Did you know that General Motors (GM) was founded in 1908? Or did you know that GM started producing cars after World War I?
General Motors has known the world over for its iconic automobiles. From the Corvette Stingray to the GMC Sonoma truck and Hummer H2 military vehicle, GM has manufactured some of the world’s finest cars since 1908.
GM pioneered the automobile concept, producing the world’s first mass-produced passenger car in 1901 with the introduction of the Oldsmobile Runabout. Today, GM produces over 30 million cars worldwide, selling them under the brands Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Holden, Isuzu, Opel, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall, and Wuling.
About General Motors:
General Motors Corporation (GM), founded in 1908, is an American multinational corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. GM manufactures cars, trucks, crossovers, SUVs, vans, pickup trucks, minivans, sedans, sports utility vehicles, speciality vehicles, commercial vehicle chassis, construction equipment, and powertrain systems, and related services worldwide. It also owns the former DaimlerChrysler automobile division. In 2018, the company’s revenue was US$250 billion and employed approximately 1.4 million people globally. General Motors began operations as Cadillac Automobile Company and Buick Motor Company in 1909 and 1910, respectively. By 2005, the company had become the largest automotive manufacturer in North America and the largest carmaker worldwide. Chevrolet is its best-selling nameplate today.
Its products include passenger cars, light truck/SUV models, heavy-duty diesel trucks, medium-duty trucks, and medium & heavy-duty pickups. The company is known for its “V” emblem, stylized script logo, and tagline “The King of Cars“. For much of its history, the company operated under various forms of government ownership and protectionism, including U.S. Government-owned auto companies during World War II and nationalisation after the 1973 oil crisis. Today, 75% of GM’s global production volume is exported. The company has been consistently profitable since 1995 and is currently traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ stock exchange.
In 2015, General Motors sold 9 million vehicles worldwide. On February 18, 2016, General Motors announced that it would stop producing passenger cars in Detroit due to the loss of US$4 billion annually due to currency fluctuations and stiff competition from Japanese automakers. As a consequence of the announcement, General Motors filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. On August 16, 2017, General Motors emerged from bankruptcy protection.
Car models or Vehicles by General Motors
General Motors manufactures cars such as the Chevrolet Volt and Chevy Cruze. GM also makes light-duty trucks, including the Chevy Silverado 1500. It also produces heavy-duty commercial vans.
General Motors operates in five global regions – North America, South America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Africa. Each region has its headquarters and regional offices to support manufacturing, marketing, finance, human resources, legal affairs, purchasing, product planning, and supply chain management activities.
GM began operations in the United States when William C Durant started his company in 1908. In 1911 he changed the name of his business from Buick Motor Company to Cadillac Automobile Corporation.
In 1914 Chevrolet was introduced as an independent brand. The same year Ford introduced pickups for delivery trucking.
Chevrolet became the world leader in passenger cars during the 1920s with its Model T, which had earned the nickname “The People’s Car”. By 1930, the number of registered cars sold in the US nearly doubled from 1925 to 1929. That was due mainly to the introduction of Henry Ford’s $5 price cut for the Model T.
Buick entered the automobile industry in 1919 with the founding of Nudelman & Jacobson, Inc., followed by Oldsmobile in 1921. Pontiac bought Nudelman & Jacobsen in 1926 and formed the Oldsmobile Division of General Motors in 1927.
At various times, Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Chevrolet, and Mercury competed against each other. The competition between the four brands ended after World War II when government regulations forced Detroit automakers to combine their production lines.
Today, the oldest division is Cadillac, which remains the world’s largest luxury car manufacturer. GM is considered an American icon and, since 2004, has been headquartered in downtown Detroit. GM employs more than 225,000 people worldwide, and its products include cars, crossovers, SUVs, electric cars, pickup trucks, commercial vehicles, construction equipment and power trains. Its revenue for 2017 reached $188 billion.
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