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📚 Database
Total brands ever: 200+
First American auto brand: Duryea Motor Wagon Co. 1895
Peak era: 1910–1930 — over 80 active brands
GM killed most brands: Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Saturn, Hummer, Geo, LaSalle
Longest surviving: Buick — active since 1899
Most famous failure: Edsel — lasted only 3 years (1957–1960)
Most iconic independent: Packard — founded 1899, died 1958
Total brands ever: 200+
First American auto brand: Duryea Motor Wagon Co. 1895
Peak era: 1910–1930 — over 80 active brands
GM killed most brands: Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Saturn, Hummer, Geo, LaSalle
Longest surviving: Buick — active since 1899
Most famous failure: Edsel — lasted only 3 years (1957–1960)
Most iconic independent: Packard — founded 1899, died 1958
Complete Archive · 1890–2026

The Complete Database of
Every American Car Brand Ever

The most comprehensive archive ever assembled — every American automobile brand from the horseless carriage era to modern EV startups. 200+ brands. 130+ years of history. Searchable, sortable, downloadable.

200+
Total Brands Ever
38
Currently Active
140+
Defunct Brands
24
EV Startups
136
Years Covered
Browse by Era

Filter the database by historical period — from the first horseless carriages to modern EVs

200+ brands
🔍
Brand ↕ Founded ↕ Ended ↕ Years Active ↕ Headquarters Parent / Owner ↕ Era Status Notes
Duryea1895191722Springfield, MAIndependentPioneerHistoricAmerica's first production car company
Olds Motor Works1897190811Lansing, MIGeneral MotorsPioneerHistoricBecame Oldsmobile under GM
Packard1899195859Warren, OHIndependent / StudebakerPioneerDefunctAmerica's greatest luxury brand. Killed by Studebaker merger
Buick1899—127Detroit, MIGeneral MotorsPioneerActiveAmerica's oldest surviving brand. GM's founding marque
Mack1900—126Allentown, PAVolvo GroupPioneerActiveIconic heavy trucks. "Built like a Mack truck"
Cadillac1902—124Detroit, MIGeneral MotorsPioneerActiveThe Standard of the World. First precision-built American car
Ford1903—123Dearborn, MIFord Motor Co.PioneerActiveModel T democratized the automobile. #1 selling truck 47 years
Studebaker1902196664South Bend, INIndependentPioneerDefunctWagon maker turned automaker. Last US independent before Big Three
REO Motor Car1905193631Lansing, MIIndependentPioneerDefunctFounded by Ransom Olds after leaving Oldsmobile
Maxwell1904192521New Castle, INChrysler (absorbed)PioneerDefunctBecame Chrysler Corporation in 1925
Locomobile1899192930Bridgeport, CTIndependentPioneerDefunctEarly steam cars, later luxury ICE vehicles
Pierce-Arrow1901193837Buffalo, NYIndependentPioneerDefunctAmerica's most prestigious pre-war luxury car
Winton Motor Carriage1897192427Cleveland, OHIndependentPioneerDefunctFirst American car sold commercially
Thomas Flyer1900191818Buffalo, NYIndependentPioneerDefunctWon the 1908 New York-to-Paris race
White Motor Company1900198080Cleveland, OHIndependentPioneerDefunctSteam cars → trucks. Long-running commercial vehicle maker
Chevrolet1911—115Detroit, MIGeneral MotorsGolden AgeActiveAmerica's most popular brand. Corvette, Silverado, Camaro legacy
GMC1911—115Detroit, MIGeneral MotorsGolden AgeActiveProfessional-grade trucks and SUVs
Dodge1900—126Auburn Hills, MIStellantisGolden AgeActiveMuscle car royalty. Hellcat, Viper, Charger
LaSalle1927194013Detroit, MIGeneral MotorsGolden AgeDefunctCadillac's entry-luxury brand. Killed by Cadillac overlap
Cord192919378Auburn, INErrett CordGolden AgeDefunctRadical front-wheel drive luxury. Stunning 810/812 models
Auburn1900193737Auburn, INErrett CordGolden AgeDefunctPart of the Cord/Auburn/Duesenberg empire
Duesenberg1920193717Indianapolis, INErrett CordGolden AgeDefunct"It's a Duesy." America's most prestigious prewar car. $18,000 in 1929
DeSoto1928196133Detroit, MIChryslerGolden AgeDefunctChrysler's mid-tier brand. Killed by internal competition with Dodge
Plymouth1928200173Auburn Hills, MIChryslerGolden AgeDefunctChrysler's value brand. Barracuda and Road Runner legends
Lincoln1917—109Dearborn, MIFord Motor Co.Golden AgeActivePresidential limos and luxury SUVs. Continental legacy
Hudson1909195748Detroit, MIAmerican MotorsGolden AgeDefunctNASCAR champions in the 1950s. Merged into Nash-Kelvinator
Nash1917195740Kenosha, WIAmerican MotorsGolden AgeDefunctMerged with Hudson to form AMC. Ahead of its time aerodynamics
Kaiser-Frazer1945195510Willow Run, MIIndependentGolden AgeDefunctPost-WW2 startup that tried to compete with Big Three. Failed on scale
Tucker194719481Chicago, ILIndependentGolden AgeDefunctOnly 51 built. Radical for its time. Destroyed by political prosecution
Willys1908196355Toledo, OHKaiser-JeepGolden AgeDefunctBuilt the WWII Jeep. Became Kaiser-Jeep then AMC
Crosley1939195213Cincinnati, OHIndependentGolden AgeDefunctAmerica's original economy car. Tiny and ahead of its time
Frazer194519516Detroit, MIKaiser-FrazerGolden AgeDefunctUpmarket partner to Kaiser. Both failed together
Packard Clipper195619571South Bend, INStudebaker-PackardGolden AgeDefunctLast attempt to save Packard. Rebadged Studebaker killed the brand
Continental (standalone)195619582Dearborn, MIFord Motor Co.Golden AgeDefunctFord tried to make Continental its own division. Too expensive to sustain
Edsel195719603Dearborn, MIFord Motor Co.Golden AgeDefunctAmerica's most famous automotive disaster. Market rejection
Rambler1954196915Kenosha, WIAmerican MotorsGolden AgeDefunctAMC's flagship brand. Muscle cars — Javelin, AMX, Rebel Machine
American Motors (AMC)1954198733Kenosha, WIChrysler (acquired)Golden AgeDefunctLast true independent American automaker. Built the Gremlin and Eagle
Henry J195019544Willow Run, MIKaiser-FrazerGolden AgeDefunctBudget compact car. Partnered with Sears as the "Allstate"
Allstate (Sears)195219531Chicago, ILSears / KaiserGolden AgeDefunctThe only car ever sold through a retail catalog
Oldsmobile18972004107Lansing, MIGeneral MotorsModernDefunctAmerica's oldest brand killed by relevance issues. 442 and Cutlass legends
Pontiac1926201084Pontiac, MIGeneral MotorsModernDefunctGTO, Firebird, Trans Am. Killed by 2009 GM bankruptcy
Mercury1938201173Dearborn, MIFord Motor Co.ModernDefunctFord's mid-tier brand. Eliminated due to Mondeo/Ford overlap
Jeep1943—83Toledo, OHStellantisModernActiveWWII-born off-roader. Strong brand loyalty among owners in industry
Saturn1985201025Spring Hill, TNGeneral MotorsModernDefunctGM's "different kind of car company." No-haggle sales pioneer. Killed 2009
Geo198919978Detroit, MIGeneral MotorsModernDefunctGM's rebadged import sub-brand. Sold Chevys as Suzuki/Toyota/Isuzu
Eagle1988199810Auburn Hills, MIChrysler/AMCModernDefunctAMC remnant under Chrysler. No clear identity. Vision was underrated
Imperial (standalone)1955198318Auburn Hills, MIChryslerModernDefunctChrysler's attempt at a standalone ultra-luxury brand. Failed vs Cadillac/Lincoln
Hummer (Original)1992201018Detroit, MIGeneral MotorsModernDefunctCivilian Humvee. Ultimate excess vehicle. Killed by oil crisis and bankruptcy
DeLorean197519838Detroit, MIIndependentModernDefunctStainless steel, gull-wings, Back to the Future. Only 9,000 built
Chrysler1925—101Auburn Hills, MIStellantisModernActiveNow down to Pacifica minivan. Uncertain future under Stellantis
Ram2010—16Auburn Hills, MIStellantisModernActiveStellantis's dedicated truck brand. #2 selling truck in America
Shelby1962—64Las Vegas, NVIndependentModernActiveCarroll Shelby's legacy. GT350, GT500, Super Snake, F-150
Saleen1983—43Corona, CAIndependentModernActiveSteve Saleen's Mustang and performance specialist
Callaway Cars1977—49Old Lyme, CTIndependentModernActiveSupercharged Corvette specialist. Factory-approved since 1987
Panoz1989—37Braselton, GAIndependentModernActiveGT car and Le Mans racer from Georgia
Hennessey1991—35Sealy, TXIndependentModernActiveVenom F5 — 1,817 hp, 271+ mph tested top speed hypercar
Roush Performance1995—31Livonia, MIIndependentModernActiveFord performance specialist. NASCAR legend Jack Roush
SSC North America1998—28Richland, WAIndependentModernActiveTuatara — 295+ mph. One of the world's fastest production cars
Peterbilt1939—87Denton, TXPACCARModernActiveIconic 18-wheelers. Model 389 is most recognized truck in America
Kenworth1923—103Kirkland, WAPACCARModernActivePACCAR sister to Peterbilt. Premium long-haul trucks
Freightliner1942—84Portland, ORDaimler TruckModernActiveAmerica's #1 selling Class 8 truck brand
AMC/Jeep1954198834Kenosha, WIChrysler (acquired)ModernDefunctLast independent. AMC gave us the Jeep Cherokee (XJ) — most beloved Jeep ever
Tesla2003—23Austin, TXIndependent (TSLA)EV EraActive EV~45% US EV share. Changed the global auto industry
Rivian2009—17Irvine, CAIndependent (RIVN)EV EraActive EVR1T / R1S. Amazon delivery fleet contract. Normal, IL factory
Lucid2007—19Newark, CASaudi PIF (LCID)EV EraActive EV516-mile range world record. Gravity SUV launched 2024
Workhorse2007—19Cincinnati, OHIndependent (WKHS)EV EraActive EVElectric commercial delivery vans. UPS and DHL customer
Karma2014—12Moreno Valley, CAIndependentEV EraActive EVLuxury PHEV. Rose from Fisker Automotive ashes
Scout Motors2022—4Columbia, SCVolkswagen GroupEV EraPre-ProdVW-backed revival of IH Scout. EV off-road SUV and truck. 2027 delivery
Canoo201720258Bentonville, ARIndependentEV EraBankrupt 2025Unique lifestyle EV van concept. Filed Chapter 7 January 2025
Fisker (2nd)201620248Manhattan Beach, CAIndependentEV EraBankrupt 2024Ocean SUV had promise. Chapter 11 filed June 2024
Nikola2015—11Phoenix, AZIndependent (NKLA)EV EraStrugglingHydrogen truck maker marred by fraud scandal. Trevor Milton convicted 2022
Lordstown Motors201820235Lordstown, OHIndependentEV EraBankrupt 2023Endurance electric truck. Filed Chapter 11 June 2023
Arrival201520238Charlotte, NCIndependentEV EraDefunctEV delivery van and bus startup. Delisted NYSE 2023
Faraday Future2014—12Los Angeles, CAIndependent (FFIE)EV EraStrugglingFF91 luxury EV. Massive delays, near-bankruptcy, Jia Yueting drama
Aptera2006—20San Diego, CAIndependentEV EraPre-Prod1,000-mile range solar EV three-wheeler. Pre-orders open
Bollinger Motors2015—11Oak Park, MIIndependentEV EraPre-ProdRugged Class 3 EV commercial trucks. Mullen partnership
DeLorean (Revived)2021—5San Antonio, TXIndependentEV EraRevivalDMC-12 EV revival in Texas. Iconic gull-wing nameplate returns
Hummer EV2021—5Detroit, MIGeneral MotorsEV EraActiveReborn as electric under GMC umbrella. 1,000 hp EV supertruck

Download The Complete Database

Get the full 200+ brand CSV with founding dates, end dates, parent companies, headquarters, key models, and research notes. Useful for automotive journalists, historians, YouTubers, and data researchers.

Includes: CSV Data · Research Notes · Historical Context · Brand Timelines · Model Lists

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About This Database

This is the most comprehensive publicly available archive of every American automobile brand ever produced — from the first horseless carriages of 1895 to the EV startups of 2026. Over 200 brands are catalogued with founding dates, dissolution dates, parent companies, headquarters locations, and key historical context.

America's automotive history is unlike any other country's. At the peak of the Pioneer Era (1895–1920), dozens of small manufacturers competed for dominance before General Motors and Ford consolidated the industry. The Golden Age (1920–1960) saw iconic names like Packard, Duesenberg, and Pierce-Arrow define American luxury — before most were killed by the Great Depression or the power of the Big Three.

The Modern Era (1960–2000) brought muscle cars, safety crises, oil shocks, and the near-death of the independent American automaker. By the time AMC was absorbed by Chrysler in 1987, the industry was down to three domestic survivors. The EV Era (2000–present) is rewriting that story — with Tesla, Rivian, Lucid, and dozens of startups challenging Detroit's dominance once again.

See also: All 38 Active American Car Brands · 47 Defunct American Brands · American EV Startups

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