Toyota named most valuable car brand for six years straight, Mercedes-Benz tops BMW for the first time

Toyota named most valuable car brand for six years straight, Mercedes-Benz tops BMW for the first time

Toyota has been named the most valuable automotive brand for the sixth consecutive year, increasing by five percent in brand value to nearly US$30 billion. According to the BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands study by market researcher Kantar Millward Brown, the achievement was thanks to strong demand for its SUVs in Europe and the US, and also because of Toyota’s consistency.

Kantar Millward Brown’s Global BrandZ director Peter Walsh told Automotive News Europe: “SUVs remain desirable products to those who put a high value on their safety and power. Overall, the Toyota brand is incredibly reliable and represents fantastic value and quality.” The Japanese carmaker has been numero uno in 11 of the 13 years the study has been carried out. When Toyota lost its coveted top spot in 2010 and 2012, it finished in second place.

Mercedes-Benz on the other hand, marginally overtook BMW to finish in second place for the first time in the study’s history. In terms of global vehicle sales, Mercedes-Benz sold more cars than BMW in 2016 and 2017, which helped increase its brand value by nine percent to US$25.7 billion.

Toyota named most valuable car brand for six years straight, Mercedes-Benz tops BMW for the first time

The tri-star’s growth was attributed to its solid performance in China, Brazil and Russia. It’s also helped by the success of the new W213 E-Class (pictured above), said Walshe. Since 2006, Mercedes-Benz has finished either third or fourth in the study.

BMW however, grew four percent to US$25.6 billion. Walshe said the Munich automaker was slowed by its small decline of sales in US last year, but he said BMW remains a dominate player. “BMW is still an extremely well-performing brand. When it comes to brand health, it is at the top of the pile,” Walshe added.

Meanwhile, ailed US electric carmaker Tesla increased its brand value by a whopping 60% to US$9.4 billion, putting it within striking distance of Audi which has a brand value of US$9.6 billion. “People are excited about Tesla because it is not just a car brand, it’s a Mars explorer brand. This is tremendously attractive to consumers,” Walshe said. “Tesla stands for great promise, but is it going to have to deliver on this promise.”

Coming in 10th place in the auto brand category is Volkswagen, which makes its re-entry into the BrandZ study with a brand value of nearly US$6 billion. VW dropped out of the ranking in 2016 and 2017 due to the Dieselgate scandal. Though it cost the company billions, its customer base remained loyal.

“VW maintained its strength in terms of its brand recommendation and brand trust. Those haven’t been dented,” Walshe said. “Although customers hear about these negative things, it doesn’t stop them from buying. VW’s sales have shown this.” In 2017, the Wolfsburg giant produced over six million vehicles, which was a first for the company.

The top 10 automotive car brands are Toyota (US$29.99 billion), Mercedes-Benz (US$25.68 billion), BMW (US$25.62 billion, Ford (US$12.74 billion), Honda (US$12.70 billion), Nissan (US$11.43 billion), Audi (US$9.63 billion), Tesla (US$9.42 billion), Maruti Suzuki (US$6.38 billion) and Volkswagen (US$5.99 billion).

Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.

Certified Pre-Owned - 1 Year Warranty

10% discount when you renew your car insurance

Compare prices between different insurer providers and use the promo code 'PAULTAN10' when you make your payment to save the most on your car insurance renewal compared to other competing services.

Car Insurance

Matthew H Tong

An ardent believer that fun cars need not be fast and fast cars may not always be fun. Matt advocates the purity and simplicity of manually swapping cogs while coping in silence of its impending doom. Matt's not hot. Never hot.

 

Comments

  • Mesidis, P1, Geely, VolvoCar, VolvoTruck, Lotus > all

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 3
    • Tido oh Tido on May 30, 2018 at 2:24 pm

      Ha ha ha ha I pity the person who comes here to condemn Toyota before. Now he is so quiet and silent. After losing badly, now second bad news….Toyota still No 1

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
      • Toyota overtook protong only abit.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
        • Gotta remember that Proton is national car while Toyota is non-national car? Proton losing to Toyota? Malulah

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
          • toyota no fan on May 31, 2018 at 12:37 pm

            Toyota malulah, if no commercial vehicles it will lost to P1

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 3
          • Proton Fan on May 31, 2018 at 6:36 pm

            Toyota at least sales go up while Proton sales go down. Soon Toyota will overtake Proton in passenger vehicles. No worries. Then when Proton no more excuse will be very malu. Hahaha

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
      • Tokkokm on May 30, 2018 at 3:30 pm

        Volvo and china car not in the list?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
      • Still 3rd place in sales. Hahaha! I pity the fool.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 4
        • Third is still better than 4th like Proton, right? I pity the fool who don’t know how to count.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
      • Even Toyota making obsolete and dinosaur technology can be considered best value due to producing high volume .

        So in the future ,when China can produces more volume than Toyota can immediately becomes number one top value brand too.

        I am finding this sort of survey report quite mind boggling and absurd . Not realistic at all.!!!

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 1
        • bruce on May 31, 2018 at 5:56 am

          I’m 1 yrold toyota vios owner,already third time masuk kilang…..in msia…i doubt

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 2
  • This type of yearly survey is a

    sure

    WASTE Of TIME , RESOURCES And MONEY.

    Irrelevant nowadays and serve no purpose.

    Better we ask what can these car companies can do to offer and contribute back to the existing mororists instead.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
    • Correct! Survey is rigged meanwhile awards are offer with a price tag

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 2
  • seancorr (Member) on May 30, 2018 at 12:02 pm

    Holy moly Tesla is just behind Audi by a small margin. Impressive

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • Not Proton meh?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 2
    • Tido oh Tido on May 30, 2018 at 2:25 pm

      You cannot be top when your type like to sleep and relax at work.

      Only by working hard, one can go to the top

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
  • As expected. TOYOTA most valuable car brand.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 5
  • alimak on May 30, 2018 at 12:35 pm

    I thoght honda is the most valuable car brand in the world! damn… #MalaysiansKuatKelentong

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 6
    • Mikey on May 30, 2018 at 4:28 pm

      In M’sia, I believe Honda is the MOST valuable but when comes to the world, Toyota is the most valuable car brand hands down.

      Most customers will buy the same brand that they are using when they know/feel that it gives them value for $$$ or peace of mind & have good RV.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 3
  • Karam singh on May 30, 2018 at 12:51 pm

    My favourite brand Honda is nowhere in this list. :(

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 5
  • Just saying on May 30, 2018 at 6:04 pm

    How exactly did they calculate the brand “value”? Did they have access to company revenue or EBITA data? How many companies were analysed? Can the editors at Paultan.org shed some light?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Same L0rr on May 31, 2018 at 4:28 pm

    Proton when?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • Toyota is the worst brand, always empty spec with high price

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

Add a comment

required

required