What Must You Know About General Motors' 4 Vehicle Brands?

In 1908 William C. Durant founded General Motors. In the same year, Ford Motor Company launched the Model T. GM's strategy has long been to buy cars from other manufacturers and put them under one strong roof. The company used this approach to build an extensive line of everything from luxury Cadillacs to heavy-duty GMC trucks.

In the 1920s, GM was at the forefront of consumers' shift toward high-performance and luxury vehicles. By offering a more sophisticated looking car than the Ford Model T, GM was able to gain a 12% share of the US market.

In the late 1930s and 1940s, GM supported the war effort by supplying trucks and weapons to the military. By 1954, GM's share of the US market had increased to 54 percent.

Today General Motors has Four Major Vehicle Brands Under its Hood

Chevrolet

GM's Chevrolet line is named after the famous road racer Louis Chevrolet. In 1911, GM William C. Durant invented a popular driver hoping that his reputation would boost the car brand.

By 1919, the Chevrolet brand had become a significant competitor to the Ford Motor Company. Since then, it has made the most considerable contribution to GM's lineup.

In 1955, GMA introduced the small-block 8-cylinder engine in its Chevrolet. In the coming decades, this popular engine will overtake other Chevrolet vehicles and enter other GM vehicles, including trucks and SUVs. Many high-performance cars in GM's lineup, such as the Corvette and Camaro SS, also use this engine, highlighting the Chevy brand's importance throughout GM's lineup.

The Ford F-Series had dominated the pick-up truck class.

Buick

The history of Buick and the early days of GM go hand in hand. In 1903, a time marked by major automotive innovations, Buick was beginning to build vehicles. That same year, Buick incorporated and relocated its facilities from Detroit to Flint, Michigan, where the first Buick Model B was launched. 20 years later, Buick's millionth vehicle rolled off the production line just in time for the 20th anniversary.

During this short 20-year span, Buick founder William C. Hughes has been in attendance. Durant helped the company earn its position as the best-selling automobile brand in the United States. Durant founded GM in 1908, which was created by the desire to acquire other auto brands that could be marketed to all economic groups in the United States, with Buick serving as the top-tier option. If you're wondering, is the Buick a luxury brand? The answer is yes. Over the years, and as the automotive industry continued to grow and modernize, Buick continued to offer the luxury cars highly sought after by American drivers.

GMC

During World War II, GM added the GMC line of trucks to its portfolio. As part of the war, GMC produced nearly 600,000 trucks for the US military. The brand is still known today for its full-size trucks.

The Ford F-Series had dominated the pick-up truck class. Market realists say they have been proud of the position for more than three decades. However, GMC is offering trucks that can grow competitively. In addition to large trucks, the GMC line also includes several sport utility vehicles.

Cadillac

Cadillac was founded in 1902 by Henry Leland, who named the company after Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, who became Detroit's founder. Cadillac became the first company in 1910 to offer a completely closed cockpit passenger car, very different from the time's vehicles. The company then released the Model Thirty in 1912, a crank less car, the first production car equipped with automatic ignition, electronic ignition, and lighting.

Founded in 1902 with the Cadillac Automobile Company, the car became part of General Motors' portfolio in 1909. This luxury car brand is one of GM's most popular offerings. The vehicle is also enjoying global appeal, as evidenced by recent demand in the Chinese market.

You can find Chevrolet, Buick and GMC Vehicles under one roof at Reliance Chevrolet Buick GMC, so visit today and see them yourself.