Japanese Cars and the Logos
Highlights
- The original spelling of Toyota was 'Toyoda.'
- Honda - biggest names in car industry, originally manufactured bikes
- The word 'Mazda' is from the Zoroastrian term 'Ahura Mazda' - God of Life
Japan has been the hub for some of the best automobile companies globally. Be it Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki, all these Japanese brands have managed to carve a huge fan following. The hard-working and creative population of the country has worked tirelessly to build these iconic brands. One of the distinguishing factors for any brand is the brand logo. Logos are very important for the brands to develop a distinct presence in the market. Therefore, a lot of thought and research goes into perfectly designing simple yet memorable logos.
Toyota
1937 to Present
The logo for one of the best-selling car manufacturers globally is wholesome. The two overlapping ellipses make up the logo, enclosed inside another ellipse. This logo shows trust and the unification of the hearts of Toyota's customers and the products from the brand!
Honda
1948 to Present
The original design of the Honda logo included a wing. The wing was inspired by the Greek Goddess 'Nike,' who symbolizes victory. Later, the design became much sleeker and simpler. The H on the logo represents the brand's name – symbolizing the spirit of passion and victory.
Mazda
1920 to Present
The current logo can have two different interpretations depending on the viewer's perspective. First, the logo contains open wings in the form of the letter M with the oval around the logo forming the legs of the letter. This shows that the company aspires for victory and passion for flying higher. Conversely, the V-shaped wings could also symbolize the company's flexibility and ability to transform based on current situations.
Suzuki
1909 to Present
The Suzuki logo consists of a simple but sleek-looking S. The S is red, symbolizing passion and integrity fused with the company's roots. The blue gives a sense of grandeur that the company aspires for.
Nissan
1933 to Present
Nissan has one of the simplest logos in the automobile industry. The logo consists of a horizontal block enclosed within a circle. The block contains the word 'NISSAN' - the whole outline being silver. This logo's choice stems from the fact that the company looked for a design that came out well when illuminated.
Mitsubishi
1870 to Present
The term 'MITSUBISHI' combines two words – Mitsu and Hishi. The term 'Mitsu' means three. So, the logo of this company contains 3 shapes in the logo. Hishi means water chestnut. For a long time, the Japanese have also used the word Hishi to describe rhombuses. Thus, the three rhombuses appear on the logo. The logo looks to amplify feelings of reliability, strength, integrity, and success.
Logos used by the Japanese automobile brands have certainly helped them carve a distinct space in the customers' minds, for when customers see these logos, they automatically relate them to Japanese precision and quality.