Cross offensive. This is how the Red Crescent emblem appeared.
The difference between a logo and a brand name
Often a logo is completely identified with a brand name (trademark), which is not entirely true. A trademark is a legally certified and registered sign with the relevant government agencies, to which the owner has exclusive intellectual and other rights.
In Russian legislation there is no concept of a “brand name”, but only a “trademark”, which also means its graphic image, that is, the logo itself.
A logo is a graphic image of a trademark (from ancient Greek λόγος - word + τύπος - imprint). It is usually depicted as a stylized image of letters or an ideogram. It would be more correct to say this: “our design firm developed the logo of the company’s trademark,” or “developed the company logo.” That is, if we summarize the logo from the brand name, we can say this: a company (trademark) sign is a legal concept, and a logo is more of a design one. Therefore, a lawyer can register a trademark, and a designer can develop a good logo.
This is a special emblem made in accordance with heraldic canons.
It represents an interconnected system of images and colors, which carries the idea of the integrity of the state and is inextricably linked with its history, traditions and mentality.
The appearance of this official sign is enshrined in the Constitution.
Brief description and meaning of the symbols of the coat of arms of Russia
This state insignia is a red heraldic shield, in the middle of which there is a golden double-headed eagle. The bird holds an orb in its left clawed paw, and a scepter in its right.
On each of the heads there is a crown, and on top there is another, larger one. All three royal decorations are connected by a gold ribbon.
In the center of the shield, on the eagle’s chest, there is another red cloth. It depicts a plot familiar to every Russian: St. George the Victorious kills a snake.
There are many icons and paintings illustrating this legend. This is the most recognizable image of the saint. On the emblem he is represented as a silver rider on a silver horse, wearing a blue cloak. A monster under the hooves of a black horse.
How were the symbols on the coat of arms of the Russian Federation formed and what do they mean?
Today, heraldry is an auxiliary branch of historical science. The emblems of countries, along with annals and chronicles, represent the most important historical evidence.
In Western Europe, during the times of chivalry, every noble family had a symbol that was inherited from generation to generation. It was present on the banners and was a sign of distinction by which a representative of the clan was recognized both on the battlefield and at the feast. In our country, this tradition has not been developed. Russian soldiers carried embroidered images of the great martyrs, Christ or the Virgin Mary into battle. The Russian heraldic sign originates from princely seals.
What do the main elements of the Russian coat of arms mean: St. George the Victorious
On the princely seals there were the patron saints of the rulers and an inscription indicating who owned the symbol of power. Later, a symbolic image of the head began to appear on them and on coins. Usually it was a horseman holding some kind of weapon in his hand. It could be a bow, sword or spear.
Initially, the “rider” (as this image was called) was not a sign only of the Moscow principality, but after the unification of lands around the new capital in the 15th century, it became an official attribute of the Moscow sovereigns. He replaced the lion who defeats the snake.
What is depicted on the state emblem of Russia: a double-headed eagle
It should be noted that this is a popular symbol, which is used as the main one not only by the Russian Federation, but also by Albania, Serbia, and Montenegro. The history of the appearance of one of the main elements of our emblem goes back to the times of the Sumerians. There in this ancient kingdom he personified God.
Since antiquity, the eagle has been considered a solar symbol associated with the spiritual principle and liberation from bonds. This element of the Russian coat of arms means courage, pride, desire for victory, royal origin and the greatness of the country. In the Middle Ages it was a symbol of baptism and rebirth, as well as of Christ in his ascension.
In Ancient Rome, the image of a black eagle was used, which had one head. Such a bird was brought as a family image by Sophia Paleologus, the niece of the last Byzantine emperor Constantine, whom Ivan the Terrible’s grandfather, Ivan III, known as Kalita, married. In Russia, the history of the famous double-headed eagle begins during his reign. Together with his marriage, he received the right to this symbol as a state emblem. It confirmed that our country had become the heir of Byzantium and began to claim the right to be a world Orthodox power. Ivan III received the title of Tsar of All Rus', ruler of the entire Orthodox East.
But during the time of Ivan III, the official emblem in the traditional sense still did not exist. The bird was featured on the royal seal. It was very different from the modern one and looked more like a chick. This is symbolic, since Rus' at that time was a young, fledgling country. The eagle's wings and beak were closed, the feathers smoothed.
After the victory over the Tatar-Mongol yoke and the liberation of the country from centuries-old oppression, the wings flutter open, emphasizing the power and might of the Russian state. Under Vasily Ioanovich, the beak also opens, emphasizing the strengthening of the country’s position. At the same time, the eagle developed tongues, which became a sign that the country could stand up for itself. It was at this moment that the monk Philotheus puts forward a theory about Moscow as the third Rome. Spreading wings appeared much later, in the early years of the Romanov dynasty. They showed neighboring hostile states that Russia had perked up and rose from sleep.
The double-headed eagle also appeared on the state seal of Ivan the Terrible. There were two of them, small and large. The first was attached to the decree. There was a rider on one side and a bird on the other. The king replaced the abstract horseman with a specific saint. St. George the Victorious was considered the patron saint of Moscow. This interpretation would finally be consolidated under Peter I. The second seal was applied and made it necessary to combine two state symbols into one.
This is how a double-headed eagle appeared with a warrior on a horse depicted on its chest. Sometimes the rider was replaced by a unicorn, as a personal sign of the king. It was also an Orthodox symbol taken from the Psalter, like any heraldic sign. Like the hero defeating the snake, the unicorn signified the victory of good over evil, the military valor of the ruler and the righteous strength of the state. In addition, this is an image of monastic life, the desire for monasticism and solitude. This is probably why Ivan the Terrible highly valued this symbol and used it along with the traditional “rider”.
What do the elements of the images on the coat of arms of Russia mean: three crowns
One of them also appears under Ivan IV. It was on top and was decorated with an eight-pointed cross as a symbol of faith. The cross has appeared before, between the heads of birds.
During the time of Fyodor Ioanovich, the son of Ivan the Terrible, who was a very religious ruler, it was a symbol of the passion of Christ. Traditionally, the image of a cross on the coat of arms of Russia symbolizes the country's acquisition of ecclesiastical independence, which coincided with the reign of this tsar and the establishment of the patriarchate in Rus' in 1589. The number of crowns varied at different times.
Under Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich there were three of them, the ruler explained this by the fact that then the state absorbed three kingdoms: Siberian, Kazan and Astrakhan. The appearance of three crowns was also associated with the Orthodox tradition, and was interpreted as a sign of the Holy Trinity.
It is currently known that this symbolism on the coat of arms of the Russian Federation means the unity of three levels of government (state, municipal and regional), or its three branches (legislative, executive and judicial).
Another version suggests that the three crowns mean the brotherhood of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. The crowns were secured with ribbon already in 2000.
What does the coat of arms of the Russian Federation mean: scepter and orb
They were added at the same time as the crown. In earlier versions, the bird could hold a torch, a laurel wreath, and even a lightning bolt.
Currently, an eagle holding a sword and a wreath is on the banner. The attributes that appeared in the image personified autocracy, absolute monarchy, but also indicated the independence of the state. After the 1917 revolution, these elements, like the crowns, were removed. The Provisional Government considered them a relic of the past.
Seventeen years ago they were returned and now adorn the modern state insignia. Scientists agree that in modern conditions this symbolism of the coat of arms of Russia means state power and the unity of the state.
What did the coat of arms of the Russian Empire mean under Peter I?
After coming to power, the first Russian emperor decided that the double-headed eagle should not just decorate certain official papers, but also become a full-fledged symbol of the country. He decided that the bird should become black, like the one that was on the banners of the Holy Roman Empire, of which Byzantium was the heir.
On the wings were painted the signs of local large principalities and kingdoms that were part of the country. For example, Kyiv, Novgorod, Kazan. One head looked to the West, the other to the East. The headdress was a large imperial crown, which replaced the royal one and hinted at the specifics of the established power. Russia asserted its independence and freedom of rights. Peter I chose this type of crown several years before he proclaimed the country an Empire and himself emperor.
The Order of St. Andrew the First-Called appeared on the bird's chest.
Until Nicholas I, the official emblem of the country retained the form established by Peter I, undergoing only minor changes.
The meaning of the colors on the coat of arms of Russia
Color, as the brightest and simplest sign, is an important part of any symbolism, including state symbols.
In 2000, it was decided to return the eagle to its golden color. It is a symbol of power, justice, the wealth of the country, as well as the Orthodox faith and Christian virtues such as humility and mercy. The return to the golden color emphasizes the continuity of traditions and the state’s preservation of historical memory.
The abundance of silver (cloak, spear, horse of St. George the Victorious) indicates purity and nobility, the desire to fight for a righteous cause and truth at any cost.
The red color of the shield speaks of the blood that was shed by the people in defense of their land. It is a sign of courage and love not only for the Motherland, but also for each other, and emphasizes that many fraternal peoples coexist peacefully in Russia.
The snake that the rider kills is painted black. Heraldry experts agree that this symbol on the coat of arms of the Russian Federation means the country’s constancy in trials, as well as memory and grief for the dead.
The meaning of the coat of arms of the Russian Federation
The drawing of the modern state symbol was made by St. Petersburg artist Evgeny Ukhnalev. He left the traditional elements but created a new image. The fact that signs from different eras were included in the final version emphasizes the country's long history. The type of this personification of state power is strictly regulated and described in the relevant laws.
The shield is a symbol of the protection of the earth. At the moment, the meaning of the coat of arms of the Russian Federation is interpreted as a fusion of conservatism and progress. The three rows of feathers on the bird's wings refer to the unity of Kindness, Beauty and Truth. The scepter became a sign of state sovereignty. It is interesting that it is decorated with the same double-headed eagle, clutching the same scepter and so on ad infinitum.
Briefly, we can say that the coat of arms of Russia symbolizes eternity and means the unity of all peoples of the Russian Federation. The power acts as an emblem of power and integrity.
We hope our article helped you penetrate the secrets of state symbols. If you are interested in the history of not only your country, but your family, then it’s worth learning about it.
Our specialists have access to rare archival documents, which allows:
- Check the authenticity of the data.
- Systematize the information received.
- Make a family tree.
- Help trace your family tree.
If you want to find out who your ancestors were, what they did and how they lived, contact the Russian House of Genealogy.
Company logos surround us everywhere. Look around - everything that has been made by humanity is labeled on behalf of the manufacturer with the purpose of advertising this product and disseminating information about it among as many consumers as possible.
We will devote this article to the question “what is a logo,” what is its role and why so much attention is paid to it.
Logo concept
So, if we turn to the origin of the term, it becomes clear that translated from ancient Greek this word means the combination of “word and imprint”. Accordingly, logos are used to verbally or graphically indicate any information (in particular, about a product, company or organization).
It is believed that the first brand logos appeared at the beginning of the 20th century. This was due to the growth of production in the United States. Moreover, what is most interesting is that the creation of logos had a purely practical function - they were developed in order to avoid re-printing established graphic signs. These were, for example, the original inscription, an image with the name of the company, and the like.
Kinds
There are three generally accepted types of logos. They have been used all over the world for more than a century. These are: company logos in the form of graphic signs (a picture indicating the emblem); text logos (presented in the form of inscriptions), as well as a combined version in which a picture and text are mixed.
It is typical for logos that all symbols - both graphic and text - are developed according to a single established pattern, which is repeated every time the logo needs to be reapplied.
The role of the logo
There are several roles played by the logo of a company. Firstly, it is informational - it consists of informing the consumer about who produced this or that product. Or, for example, a logo performs the same function when designating an organization’s office.
Secondly, the logo conveys a certain message from the company to the consumer, which consists, for example, in the mission or designation of the values that the manufacturer adheres to. Thirdly, the logo is intended to create a certain response in the consumer’s imagination; an association that is aimed at creating a connection between the product itself and the name of the company that produced it. Finally, fourthly, we can say that a corporate logo can also play an aesthetic function to the extent that it simply has an attractive appearance for the buyer.
The meaning of logos
So, we figured out what a logo is and what its purpose is. Of course, there are other functions that trademarks and company logos perform. How they are used by organizations or companies themselves depends on the nature of the product and its mission and values.
It should also be noted that each logo is created in such a way as to match the company it belongs to. For this reason, the manufacturer tries to include in the design of its logo elements that characterize its activities or, for example, something related to its products. This is how the connection between the product and the company that produces it is maintained.
The most famous logos
It is easier to understand what a logo is if you see clear examples. Since each of us has seen hundreds, if not thousands of logos in our lives, it won’t be difficult for you to remember some of them. Let's take the world's largest companies like McDonald's, Coca Cola, Apple... Even now, sitting at a computer, you see at least three or four logos - the manufacturer of your device, the operating system logo, as well as the brand name of your favorite search engine or email service. Perhaps all of them have already become so familiar to us that we don’t even notice most of the logos presented. However, this is their mission - to be remembered for us at the subconscious level, in order to appear in memory in the future. This is a unique form of “self-promotion” that our brain creates for itself.
Own logo
At first it may seem, when you find out what a logo is, that it is needed exclusively by some transnational companies and the largest manufacturers in the whole world. In fact, this is not so - even a small grocery store chain can (and should) afford to have its own trademark, a logo that will distinguish it from competing outlets.
Firstly, such a move will give more weight in the eyes of the consumer, because a well-developed logo is already a sign of a serious company whose activities have a long-term perspective, since it is developing its own logo. Secondly, if we are talking about stores, having your own logo will make it possible to distinguish the outlet from its competitors. Thus, if a buyer knows that your products are cheaper, he will look for your trademark, bypassing competitors. Thirdly, having worked in the market for a long time, it will be possible to talk about the recognition of the logo, about the habit that the consumer will develop towards it.
