The Biggest Mergers and Acquistitions in Automotive History
The automotive industry has witnessed some of the largest and most impactful corporate mergers and acquisitions in history. These deals have reshaped the automotive industry, creating corporations with massive global footprints.
From the union of Daimler-Benz and Chrysler that formed DaimlerChrysler in 1998, to Fiat’s acquisitions of Chrysler in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, to the recent proposed mega-merger between Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Peugeot-owner PSA Group, these transactions have involved billions of dollars in value and workforce integrations spanning multiple continents.
Beyond the dollars and cents at stake, these deals have led to revamped manufacturing strategies, technological innovations, and new cultural identities under their new ownership. Here, we’ll explore the biggest mergers and acquisitions that have rocked the automotive world!
DaimlerChrysler (1998)
Approximately $36 billion
Daimler-Benz of Germany merged with Chrysler Corporation of the United States to create DaimlerChrysler AG, but the merger faced challenges due to cultural differences and ended in a demerger in 2007.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (2014)
Approximately $4.35 billion
Fiat S.p.A., an Italian automaker, acquired full ownership of Chrysler Group LLC, creating Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), which later merged with PSA Group to form Stellantis in 2021. The estimated cost for the initial acquisition of Chrysler Group LLC by Fiat S.p.A. was around $4.35 billion. However, later transactions and mergers changed the financial structure of the company further.
Ford Motor Company Acquisition of Volvo Cars (1999)
Approximately $6.45 billion
Ford purchased Volvo Cars from AB Volvo but later sold it to Geely Holding Group of China in 2010. Volvo was known for its focus on safety and design, which appealed to Ford’s strategy at the time. The deal did not include AB Volvo’s truck, bus, or construction equipment businesses. Those remained separate entities.
General Motors Acquisition of Saab Automobile (2000)
Approximately $125 million
General Motors acquired Saab Automobile from Saab AB, but the brand faced financial difficulties and was eventually sold to Spyker Cars in 2010. The hope was that GM’s resources and technology would help Saab compete in the growing luxury car market. Unfortunately, the integration proved difficult, and Saab struggled to maintain its brand identity under GM’s leadership.
General Motors Acquisition of Daewoo Motors (2002)
Approximately $400 million
General Motors acquired most of Daewoo Motors’ assets in South Korea, forming GM Korea, which became a key part of GM’s global operations. The new entity was named GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. and later renamed GM Korea in 2011.
Renault-Nissan Alliance (1999)
Approximately $5.4 billion
French automaker Renault and Japanese automaker Nissan formed an alliance to collaborate on technology, manufacturing, and marketing, with Renault initially acquiring a significant stake in Nissan.
Volkswagen Group Acquisition of Porsche (2012)
Approximately $5.6 billion
Volkswagen acquired the remaining stake in Porsche AG, making it a wholly-owned subsidiary of Volkswagen Group after a complex series of transactions.
For the remaining stake in Porsche AG, the Volkswagen Group put forth around $5.6 billion.
Geely Acquisition of Volvo Cars (2010)
Approximately $1.8 billion
Chinese automaker Geely Holding Group acquired Volvo Cars from Ford, thus providing Volvo with the resources to rejuvenate its product lineup.
Stellantis Merger (2021)
Approximately $52 billion
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) merged with PSA Group to form Stellantis, one of the world’s largest automakers, with a broad portfolio of brands. The merger was valued at approximately $52 billion.
The merger brought together a range of iconic car brands under one roof. This included:
- Abarth
- Alfa Romeo
- Chrysler
- Citroën
- Dodge
- DS
- Fiat
- Jeep
- Lancia
- Maserati
- Opel
- Peugeot
- Ram
- Vauxhall
BMW Acquisition of Rover Group (1994)
Approximately $1.2 billion
BMW acquired the Rover Group, which included the Rover, Land Rover, and MG brands, but later sold off most of the assets due to financial difficulties.
Ford Acquisition of Jaguar Cars (1989)
Approximately $2.5 billion
Ford purchased Jaguar Cars, which helped Jaguar modernize its product lineup and manufacturing processes. Ford aimed to expand its portfolio into the luxury car market and compete with established brands like Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
General Motors Acquisition of Hummer (1999)
Approximately $150 million
General Motors acquired the Hummer brand and expanded its lineup with larger SUVs, but later discontinued the brand due to changing market preferences
Tata Motors Acquisition of Jaguar Land Rover (2008)
Approximately $2.3 billion
Indian automaker Tata Motors acquired Jaguar Land Rover from Ford, providing the British brands with financial stability and access to new markets.
Mahindra & Mahindra Acquisition of SsangYong Motor Company (2011)
Approximately $463 million
Indian automaker Mahindra & Mahindra acquired a majority stake in South Korean automaker SsangYong Motor Company, expanding its global enterprise. SYMC, a South Korean automaker known for SUVs, was facing significant financial difficulties and had filed for bankruptcy protection. M&M seized the opportunity to expand its presence in the SUV market.
Volvo Cars Acquisition of Polestar (2015)
100% Share – Cost Unknown
Volvo Cars acquired a majority stake in Polestar, a Swedish performance car company, to develop electric performance cars. Polestar leveraged Volvo Cars’ engineering expertise while developing its own unique brand identity. The first Polestar branded car, the S60 Polestar, was a modified version of the Volvo S60 sedan, but future models were designed and developed specifically for the Polestar brand.
Geely Acquisition of Lotus Cars (2017)
Approximately $65 million
Chinese automaker Geely acquired a controlling stake in Lotus Cars, a British sports car manufacturer, aiming to revive the brand and expand its product lineup. Geely’s deal also included a 49.9% stake in Proton, a Malaysian automaker owned by DRB-Hicom, for approximately US$65 million. This indirectly gave them a stake in Lotus while directly acquiring a 51% controlling stake in Lotus Cars.
Groupe PSA Acquisition of Opel/Vauxhall (2017)
Approximately $2.3 billion
French automaker Groupe PSA acquired Opel and Vauxhall brands from General Motors, expanding its presence in Europe. Opel/Vauxhall had been struggling financially for years. Both companies aimed to create a more efficient and cost-effective automotive group by sharing platforms, technologies, and purchasing power.
Hyundai Motor Company Acquisition of Kia Motors (1998)
Approximately $886 million
Hyundai Motor Company acquired a significant stake in Kia Motors, forming a strategic alliance that allowed both companies to share resources and technology. Kia Motors was facing significant financial difficulties during the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s. Hyundai played a crucial role in rescuing the company.
Tesla Acquisition of SolarCity (2016)
Approximately $2.6 billion
Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla acquired SolarCity, a solar energy company founded by Elon Musk’s cousins, to create an integrated sustainable energy company.
Ford Acquisition of Rivian (2019)
Approximately $500 million
In 2019, Ford signaled its confidence in the future of electric trucks with a $500 million investment in Rivian. This commitment grew steadily, reaching $1.2 billion. It was never technically an acquisition, simply a “strategic partnership.” By late 2021—right around the time of Rivian’s IPO—both automakers mutually agreed to cancel plans to co-develop an EV. They decided to pursue their EV strategies independently.
