The first car manufacturers in the world were French: Panhard & Levassor (1889) and Peugeot (1891).
By car manufacturer we mean builders of entire motor vehicles for sale and not just engine inventors who experimented with car design to test their engines - Daimler-Benz began as the latter before becoming full car manufacturers and made their early money by licensing their patents and selling their engines to car manufacturers.
As for 2011, the largest car manufacturing company was Toyota. Next in order were General Motors and Volkswagen.
Peugeot, Europe's oldest car brand, is also the world's oldest car brand. Peugeot was founded in 1810. However, it started as a coffee company. It later started making cars in 1862.
Opel is the second oldest car company. they started in 1899
Buffalo Car Manufacturing Company was created in 1872.
Buffalo Car Manufacturing Company ended in 1899.
Telsa Automotive.
GM, 2nd Volkswagen, third is Toyota.
Mercedes-Benz is the world's oldest automotive brand still in existence today. Mercedes-Benz was Founded (1886 (1886))
Yes. Renault is a French car manufacturing company.
Mercedes Benz
The oldest car brand in Japan is Mitsubishi. The Mitsubishi Car Motor Company was founded in 1870.
—Opel is the second oldest founded company in GM, after Holden which was founded in 1856