New Brand Finance data finds German brands contribute nearly one-third of global auto brand value despite sector decline
LONDON, 23 April 2026 – The total brand value of the global automobiles sector declined 10% to EUR498.7 billion in 2026, marking a second consecutive year of global sector contraction, according to a new report from Brand Finance, the world's leading brand valuation consultancy. German brands, however, continue to perform strongly, with four of the top five most valuable automobile brands operating in Germany.
Despite rising electric vehicle adoption, sector growth has slowed due to concerns around infrastructure, cost, and consumer readiness. Against this backdrop, Toyota remains the world’s most valuable auto brand (brand value EUR54.4 billion) and the strongest globally with a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 92.5 out of 100 and corresponding AAA+ rating, reflecting strong reliability and global trust.
In 2026, seven German auto brands collectively account for EUR157.4 billion in brand value, representing nearly a third (32%) of the ranking’s total value, underlining Germany’s continued leadership in the sector even as intensifying competition, particularly from emerging EV players, reshapes the global landscape.
Mercedes-Benz (brand value down 15% to EUR40.4 billion) maintains second place globally, while BMW ranks third with brand value stable at EUR38 billion. Volkswagen has emerged as the strongest German performer in terms of brand value growth, with brand value up 10% to EUR31 billion, securing fourth place globally.
Porsche maintains its position as the fifth most valuable automobile brand globally with a brand value of EUR30.5 billion, underscoring the brand’s resilience despite softer luxury demand and weaker sales momentum in China. Amid broader market challenges, Porsche continues to prioritise value-driven sales strategies and long-term brand equity, focusing on sustaining its premium positioning rather than pursuing short-term volume growth. This approach enables Porsche to leverage its strong heritage, performance reputation, and loyal customer base. According to Brand Finance data, Porsche ranks ninth among the strongest automobile brands globally with a BSI score of 86.2 out of 100 and AAA rating.
Cristobal Pohle Vazquez, Regional Lead DACH, Brand Finance commented:
“While the global automotive sector faces mounting challenges and a slower-than-expected transition to electrification, German brands continue to demonstrate resilience through strong heritage and engineering excellence. Brands like Porsche show that maintaining exclusivity and long-term brand equity can be just as important as scale when navigating market uncertainty.”
Audi also maintains a position among the top 10 most valuable automobile brands, with a brand value of EUR15.5 billion. In terms of brand strength, BMW ranks as the second strongest auto brand in 2026, with a BSI score of 88.9 out of 100, followed by Audi in fourth place (BSI score 88.5 out of 100).
Brand Finance is the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy. Bridging the gap between marketing and finance, Brand Finance evaluates the strength of brands and quantifies their financial value to help organisations make strategic decisions.
Headquartered in London, Brand Finance operates in over 25 countries. Every year, Brand Finance conducts more than 6,000 brand valuations, supported by original market research, and publishes over 100 reports which rank brands across all sectors and countries.
Brand Finance also operates the Global Brand Equity Monitor, conducting original market research annually on 6,000 brands, surveying more than 175,000 respondents across 41 countries and 31 industry sectors. By combining perceptual data from the Global Brand Equity Monitor with data from its valuation database — the largest brand value database in the world — Brand Finance equips ambitious brand leaders with the data, analytics, and the strategic guidance they need to enhance brand and business value.
In addition to calculating brand value, Brand Finance also determines the relative strength of brands through a balanced scorecard of metrics, compliant with ISO 20671.
Brand Finance is a regulated accountancy firm and a committed leader in the standardisation of the brand valuation industry. Brand Finance was the first to be certified by independent auditors as compliant with both ISO 10668 and ISO 20671 and has received the official endorsement of the Marketing Accountability Standards Board (MASB) in the United States.
Brand is defined as a marketing-related intangible asset including, but not limited to, names, terms, signs, symbols, logos, and designs, intended to identify goods, services, or entities, creating distinctive images and associations in the minds of stakeholders, thereby generating economic benefits.
Brand strength is the efficacy of a brand’s performance on intangible measures relative to its competitors. Brand Finance evaluates brand strength in a process compliant with ISO 20671, looking at Marketing Investment, Stakeholder Equity, and the impact of those on Business Performance. The data used is derived from Brand Finance’s proprietary market research programme and from publicly available sources.
Each brand is assigned a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score out of 100, which feeds into the brand value calculation. Based on the score, each brand is assigned a corresponding Brand Rating up to AAA+ in a format similar to a credit rating.
Brand Finance calculates the values of brands in its rankings using the Royalty Relief approach – a brand valuation method compliant with the industry standards set in ISO 10668. It involves estimating the likely future revenues that are attributable to a brand by calculating a royalty rate that would be charged for its use, to arrive at a ‘brand value’ understood as a net economic benefit that a brand owner would achieve by licensing the brand in the open market.
The steps in this process are as follows:
1 Calculate brand strength using a balanced scorecard of metrics assessing Marketing Investment, Stakeholder Equity, and Business Performance. Brand strength is expressed as a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score on a scale of 0 to 100.
2 Determine royalty range for each industry, reflecting the importance of brand to purchasing decisions. In luxury, the maximum percentage is high, while in extractive industry, where goods are often commoditised, it is lower. This is done by reviewing comparable licensing agreements sourced from Brand Finance’s extensive database.
3 Calculate royalty rate. The BSI score is applied to the royalty range to arrive at a royalty rate. For example, if the royalty range in a sector is 0-5% and a brand has a BSI score of 80 out of 100, then an appropriate royalty rate for the use of this brand in the given sector will be 4%.
4 Determine brand-specific revenues by estimating a proportion of parent company revenues attributable to a brand.
5 Determine forecast revenues using a function of historic revenues, equity analyst forecasts, and economic growth rates.
6 Apply the royalty rate to the forecast revenues to derive brand revenues.
7 Discount post-tax brand revenues to a net present value which equals the brand value.
Brand Finance has produced this study with an independent and unbiased analysis. The values derived and opinions presented in this study are based on publicly available information and certain assumptions that Brand Finance used where such data was deficient or unclear. Brand Finance accepts no responsibility and will not be liable in the event that the publicly available information relied upon is subsequently found to be inaccurate. The opinions and financial analysis expressed in the study are not to be construed as providing investment or business advice. Brand Finance does not intend the study to be relied upon for any reason and excludes all liability to any body, government, or organisation.
The data presented in this study form part of Brand Finance's proprietary database, are provided for the benefit of the media, and are not to be used in part or in full for any commercial or technical purpose without written permission from Brand Finance.
