
Currently, the brand divisions under major automotive groups are as follows: BMW Group: BMW, Mini, and Rolls-Royce. Daimler Group: Mercedes-Benz and Smart. Fiat Group: Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, and Ram. Ford Group: Ford and Lincoln. GM Group: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC. Honda Group: Acura and Honda. Hyundai Group: Genesis, Hyundai, and Kia. Mazda Group: Mazda. PSA Group: Peugeot and Citroën. Renault-Nissan Alliance: Infiniti, Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Renault.

Over the years working in auto repair, I've often discussed brand segmentation with car owners. Many large groups clearly differentiate their brands, like Volkswagen Group, which includes Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, as well as luxury brands like Porsche and Bentley. Volkswagen focuses on economy and practicality, Audi takes the premium route, Skoda targets the European market, while Porsche caters to performance enthusiasts. At General Motors, Chevrolet serves as the mass-market brand, Buick positions itself in the mid-to-high end, and Cadillac handles luxury. Ford Group divides into Ford and Lincoln - one mainstream, one luxury. After the Stellantis merger, they integrated Peugeot, Citroën, Fiat, and Jeep to target different regions and demographics. This segmentation helps groups expand market coverage while maintaining brand identity. Historically speaking, these divisions result from acquisition and expansion strategies to avoid internal competition.

As a car enthusiast, I find brand segmentation quite fascinating. Take the Toyota Group for example: the Toyota brand follows a reliable family-oriented approach, Lexus specializes in the luxury market offering premium experiences, with clear positioning that avoids overlap. The Volkswagen Group is even more impressive, assigning Volkswagen to family users, Audi to sports enthusiasts, and Porsche to track fans, each brand having a well-defined target audience. Within General Motors, Chevrolet, Buick, and Cadillac form a ladder, catering to needs ranging from entry-level to high-end. Stellantis integrates European and American brands, like Peugeot being popular in Europe and Jeep hot in the US. These divisions are based on market research to ensure product diversity without conflict, such as sharing chassis technology while maintaining design differences. When I follow auto shows, I notice this strategy makes groups more agile in global competition.

From a consumer perspective, I'd like to share insights on brand segmentation. When car shopping, I noticed automaker groups use brand divisions to facilitate our choices. Volkswagen Group offers Volkswagen for daily commuting, Audi for performance seekers, and Škoda for budget-conscious families. Toyota separates mainstream and luxury vehicles, with Lexus emphasizing premium comfort. At General Motors, Chevrolet provides affordable options while Cadillac delivers luxury experiences. Stellantis has even more brands - Peugeot and Fiat cater to different styles. Overall, this segmentation prevents internal competition within the same group while leveraging shared components to reduce costs. For instance, having driven both Volkswagen and Audi models, I noticed platform similarities but distinct positioning. This approach helps consumers find suitable models, enhancing satisfaction.


