117 Years Ago, General Motors Was Born, Future Automotive Giant
This page is translated from the original post "Il y a 117 ans naissait General Motors, futur géant de l’automobile" in French.
- 16/09/2025 8:51
On September 16, 1908, the young automobile industry discovered a name that would soon resonate around the world: General Motors.
Founded in Flint, Michigan, by businessman William C. Durant, the group starts modestly around the Buick brand, but its ambition is clear: to bring several manufacturers under one banner in order to become an essential player in both the American and global automotive markets.
From its beginnings, General Motors adopts a visionary strategy. Rather than limiting itself to a single brand, the group chooses to offer a complete range, from affordable models to luxury vehicles. Quickly, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, and GMC join the adventure. This diversity will become GM’s strength, catering to all audiences and uses.
Throughout the 20th century, General Motors experiences explosive growth. The group dominates the American market and then internationalizes, repeatedly becoming the world’s largest automobile manufacturer. The 1950s and 1960s mark its golden age, with iconic models that symbolize industrial power and the American automotive dream.
From the Golden Age to the Crisis
But GM’s story is not just a success story. Japanese competition, oil shocks, and market changes weaken the company. In 2009, amid the financial crisis, General Motors must declare bankruptcy and be rescued by the U.S. government. This difficult passage marks a turning point, and the giant restructures, abandons several historic brands, and reinvents itself to survive.
Today, General Motors is no longer the colossus with multiple brands, but it remains a central player in the global automotive industry. With Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC, and Buick, the group is now focused on electric vehicles and future technologies, with ambitious projects around Ultium batteries and autonomous driving via its subsidiary Cruise.
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From its birth in Flint in 1908 to the electric push of 2025, General Motors’ journey illustrates both the excesses and resilience of the automotive industry. A destiny that, 117 years after its creation, continues to shape global mobility.
Illustration: Canadian Automotive Museum
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