Choosing a car brand involves making informed decisions amidst a multitude of technologies and design options presented by manufacturers.
- Business Insider Africa presents the 10 most valuable car brands in 2025
- The ranking is courtesy Brand Finance Global 500 Report
- Toyota Motor Corporation leads with a valuation of $64.7 billion, followed by Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai
Brand reputation plays a crucial role in this process, as a brand’s history, reliability, and association with quality craftsmanship significantly enhance a car’s value.
A car brand’s value and significance are shaped by a multifaceted array of factors that influence its market presence, customer perception, and financial performance.
Innovation is a key driver of a brand’s value, as companies that pioneer cutting-edge technologies, such as electric vehicles and autonomous driving, are often perceived as forward-thinking and future-ready.
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The 2025 global brand report
By investing in advanced technologies, brands can differentiate themselves in a highly competitive market.
Brand Finance’s Global 500 report for 2025 highlights the top global brands, including leading car manufacturers. The report defines brand strength as how well a brand performs in intangible aspects compared to its competitors.
To assess brand strength, Brand Finance follows a process compliant with ISO 20671, evaluating three key factors: Marketing Investment, Stakeholder Equity, and their influence on Business Performance.
The data used in the evaluation comes from Brand Finance’s proprietary market research program, as well as publicly available sources.
Each brand is given a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score, out of 100, which is used to calculate its overall brand value.
Based on the BSI score, brands are assigned a corresponding Brand Rating, similar to a credit rating, with a range up to AAA+.
According to the report, the table below lists the top 10 most valuable car brands for 2025.
| Rank | Car Brand | Global Rank | Valuation ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toyota | 18 | 64.7 million |
| 2 | Mercedes Benz | 23 | 53.02 million |
| 3 | Hundai | 29 | 46.3 million |
| 4 | Tesla | 36 | 42.99 million |
| 5 | BMW | 37 | 42.5 million |
| 6 | Porsche | 40 | 41.14 million |
| 7 | Mitsubishi | 43 | 40.35 million |
| 8 | Volkswagen | 61 | 31.5 million |
| 9 | Honda | 70 | 28.27 million |
| 10 | Ford | 86 | 22.92 million |
Toyota Motor Corporation remains the top car brand in the 2025 Brand Finance Global 500 report, ranking 1st in car manufacturing and 18th overall with a valuation of $64.7 billion.
Mercedes-Benz followed at 2nd position ($53 billion), and Hyundai secured 3rd position ($46.3 billion).
Tesla dropped to 36th globally and 4th in the vehicle manufacturing industry ($43 billion) due to market challenges and leadership controversies, while BYD surged in value.
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Other notable automakers include BMW at 5th, Porsche at 6th, Mitsubishi at 7th, Volkswagen at 8th, Honda at 9th, and Ford at 10th position.
These rankings highlight the dominance of top automotive brands, emphasizing the role of strategic branding, customer loyalty, and innovation in maintaining global competitiveness.
As the automotive industry evolves with the rise of electric vehicles and shifting consumer preferences, brands that invest in intangible assets are likely to remain industry leaders.
