The Other Side Of Automakers
You might know your favorite car brand for its sleek designs and smooth performance. However, did you know they might also be behind some products you’d never expect? It turns out some automakers have ventured into all sorts of industries, as they’ve figured out how to leverage their manufacturing skills to branch out into new markets. So, here are 20 automakers who aren’t just building cars but have their hands in a wide range of other products too.
1. Honda Motor Co.
Honda Motor Co. manufactures the HondaJet, a light business aircraft, through its Honda Aircraft Company. It sells power equipment worldwide, including generators, snowblowers, tillers, and lawn mowers. Additionally, Honda produces outboard motors for both recreational and commercial boats.
2. Toyota Motor Corp.
Before cars, Toyota was involved in textile machinery production. The company also creates robotics, like the Human Support Robot, for caregiving and manufacturing. Through Woven City, Toyota is testing future technologies, while Woven Planet invests in autonomous delivery bots and flying cars.
3. BMW Group
Originally known for producing aircraft engines during WWI, BMW Group now extends its expertise beyond cars. It designs urban electric bicycles and scooters, offering sustainable transportation options. Besides, BMW’s lifestyle products include fashion, bags, and accessories.
4. Volkswagen Group
Volkswagen Group’s evolution is impressive, from its WWII origins making military vehicles and aircraft parts to becoming a powerhouse in modern mobility. Today, it owns CARIAD for automotive software development and manufactures trucks through MAN and Scania.
5. Mercedes-Benz Group
Known for building high-end golf carts and shuttle vehicles, the brand manufactures buses, semi-trailers, and defense trucks under Daimler. It partners with yacht companies to create luxury marine designs and produces branded lifestyle goods, like watches and eyewear.
6. General Motors
Back in the day, GM owned Frigidaire, revolutionizing home appliances with their refrigerators. It didn’t stop there. Through the Electro-Motive Division, GM even built locomotives. And today, GM Defense produces military trucks and tech, and their partnership with NASA on lunar rover concepts shows they’re still thinking beyond Earth.
7. Ford Motor Co.
During WWII, Ford’s Willow Run plant was important in building B-24 bombers. Fast forward to today, and Ford manufactures police vehicles, military trucks, and ambulances, ensuring first responders and armed forces have what they need.
8. Stellantis
You probably know Stellantis for brands like Jeep, Ram, or Fiat—but this auto giant wears a lot more hats than just the one behind the wheel. Long before flashy Maseratis hit the streets, Fiat Industrial was powering through fields with tractors. Meanwhile, Maserati adds a splash of glam by dabbling in high-end branded goods.
9. Hyundai Motor Group
Hyundai Heavy Industries leads globally in shipbuilding, constructing some of the largest vessels in the world. Additionally, Hyundai holds a stake in Hyundai Rotem, a company that manufactures trains and defense equipment, showing just how broad their industrial reach really is.
10. Tata Motors
Backed by a parent group that juggles everything from steel and tea to chemicals, Tata’s reach extends far beyond traffic jams. While its EV game powers ahead with electric buses and military trucks, the company’s British brainchild, Jaguar Land Rover, is quietly revolutionizing off-grid charging and AI tech.
11. Subaru Corp.
Subaru Corp. is deeply tied to Japan’s aerospace and defense industries. The company’s roots go back to post-WWII aviation manufacturing, which shaped its early ventures into industrial tools, buses, and trains. Today, Subaru still supports space exploration through partnerships with JAXA.
12. Mazda Motor Corp.
Mazda started as Toyo Cork Kogyo, making cork and machine tools before shifting to rifles and munitions during WWII. It later produced motorcycles, autorickshaws, and three-wheel trucks. Early on, it also helped develop military vehicles.
13. Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance
The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance has always operated beyond the auto industry. Mitsubishi leads the way with elevators, satellites, and nuclear plants. Tying their strengths together, the alliance now focuses on battery technology and e-bike platforms to power its next chapter.
14. Suzuki Motor Corp.
As a world leader in outboard boat engines, this one’s marine division backs that status with an extensive international dealership network. Alongside marine tech, Suzuki also sells motorcycles and ATVs across global markets, reinforcing its versatility in mobility.
15. Tesla, Inc.
Tesla is building an entire energy ecosystem, through Tesla Energy, which sells solar panels and solar roofs aimed at home power independence. Its battery lineup, including Powerwall and Powerpack, stores that energy efficiently. On the tech front, Tesla designs AI chips and leads in autopilot software.
16. VinFast
This automaker is part of VinGroup, a giant spanning real estate, healthcare, and retail. Backed by this ecosystem, VinFast is pushing into electric scooters and e-buses and also operates its own EV battery facility and smart mobility R&D.
17. Geely Auto
Through CRRC partnerships, Geely Auto produces railcars and metro systems. Its tech expansion includes EV battery development and ride-hailing platforms. Geely also holds stakes in robotaxi ventures, mapping technologies, and infotainment firms.
18. BYD Auto
BYD Auto operates at the center of China’s tech and transport industries. It’s the world’s top producer of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and also manufactures smartphones, tablets, and laptops for major brands like Apple. Beyond electronics, BYD supplies semiconductors and circuit boards globally.
19. SAIC Motor
SAIC Motor is one of China’s largest automakers with operations spanning far beyond traditional cars. The company owns subsidiaries focused on semiconductors and EV batteries. Moreover, it also invests in cloud-based vehicle services and mobility apps.
20. Guangxi Automobile Group
Guangxi Automobile Group, known for its Wuling and Linxys passenger cars, is a major engine manufacturer. Its core subsidiary, Yuchai Group, has produced over 12 million engines. It also manufactures key components like cylinder blocks, crankshafts, camshafts, starters, and flywheels.
