Car Brands That Start With W

October 24, 2026 · 724 words

The Short Answer

Few car brands begin with the letter W, and most mainstream drivers in Europe and North America will rarely see one. The best-known passenger-car names are Wuling and WEY from China, Wiesmann from Germany, W Motors from the Middle East, and Westfield from Britain. Historic marques such as Willys, Wartburg, Wolseley and Wanderer are no longer in production. In the commercial sector, Western Star and Workhorse are W-brands that build trucks and vans.

One qualification matters: many people searching for a car brand with a W are thinking of a logo. Volkswagen starts with V, but its badge stacks a V above a W, so it is often what the searcher means. Wuling also uses a W-shaped emblem, which can cause similar confusion.

W Brands at a Glance

Current Passenger-Car Brands

Wuling is the largest W-brand by volume. It is closely tied to the SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture in China and is known for small vans and budget cars. Its Hongguang Mini EV, launched in 2020, became one of the best-selling electric cars in China. Outside China, Wuling sells in selected markets such as Indonesia, so availability depends heavily on region.

WEY is a premium SUV brand launched by Great Wall Motor in 2016. The name comes from the company's founder, Wei Jianjun. Its lineup and export markets have changed over time, so check local availability before treating any model as an option.

Wiesmann was founded in 1988 by brothers Martin and Friedhelm Wiesmann. The company built hand-assembled roadsters and coupes with BMW engines. It went through insolvency in the early 2010s and later returned with an electric roadster project called Thunderball. Production timing and pricing for revived models should be confirmed from current sources.

W Motors was founded in Beirut and later moved to Dubai. Its Lykan HyperSport became widely known after appearing in the film Furious 7. Output is extremely limited, so the brand is more relevant to collectors than to everyday buyers.

Westfield Sportscars is a British maker of lightweight, open two-seaters in the tradition of the Lotus Seven. Cars have been offered both factory-built and as kits, so buyers should confirm which format and road-registration rules apply in their country.

WM Motor, which sold cars under the Weltmeister name, was a Chinese electric-vehicle start-up founded in 2015. It filed for bankruptcy reorganization in 2023. Its current status is uncertain, which affects parts supply and software support for existing owners.

Historic W Marques

Willys: Willys-Overland built the Willys MB, the original military Jeep of the Second World War. Kaiser bought the company in 1953, and the Jeep name ultimately outlived the Willys badge. Wartburg: An East German brand built in Eisenach. Its two-stroke-engined cars were a common sight in the Eastern Bloc, and production ended in 1991 after German reunification. Wolseley: A British marque that became part of the wider British Motor Corporation and later British Leyland. Wolseley-badged cars were often upscale versions of shared models, and the name was dropped in 1975. Wanderer: A German maker that joined Audi, DKW and Horch to form Auto Union in 1932. It is one of the four rings in today's Audi logo.

Commercial and Specialty W Brands

Western Star builds heavy-duty trucks and is part of Daimler Truck North America. Workhorse is an American company focused on electric delivery vehicles. Neither makes passenger cars, but both appear in brand lists and searches. Waymo also starts with W, but it operates self-driving ride services using vehicles from other manufacturers and does not sell cars under its own name.

What This Guide Does Not Cover

No specifications, prices, test results or sales figures were supplied for this guide, so none are included. Model lineups, export markets and company status, especially for WM Motor, Wiesmann and WEY, can change quickly. Anyone considering a purchase should confirm current models, dealer support and parts availability in their own market.