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Korean car's emblems, logos and badges - Origin, Meaning, History

Brand names Origin, Meaning, History

Note: If you want to see the car photos of each brand, please tap or click the brand name.

KIA

KIA emblem
KIA emblem
KIA emblem
KIA emblem
KIA emblem

1953~ (*1)

1964~ (*2)

1986~

1994~

2000~

KIA emblem




2021~





*1 for bicycles,  *2 for bicycles, motorcycles, three-wheeled trucks


【 Origin of Emblem and Logo 】

The KIA emblem logo is based on the company name "KIA", and the emblems design saw uncountable changes over its history.


【 History of Emblem, Logo, and Company 】

In 1944, Chul-Ho Kim found Kyungsung Precision Industry. The company manufactured bicycle parts and steel pipes by hand.
In 1952, the company changed its name to KIA Industries. In the following year, the first emblem logo was appeared. This is based on a cross section of a triangular scale, a gear that is a symbol of the machine industry, a benzene ring that is a symbol of the chemical industry, and the company name "KIA". This emblem logo was attached to the bicycle "3000 리호" produced at the Busan factory.
In May 1964, a new emblem logo was born by an in-house competition to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the company's founding. This emblem logo was changed based on the opinion that the previous design did not have the wheels that symbolize the automobile industry and the design was complicated. The fact that it has been producing three-wheeled trucks and motorcycles since 1962 also influenced this design change. This emblem logo is a combination of "γ„±" and "β—‹", and represents the front fork and front wheel of a three-wheeled truck and motorcycles. In addition, "γ„±" means "θ΅· = KI" of KIA, and "β—‹" means "亜 = A" of KIA.
In November 1986, the first emblem logo for the cars manufactured by KIA was born. The design consists the three wavy lines "Kia's flag" above the letters Kia, and expresses "the focusing on the technology, cooperation and friendship", "the leading the automobile industry through the constant research and development", "the desire for social development", and "the future-oriented corporate philosophy". It also comes with a wish to become a world-class automobile manufacturer for the brighter and richer future.
In January 1994, the famous emblem logo that combined the oval and KIA letters was adopted. This design was changed to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the company's founding, and expresses "the thriving in the global market" as the vision of the 21st century. It also means the unification thought of all employees and the strengthening of the international competitiveness. The oval shape symbolizes the earth, the future orientation, the advancedness, and the intimate communication. The "KIA" in the oval expresses the driving force of KIA company and the infinite possibilities of KIA vehicles.
In 2000, the Millennium design appeared and was used only in Korea. However, this type was not well recognized by Korean people, and it returned to the oval type in 2004.
In January 2021, the newest KIA emblem logo, which looks like "KN", was announced via YouTube and Facebook.

HYUNDAI

HYUNDAI emblem
HYUNDAI emblem HYUNDAI emblem
HYUNDAI emblem
The image of two people shaking hands

1967~ (*1)

1975~

1982~

1991~

Reference (*2)

*1 for advertisement,  *2 two people shaking hands


【 Origin of Emblem and Logo 】

The HYUNDAI emblem logo is derived from "H" the initial of HYUNDAI and the oval for the earth and its global business expansion. "H" represents two people shaking hands, and there are two theories about the details of these two people. The 1st theory: the two people are representatives of the company's management and employees. The 2nd theory: the two people are the company representative and customer who is satisfied with its product. The reason why the "H" is slanted, is a symbol of the company's positive attitude toward the future.


【 History of Emblem, Logo, and Company 】

In December 1967, Hyundai Motor Company was founded by Chung Se-yung, based on Hyundai Motor Industrial Company founded by his brother Chung Ju-yung in 1946. Its predecessor, the automobile company, was a subcontractor for the US Army Weapons Factory. The establishment of the company was related with Ford's investment, the first car launched in November 1968 was Ford Cortina.
From 1967 to 1975, the first emblem logo consisted of the silhouette of the car side view and "HD", and was used in newspaper advertisements and catalogs. But it was not used for vehicles.
In December 1975, the first emblem logo for the HYUNDAI cars with "HD" drawn on a rectangle was born, and was installed on the front bumper and steering wheel of the new model Pony.
In January 1982, when the next car model Pony2 was released, the "HD" on each part of the vehicle was replaced with the "HYUNDAI" emblem logo in order to raise the awareness of HYUNDAI brands overseas.
The current design has been adopted for mass-produced models since 1991. This emblem logo was first installed on Elantra.

RENAULT SAMSUNG

RENAULT SAMSUNG emblem
SAMSUNG logo


1998~ (*1)

1995~ (*2)




*1 for vehicle,  *2 for corporate


【 History and origin of Emblem and Logo 】

The Renault Samsung emblem logo on the front grill is derived from the storm's eye. Commonly known as the dynamo emblem, it expresses the following three things.
- The willingness to establish the business policy of customer-centered management, and respect the encounter between customers and cars.
- The driving force for developing advanced vehicles that surpass other.
- The symmetrical emblem design expresses the pursuit of reliability.
The emblem logo has been used since 1998, when Samsung Motors began distribute cars. The trademark license agreement with Samsung Group was terminated in August 2020, but because this emblem logo is an individual property of the company Renault Samsung, it can continue to be used.


【 History of Company and Brand 】

Samsung Group's Chairman Lee Kun-Hee directed to develop the plan to enter the automobile business in December 1987, then Samsung Motors was established in March 1995. After that, Samsung Motor and Nissan signed a technology agreement, Samsung Motor introduced Nissan's automobile factory equipment and built the automobile production lines. In March 1998, the first mass-produced vehicle SM5 was launched. However, the business environment deteriorated due to the Asian financial crisis, and the Corporate Rehabilitation Law was applied to Samsung Motors in June 1999. Renault Samsung Motors was born in July 2000 when Renault acquired Samsung Motors. The company name is sometimes called as RSM, which stands for Renault Samsung Motors.


【 Origin of Company logo 】

Renault Samsung uses the same corporate logo as the Samsung Group. So the corporate logo has a different design from the mounted one on vehicles. The oval shape symbolizes the world and universe, the blue color of oval expresses the stability and reliability. This logo design comes with the will of "becoming a familiar company for customers".


【 Corporate philosophy 】

The corporate philosophy of Renault Samsung is "RIGHT", which consists of the initials "Reliable, Identity, Genuine, Honest, and Transparent".

SSANGYONG

SSANGYONG emblem
SSANGYONG emblem



1992~ (*1)

1997~ (*2)




*1 for domestic,  *2 for export, some domestic


【 Origin of Emblem and Logo 】

The SSANGYONG emblem logo for Korean domestic has a motif of "S" the initial of SSANGYONG, while the design for export reminiscent of two flying dragons, dragon wings, and the shape of deer horns.


【 Details of Emblem and Logo for Korean domestic 】

The Korean domestic emblem logo has been used since 1992 and is commonly known as the Three circle logo. These three circles express the following three corporate philosophies of SsangYong Motor Company.
- Provide the highest quality products with the harmonizing human and environmental Technologies by the infinite challenges and pioneering spirit.
- Lead the challenging and pioneering spirits through the creative will, the bold decisions and the constant research and development.
- Create the new future value for the human society by the providing endless impressive services using the environmentally friendly technologies.


【 Details of Emblem and Logo for overseas 】

The emblem logo for export has been used since 1997 and is commonly known as the Wing logo. The design is based on the hood ornament of the first model CHAIRMAN. Why was the emblem design divided between Korean domestic and overseas? SSANGYONG and Opel brought to court about the similarity between the three-circle logo and Opel emblem logo. As a result, the SSANGYONG side lost the case. Since then, the design was divided between Korean domestic and overseas. Recently, this emblem logo is also used in some Korean domestic models such as LEXTON and TIVOLI.


【 History of Company and Brand 】

The history of SsangYong Motor Company began when Ha Dong-hwan established Ha Dong-hwan Motor Workshop in January 1954. In July 1963, Ha Dong-hwan Motor Workshop and Dongbang Motor Company merged into Ha Dong-hwan Motor Company. After changing its company name to Dong-A Motor in February 1977 and taking control of Keohwa in December 1984, the company was taken over by SsangYong Business Group in November 1986.
After that, Dong-A Motor changed its name to SsangYong Motor in March 1988. In February 1991, the company started a technology partnership about the commercial vehicles and diesel engines with Daimler-Benz.
After the company taking over by Daewoo Motors in January 1998 and Chinese automotive company SAIC in October 2004, SsangYong Motor Company is now the fourth largest South Korea-based automobile manufacturer, which is owned by Indian multinational automotive company Mahindra & Mahindra Limited.

Note: If you want to see the car photos of each brand, please tap or click the brand name.



Company Brand names Origin





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