
The question "where is cars based out of" doesn't have a single answer because there isn't one company named "Cars." Instead, every major automotive manufacturer is headquartered in a specific city and country, often with deep historical ties to that location. For example, General Motors is based in Detroit, Michigan, USA, a city famously known as the heart of the American auto industry. Similarly, Ford is headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit.
The global automotive landscape is dominated by several key regions. Japan is home to giants like Toyota (located in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture) and Honda (Tokyo). Germany is the base for premium brands such as Volkswagen (Wolfsburg) and BMW (Munich). Meanwhile, South Korea's Hyundai and Kia are centered in Seoul. In recent years, the rise of electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers has created new hubs, with Tesla's headquarters in Austin, Texas, being a prime example. Understanding a car brand's origin can provide insight into its design philosophy, engineering priorities, and corporate culture.
The table below lists the headquarters of some of the world's leading car manufacturers.
| Car Manufacturer | Headquarters City | Headquarters Country |
|---|---|---|
| General Motors (GM) | Detroit | United States |
| Ford | Dearborn | United States |
| Stellantis (owns Jeep, Ram, Chrysler) | Amsterdam | Netherlands |
| Toyota | Toyota City | Japan |
| Honda | Tokyo | Japan |
| Nissan | Yokohama | Japan |
| Hyundai | Seoul | South Korea |
| Kia | Seoul | South Korea |
| Volkswagen Group (VW, Audi, Porsche) | Wolfsburg | Germany |
| BMW | Munich | Germany |
| Mercedes-Benz Group | Stuttgart | Germany |
| Tesla | Austin | United States |
| Rivian | Irvine | United States |
| Lucid Motors | Newark, California | United States |


