The surprising beginnings of automotive giants

From looms to fields, these 9 companies have navigated diverse paths before etching their names in automotive history.

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1. Toyota: From Looms to Cars

Established by Kiichiro Toyoda in 1937, the company initially focused on producing automatic looms. It wasn’t until later that the company shifted its focus to automotive manufacturing.

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2. Peugeot: Coffee Mills to Cars

Peugeot, one of the oldest automotive manufacturers in the world, started as a family-run business in the 19th century, producing coffee mills and bicycles. In 1889, Armand Peugeot, inspired by the emerging automotive industry, built the company’s first steam-powered car.

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3.  Mazda: Cork to Cars

Mazda’s journey began in 1920 with the establishment of Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd. Initially, the company focused on cork production, diversifying into machine tools and, interestingly, three-wheeled trucks.

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4. Volvo: Bearings to Safety Innovators

Volvo, synonymous with safety in the automotive world, had its roots in the manufacturing of ball bearings. Founded in 1927, the company initially supplied bearings to the burgeoning Swedish automotive industry

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5. Lamborghini: From Fields to Fast Lanes

Before revolutionising the world of sports cars, Lamborghini’s founder, Ferruccio Lamborghini, made a mark in the agricultural machinery industry. In 1948, he founded Lamborghini Trattori, gaining acclaim for high-performance tractors.

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6. Jaguar: Shifting Gears from Swallow Sidecars

Before making a mark in the automotive industry, Jaguar had a different beginning. Founded as the Swallow Sidecar Company in 1922, the British company initially specialised in manufacturing motorcycle sidecars.

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7. Mitsubishi: From Shipbuilding to Automotive Innovation

Founded in 1870, Mitsubishi initially focused on shipbuilding and coal mining. It wasn’t until 1917 that the company diversified into automobile manufacturing.

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8. McLaren: Racing Roots to Supercar Excellence

Bruce McLaren, a skilled racing driver, established the McLaren Racing team, which achieved significant success in Formula 1. It wasn’t until the 1990s that McLaren expanded into road car production.

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9. Honda: Pistons to Pavement

In the early years, Soichiro Honda directed his efforts towards producing high-quality piston rings for Toyota. The success in the motorcycle industry served as a springboard, propelling Honda into the automotive spotlight in the 1960s.

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