You’d think the letter V would be a goldmine for car brands. It sounds fast. Velocity, vroom, visceral—it’s all there. But when you actually sit down to list car brands that start with V, the list gets weirdly specific very quickly.
Honestly, most people can name two. Maybe three if they spent a lot of time in the UK. But there is a whole world of obscure Mexican track toys, Vietnamese tech giants, and American supercars that basically existed only as posters on bedroom walls.
The Heavy Hitters: Volkswagen and Volvo
We have to start with the "Big Two."
Volkswagen is the obvious one. It’s the "People’s Car," a brand born from a pretty dark history in 1930s Germany that somehow transformed into a global symbol of reliability and, eventually, a bit of a rebel with the Beetle. Today, they’re basically an empire. In 2026, they aren’t just selling Golfs and Tiguans; they’ve gone all-in on the ID. series. The ID. Buzz is finally a common sight on roads, proving that nostalgia is a hell of a drug when you wrap it in an electric powertrain.
Then you’ve got Volvo. For decades, if you bought a Volvo, you were telling the world you prioritize not dying in a car crash over looking cool. They were boxy. They were beige. But then something shifted. Ever since Geely took over the reins in 2010, Volvo became... sleek? The current lineup, like the XC90 or the EX30, is basically Scandinavian furniture on wheels. They still care about safety, obviously, but now they do it with Thor’s Hammer headlights and minimalist interiors that make your living room look cluttered.
The British Icon: Vauxhall
If you live in London or Manchester, you see the Griffin logo every ten seconds. For everyone else, Vauxhall is a bit of a mystery.
They’ve been around since 1857, which is ancient in car years. For the longest time, they were just the British arm of General Motors, selling cars that were identical to Opels in Europe but with the steering wheel on the "right" side. Now, they're part of the Stellantis family. They’re churning out electric Corsa-e models and Astras that actually look sharp. It’s a blue-collar hero brand that has survived more corporate handovers than most Silicon Valley startups.
The Supercars and the Strange
This is where the list of car brands that start with V gets fun.
- Vector: Jerry Wiegert’s fever dream. In the 80s and 90s, the Vector W8 was supposed to be America’s answer to Lamborghini. It looked like a fighter jet. It had a cockpit that looked like it belonged in a space shuttle. It was also famously temperamental. Andre Agassi once famously demanded his car early, ignored the warning not to drive it, and the exhaust literally melted the rear bumper.
- Vuhl: Coming out of Mexico, the Vuhl 05 is a track-focused beast. It has no roof, no windshield, and it weighs about as much as a heavy suitcase. It’s for the person who thinks a Mazda Miata is "too soft" and wants to feel the wind trying to peel their eyelids back at 140 mph.
- Venturi: They started as a French boutique maker of beautiful GT cars in the 80s. Now? They’re based in Monaco and focus almost entirely on high-performance electric records and Formula E. They even built an electric polar exploration vehicle. Talk about a pivot.
The New Guard: VinFast
You cannot talk about the letter V in 2026 without mentioning VinFast.
This Vietnamese brand is moving at a speed that honestly makes the traditional Germans look like they’re standing still. Backed by Vingroup, they’ve gone from a startup to a global EV player in record time. They’re currently flooding the Indian and Southeast Asian markets with MPVs and SUVs like the VF 9. They’ve had some growing pains—critics were pretty harsh on the early software—but their 10-year warranties and aggressive expansion are making people pay attention.
Specialized Machines: VPG and Vanderhall
Sometimes a brand starts with V because it fills a gap no one else saw.
VPG (Vehicle Production Group) gave us the MV-1. It’s arguably one of the most important "V" cars ever made because it was the only vehicle engineered from the ground up for wheelchair accessibility. It didn't look like a modified minivan; it looked like a sturdy, purpose-built tank for people who needed it.
On the flip side of the "practical" coin, we have Vanderhall. Based in Utah, they make these three-wheeled "autocycles" like the Venice and the Carmel. Are they cars? Legally, sort of. Are they motorcycles? Not really. They’re open-air toys for people who want to feel like a 1920s race car driver without having to crank-start the engine.
What to Keep in Mind
If you’re looking to buy from a "V" brand, your experience will vary wildly depending on which one you pick.
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- Mainstream Reliability: Stick with Volkswagen or Volvo. The dealer networks are everywhere, and the parts are easy to find.
- The EV Shift: If you want a brand that is purely focused on the future, VinFast and the modern iteration of Venturi are the ones to watch.
- Collector Chaos: Trying to buy a Vector? Good luck. You'll need a deep pocket and a very patient mechanic.
- Bespoke Thrills: Vuhl and Vanderhall offer experiences you just can't get from a standard four-door sedan.
If you are actually in the market for a new ride, start by test-driving the Volvo EX30 or the VW ID.4 to see how the "Big Two" are handling the electric transition. For those who want something genuinely different, look into the VinFast leasing programs, as they often include battery subscription models that lower the upfront cost significantly.
Check your local listings for a Vanderhall dealer if you live in a sunny climate; it's the most fun you can have on three wheels without needing a motorcycle license in most states. Just make sure you've got a garage, because most "V" specialty cars don't love sitting out in the rain.