The world's 10 most popular carmakers

Image: Nissan Motor vehicles which are bound for the foreign market are parked at a shipyard of the Oppama factory in Yokosuka.
Photographs: Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters CarDekho.com

The world is full of carmakers offering a number of products to suit a number of needs.

But there are those handful few who are accepted as the masters of the game world over.

Here is a list of 10 such popular carmakers who have left their mark on the roads of many nations.

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The world's 10 most popular carmakers

Image: Toyota Corolla Altis.
Photographs: Courtesy, Toyota Bharat

Toyota (Japan)

In terms of sales and production numbers Toyota Motor Corporation is the world's largest automobile manufacturer.

Its history goes back to 1937 when Kiichiro Toyoda founded the company as a part of his father's company Toyota Industries for manufacturing automobiles.

TMC includes the Scion brand, Lexus, Daihatsu and Hino Motors as some of the automotive companies under its umbrella.

In India the company sells some of its best known products like Corolla, Innova, Camry, Prius et al.

Last year the company launched its sedan Etios and is all set to bring the Etios Liva hatchback to the Indian market. This is the first ever hatchback by the carmaker.

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The world's 10 most popular carmakers

Image: Chevrolet Captiva.

General Motors (USA)

Neck to neck with Toyota Motors is one of America's biggest car making company -- General Motors based in Detroit.

The carmaker came into existence on September 16, 1908 as a holding company for Buick.

The company has under its belt brands like Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Opel, Vauxhall, Holden and two joint ventures in China.

In India the carmaker offers several popular models under its Chevrolet brand -- like Beat, Aveo UVa, Cruze, and Captiva.

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The world's 10 most popular carmakers

Image: New Beetle from the Volkswagen stable.
Photographs: Courtesy, Volkawagen India

Volkswagen group (Germany)

Last year the carmaker picked up 20 per cent stake in Suzuki Motor Corp that hold a big chunk on the Indian car market in partnership with Maruti Udyog Ltd.

Volkswagen is the world's third largest carmaker with brands like Audi, Bentley Motors, Bugatti Automobiles, Automobili Lamborghini, SEAT, Skoda Auto and heavy goods vehicle manufacturer Scania.

The car manufacturer was founded in 1937 by the Nazi Unions in Germany.

VW has given the world the iconic Beetle that continues to be sold as a premium product across the world. In India the carmaker offers models like - Polo, Vento, Passat, Jetta and Phaeton.

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The world's 10 most popular carmakers

Image: Ford Taurus.

Ford (USA)

The fourth largest carmaker in the world is another car company which is the second largest in America. Henry Ford founded the car company on June 16, 1903.

Ford has a stake in Mazda and Aston Martin but sold Jaguar and Land Rover to Tata Motors in March 2008.

The company also sold Volvo to Geely Automobile in China and discontinued the Mercury brand in 2010.

In India the carmaker launched its flagship made for emerging markets model the Figo last year.

And is all set to launch the all new Fiesta in the near future. The company offers models like Figo, Fiesta, Ikon, Endeavour etc.

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The world's 10 most popular carmakers

Image: Honda CRV.

Honda (Japan)

The fifth largest in the list is another Japanese carmaker Honda Motors. Since 1959 Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer.

The company manufactures some of the world's bestselling models like City and Civic that are not only segment leaders in India but have been well recognised world over.

Honda's other offering include models like Fit/Jazz, CRV and Accord.

The carmaker has just unveiled its first ever hatchback (Brio) which is all set to be in India this year.

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The world's 10 most popular carmakers

Image: A Peugeot Citroen SUV.

PSA Peugeot Citroen (France)

The carmaker is headquartered in the 16th arrondissement of Paris and has been producing some great cars since the 60s.

Peugeot 504, Citro n GS, Citroen CX, Peugeot 405, Citro n XM, Peugeot 307 and Peugeot 207 are some of the company's famous models.

The carmaker has been in talks with the governments of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh to set up a facility in India and return to the market once again.

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The world's 10 most popular carmakers

Image: Hyundai Genesis.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

Hyundai-Kia (South Korea)

Hyundai is a well known company in the Indian sub continent and is also the second largest carmaker in India.

The company came into being after 51 per cent of South Korea's second-largest car company, Kia Motors was bought by Hyundai Motor Company in 1998.

Today the company has a significant presence in the American market and it sells some bestselling models both in India and abroad.

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The world's 10 most popular carmakers

Image: Nissan Leaf.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

Nissan (Japan)

Yet another Japanese carmaker is listed in the top 10 list of carmakers world over.

Spearheaded by CEO Carlos Ghosn the carmaker is doing pioneering work in green car technology and launched the electric vehicle Nissan Leaf last year.

The carmaker also launched its hatchback model Micra in the Indian market last year in the A2 segment. the company would soon launch its global sedan Sunny is emerging markets.

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The world's 10 most popular carmakers

Image: Renault Clio.

Renault-Dacia-Samsung (France)

One of the oldest carmakers in the world, Renault was founded in 1897.

The carmaker has produced successful models like Renault Clio and the Renault Laguna and is also present in the Formula 1 circuit.

Renault's first major offering in India - Mahindra Renault Logan - didn't take off too well and having parted ways with Mahindra the company is now gearing up to offer some models in the booming Indian market independently.

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The world's 10 most popular carmakers

Image: Maybach Exelero.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

DaimlerChrysler (Germany)

The iconic Mercedes brand is famous world over.

Mercedes-Benz manufacturer Daimler-Benz merged with the US-based Chrysler Corporation in 1998 to form DaimlerChrysler.

The carmaker has some iconic brands under its umbrella including Mercedes-Benz, Maybach, Smart, Freightliner et al.

Among the latest partnerships entered by the company is the April 7, 2010 Renault-Nissan deal.

In India the company has just launched Daimler Benz to market trucks and its two other iconic brands - Mercedes Benz and Maybach - are already present in the Indian luxury car segment.

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