Auto30
NewsTechnologyTuningReviewsUsefulRetro

From Parts Manufacturing to Their Own Cars: A New Phase in the Industry

When parts manufacturers decided to challenge the car giants. Some companies tried their hand at car manufacturing, each with its unique story.

From Parts Manufacturing to Their Own Cars: A New Phase in the Industry

When parts manufacturers got bored of waiting, they decided to take matters into their own hands. Without much fanfare, suppliers began to assemble their own cars — from supercars to electric sedans.

It's worth noting, Michelin — is not the only car part manufacturer tired of waiting for major car manufacturers to make the perfect car. Yamaha, Sony, and Samsung also tried their hand at car manufacturing, each with its unique story.

Yamaha OX99-11 — the unrealized dream

Yamaha is known not only for motorcycles and outboard motors but also for its ambitions in the automotive world. Although the company never released a production model under its name, one project was especially close to realization — the OX99-11 supercar.

This monster was equipped with a 3.5-liter V12 engine producing 400 horsepower — the same engine used in Formula 1 cars. The stylish single-seater body with scissor doors and a six-speed manual gearbox was to be the embodiment of speed and technology. The development was led by Takuya Yura, legendary Japanese racer and founder of Mooncraft.

Limited production was planned under the Ypsilon Technology brand, but the economic crisis of the 1990s put an end to these plans. As a result, only three prototypes saw the light of day.

Sony AFEELA — technology of the future

Sony and Honda teamed up to create not just an electric car, but a high-tech gadget on wheels. Their joint project — AFEELA — promises to be one of the most advanced vehicles on the market.

The car is packed with cameras and sensors (45 in total!), runs on the Unreal Engine 5.3 game engine, and even uses an AI assistant based on Microsoft Azure OpenAI. The buyer presentation is scheduled for 2026, and if everything goes according to plan, it will be a true breakthrough in the automotive industry.

Renault Samsung SM3 — a modest sedan with a loud name

Samsung Motors appeared in 1994, but by 2000 it had transformed into Renault Samsung Motors and later — just Renault Korea. The most famous model of this alliance was the SM3, which was essentially a rebadged Nissan Sunny with a 1.6-liter engine producing 107 horsepower.

The second generation SM3 even became a clone of the Renault Fluence. Today, Samsung continues to work in the automotive industry but now as a technology partner, mainly collaborating with Hyundai.

These stories show that even companies not directly involved in car manufacturing can create interesting and unusual cars. It's just a pity that not all of them made it to production.

You may also be interested in the news:

Audi brings back Q8 e-tron: the car may get American registration

Audi may bring back the Q8 e-tron or its successor into production. - 2541

How Designers Envisioned Racing Cars of 2025 Back in 2008

Unique drawings and renders made 17 years ago have surfaced. Today we can appreciate how the future of car manufacturing was perceived in 2008. - 1991

Citroen Begins Development of Retro-Legend 2CV - Future Electric Car

Citroen might bring back to life the 2CV — a symbol of post-war Europe and an embodiment of utilitarian simplicity, but it's not that simple. A serious debate is ongoing within the company regarding this matter. - 1965

BYD Company Declares War on Defamation: 37 Bloggers in Court

Chinese auto giant defends reputation: lawsuits against bloggers - 1887

Chery Breaks Records: Over One Million Cars Sold in Five Months of 2025

The car manufacturer sold 63,169 new energy vehicles in May, nearly 50% more than the previous year. - 1549