Chevy Company History

The automaker Chevrolet has experienced much technological change in the past 104 years. Although it, Chevrolet, is a French name, it is an American car company. It was primarily founded by William C, Durant, along with Louis Chevrolet, on November 3, 1911. It wasn’t until six years of existence that it became part of the Automotive Division at General Motors, otherwise known as GM. Durant had previously tried to buy out Ford and failed. This caused him to resort to co-founding Chevrolet. The first car sold by the company commonly called Chevy was the Classic Six, at the price of 2,500 dollars. Chevy started producing these vehicles in 1912-1913. The car’s value may seem like pocket change but that is the common day equivalent of roughly 57,000

dollars. Originally, the car was not a huge success, but the two main co-founders believed in it. Their idea was that it could be competition to Ford’s Model T. The primary reason for the non-immediate success was that the company was not nationally recognized. In 1917, though Chevy joined General Motors which meant great change for the young automobile company, Since it was perceived as the major manufacturer’s lower priced brand of cars it helped sales increase. Within ten years, it was America’s top-selling car.
In the Twenties Ford sold 3 cars for every 1 car Chevy sold, which obviously needed to change.

Over the next few years however, Chevy's continuous remodeling, unlike Ford's, caused Chevy to take first place. By 1925, Chevy was offering multiple trucks and cars. Introduced the six-cylinder in 1929. In 1929 but mainly in the Thirties The Great Depression became more difficult, Chevy's slogan: "The Great American Value" stilled helped them manage to sell an ample amount of vehicles. Chevy's were known for both style and class thanks to designer Harley Earl, who gave Chevy cars, like the 1932 Deluxe Roadster, the look of the luxurious Cadillac brand. Also he incorporated the first 'Knee-Action front suspension in low price category. In 1935, the Chevy Suburban was introduced. It was the first continuously produced line of truck based 'wagons', now known as SUVs. Chevy's style had similar characteristics to that of Cadillac, although Chevy's were priced much lower, like the Sports Roadster, priced around $445 during the Depression years. Over the past 81 years, the Chevy Suburban has become that longest continually produced vehicle 'nameplate' in the U.S., still having many of the same purposes now in 2016, as it did in 1935. Chevrolet entered the Forties with a bright outlook and new models of cars, then World War 2 started. Chevy had massive war efforts and helped the Allied forces. After WWII, people couldn't wait to get new cars & trucks, with newer

designs.
The Fifties were one of the biggest decades for the car company. It caused huge growth for the company. They introduced the small block V8 in some of their cars. They also produced new, very successful cars such as the Bel Air, Corvette, and Impala. The Sixties brought another ten years of great economic growth for Chevy. They brought forth to the market a sportier Impala, the new Chevelle Malibu, Corvair, Corvette Stingray, and most notably, the first generation Camaro. Introduction of the Monte Carlo, C10 Pickup, Chevelle SS, and the redesigned Camaro brought a new look to Chevrolet. Gas prices though were rising and Chevy answered with smaller, lighter-weight, versions of cars they already produced like the Impala.
Nicer, more fuel-efficient, vehicles were in the works for the 80s.

The hatchback became a successful model produced. Also they introduced a new line of pick-ups, the Chevy Silverado in 1988. Chevy sold more trucks than cars in this decade for the first time in the US. Also introducing the Tahoe, Chevy had more SUV success. Redesigning to the Camaro, Impala, and the new Chevy S-10 pickup, Chevy's continued to symbolize American vehicles. Chevy brought out restyled models of previous cars in the early part of the new century. After a brief period of not being produced the Impala came back in 2000 along with the highly anticipated return of the Camaro in 2010. Also, due to the Recession in 2007, Chevrolet built the Hybrid Tahoe, to increase fuel efficiency in SUVs. After more than 100 years Chevrolet and Durant could not have dreamed of 214 million cars by their company. Chevrolet has experienced much change over the past century. It has achieved multiple accolades that commonly go unrecognized. Some of these include winning the most NHRA pro stock manufacturers cups. Also in racing, it has the most victories in NASCAR along with the most championships. In NASCAR it has 738 victories and has won 38 of the 57 championships. Outside of racing, it was the first car company to include 4G LTE Wi-Fi in their vehicles, a long overdue technological advance in automobiles. In sales Chevrolet is the fourth automaker in the world. Chevy cars are in 130 countries and are on the road in

two-thirds of the world. Finally, Amazingly enough, Chevrolet sold a cars every 7.4 seconds in 2010. New cars like the Cruze, Volt, Sonic, and Spark, with all the cars along the way, have brought the once non-successful sapling of a company to a top-selling, 21st century automotive giant. I guarantee Louis Chevrolet and William Durant never thought their dream would achieve any of these amazing stats. They probably never thought it would become internationally synonymous with automobiles from the United States. The truth is though, it has. It has achieved goals other automakers are envious of. I am positive though, that Chevrolet will continue to grow in the future and dominate the American automotive landscape. After all, it has done that very thing for the past 104 years.