Borgward Logo

Borgward Brand History

Borgward originated as a German automaker with its logo created in 1919, predating the company’s formal establishment. The company was formally established in 1933 in Bremen, Germany under Carl F. W. Borgward. Operations ran from 1933 until the original company closed in 1961.

The brand experienced a revival in 2015 when Christian Borgward relaunched it with Chinese investment from Foton Motor. This comeback focused on modern vehicles while preserving the historic identity tied to the founding city of Bremen, though the revived company, later majority-owned by Chinese ride-hailing firm UCAR, filed for bankruptcy in 2022.

Borgward Logo Evolution

1. 1919–1945
2. 1945
3. Undated
4. 2015–Present

The Borgward logo has maintained a consistent rhombus shape across all eras while adapting its visual elements over time. Each redesign reflected shifts in automotive aesthetics from ornate metallic styling to contemporary geometric forms. The current design retains strong ties to the brand heritage established nearly a century earlier.

1919–1945: Original Wings Crest

The original Borgward logo embodied early luxury automotive styling through its detailed crest design.

• Design: Rhombus diamond crest featuring stylized wings
• Colors: Black, white, silver, and red lettering
• Changes: Wings attached to rhombus with internal silver rectangle
• Context: Introduced in 1919 during Carl F. W. Borgward’s early ventures, predating the company’s 1933 formal founding

This version of the Borgward car logo set the foundation for the geometric identity that would persist through future redesigns.

1945: Post-War Simplified Rhombus

The 1945 redesign removed the wings to create a cleaner appearance during post-war recovery.

• Design: Enlarged rhombus shape with simplified structure
• Colors: Red and white color palette with silver accents
• Changes: Elimination of wings while keeping the crest identity
• Context: Introduced as part of brand recovery after 1945

This update maintained the core rhombus element of the Borgward emblem.

Undated: Blue Serif Variant

An intermediate redesign introduced a taller rhombus proportion along with a different color approach.

• Design: Taller and thinner rhombus format
• Colors: Blue triangles replacing previous red elements
• Changes: Switch to serif typeface while retaining bold weight
• Context: Served as a transitional step toward modern aesthetics

This variant of the Borgward symbol refined the overall presentation with greater elegance.

2015–Present: Modern Geometric Revival

The 2015 logo was unveiled at the International Motor Show to mark the brand revival.

• Design: Vertically stretched rhombus divided into four triangles
• Colors: White and red pattern with silver-gray frame and lines
• Changes: Updated proportions and three-dimensional metallic styling
• Context: Created for the 2015 relaunch while referencing Bremen city flag

Two red triangles in the modern Borgward badge explicitly reference the flag of the founding city. The new design uses a contemporary sans-serif typeface with masculine contours.

The revival logo offers variants suitable for different applications, including options with transparent backgrounds. This version successfully updates the historic Borgward logo history for current design standards while preserving the rhombus that has defined the brand since 1919.