SEAT was founded in 1950 by Spain's Instituto Nacional de Industria (INI) in cooperation with Italy's Fiat. Although the cars are Spanish-made, German carmaker Volkswagen is in the SEAT of power. A subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, SEAT (Sociedad Espaeola de Automoviles de Turismo) sells as many as 400,000 passenger cars per year. The company's brand names include Alhambra, Altea, Cordoba, Exeo, Ibiza, Leon, and Toledo. SEAT exports about two-thirds of its production, mainly to Europe, although the company operates in more than 70 countries through a network of nearly 3,600 dealers. It has manufacturing operations in Barcelona and sales companies in Germany, Portugal, and Spain.

Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) is one of the top three auto giants in China. The government-owned corporation has controlling stakes in SAIC Motor (79%) and HUAYU Auto (60%), an auto components supply company. Through its joint venture with GM, Shanghai General Motors (SGM) makes vehicles under the Buick, Chevrolet, and other GM brands, for the Chinese market. SAIC makes passenger cars, including its own Roewe brand sedan, as well as commercial trucks, buses, and tractors, and related components. The company's other interests include car leasing, auto parts wholesale and retail, and financing. It has multiple production facilities in China, and branches in the US, Europe, Japan, and Korea.

SKODA was once the butt of jokes due to a reputation for low quality and its name (translated in Czech as "shame"), but the company is reversing that perception. Put away your Czech book. If you don't live in Europe, chances are you won't be buying a SKODA. Once the Czech Republic's state carmaker, SKODA is a subsidiary of Volkswagen. The company makes six core models -- Fabia (available in hatchback and combi), Octavia (in liftback and combi), Superb (luxury sedan and wagon), and Yeti, Praktik and Roomster (hatchback and compact SUV variations). In addition to manufacturing plants in the Czech Republic, SKODA assembles cars in India, Russia, and with partners, in the Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Slovakia, and China.

Sollers is Latin for "clever, inventive, and skillful" and Russian for "Let's make a deal on a four-wheel drive, UAZ off-road vehicle, light truck, or minibus." Formerly named Severstal-Avto, Sollers is a leading automobile and engine manufacturer of four-and eight-cylinder petrol engines for off-road vehicles, class E vehicles, buses, light trucks, and special-purpose vehicles. The fast-growing company owns majority stakes in the Ulyanovsky Automobile Plant (UAZ) and Zavolzhsky Engine Factory (ZMZ). Sollers produces cars for Ssangyong Motor Company, Fiat, and Isuzu. The firm was founded in 2002 by steel manufacturer Severstal. Sollers general director Vadim Shvetsov owns 58% of the company.

The SORL Auto Parts company was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Ruian City, the People’s Republic of China.SORL Auto Parts, Inc., through its principal operating subsidiary, Ruili Group Ruian Auto Parts Co., Ltd., engages in the development, manufacture, and distribution of automotive air brake valves, air controlling systems, and other related components for commercial vehicles. The company, through its 90% ownership in Ruili Group Ruian Auto Parts Co., Ltd., a Sino-foreign joint venture, offers various products, including spring brake chamber, clutch servos, air dryers, relay valves, and hand brake valves. It also provides non-valve products comprising power steering pumps and other pumps, automobile electrical components, and auto meters. SORL Auto Parts, Inc. markets its products under the SORL brand to automotive original equipment manufacturers and the related aftermarket customers in the People’s Republic of China and internationally.

In 2010 Spyker bought Saab from GM for about $400 million. In 2011 China's Pang Da agreed to pay $92 million for a 24% stake in Spyker; the two will form a 5/50 JV to distribute Saab cars. Spyker combines Vroom-Vroom with Bling-Bling. The Dutch automaker makes four high-powered, hand-built sports cars for enthusiasts who actually have cars built to their exact specifications. A custom-built Spyker -- with polished aluminum scoops, wide-mesh grill, jet-fighter-like glass canopy enclosure, quilted leather seats, and toggle switch controls -- could set you back as much as $360,000. Russian bank Convers Group and Mubadala Development Co., (investment arm of the Abu Dhabi government), have hold interests in Spyker.

This automaker may be small (South Korea's smallest behind both Hyundai and Kia), but Ssangyong Motor still wants to play with the big boys. The company manufactures mostly SUVs, with models that include the Actyon, Kyron, Rexton, Rodius/Stavic, and the Chairman luxury sedan. It has sales offices in Angola, Colombia, Cyprus, Australia, Bosnia, Bangladesh, and Bahrain along with about two dozen sales locations in China. It also offers parts and repairs at its retail shops. In 2011 Mahindra & Mahindra acquired about a 70% stake in Ssangyong Motor for $473.5 million, after former parent Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. (SAIC) abandoned it, driving Ssangyong Motor to file for bankruptcy protection in early 2009.

Subaru of America, a subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI), markets and distributes Subaru cars, parts, and accessories to approximately 600 dealerships in the US. Subaru's fuel-efficient all-wheel-drive (AWD) technology is found in its crossover vehicles (a sedan drive with SUV looks), such as the Forester and Outback, and in the Impreza, Legacy, and Tribeca models. In 2008 Subaru introduced the world's first Boxer Diesel engine, which runs cleaner and with less vibration. Subaru's Rally Team USA competes in the Rally America National Championship.

SIA was founded in 1987 as a joint venture between Fuji Heavy Industries and Isuzu Motors, but it has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries since 2003. Sister company Subaru of America handles marketing and distribution of company cars in the US. Subaru of Indiana Automotive (SIA) hopes your Legacy will be to have a B9 Tribeca parked Outback. SIA manufactures Subaru vehicles for the North American market. Models produced by SIA include the Legacy and Outback. The latest addition to SIA's manufacturing lineup is the B9 Tribeca compact SUV. SIA has an annual capacity of about 150,000 vehicles. In addition to selling its cars and SUVs in the US, SIA exports vehicles to 20 other countries.

Suzuki Motor Corporation is a leading Japanese carmaker and the world's #3 motorcycle manufacturer behind Honda and Yamaha. Suzuki's passenger car models include the Alto, Grand Vitara, Swift, Splash, and SX4. Its motorcycle products include cruiser, motocross, offroad, scooter, street, and touring models, as well as ATVs. Suzuki Motor's non-vehicle products include outboard motors for boats and motorized wheelchairs. The company, via a global network, serves more than 190 countries. It builds its lineup on its own and through numerous subsidiaries and joint ventures overseas. Japan accounts for nearly 40% of sales. Suzuki entered the US car market in 1985 with the Samurai, the country' first compact SUV.

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