General Motors is the world’s largest full line maker of automobiles. It currently has up to 8 different brands that include; GMC, Chevrolet and Buick to name a few. General Motors started out as two different companies started by Leland Olds, which started Oldsmobile, and William Durant, a Director of Buick Motor Company. Durant was the man behind the merger of Olds and Buick to form General Motors Corporation in 1903. He believed that one company making different models could be more competitive than making the same model of cars as different automobile companies. By 1911 the corporation had purchased all or most of 30 different companies in the auto industry. During the great depression, GM suffered greatly, but with new management and an aggressive new management style rebounded and was successful when World War II began. In preparation for the entry of the U.S into the war, GM retooled their factories to assist with the manufacturing of items needed during the war. During this time GM produced over $12.3 billion worth of material for the war effort. After the war, GM resumed manufacturing automobiles in their factories. In the late 1960s, GM began to hire more minorities for employment. This was made possible by new expansionist policies of Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. This allowed GM to prosper and expand into different business opportunities. Today GM has emerged from filing chapter 11 in 2009. GM came out of the chapter 11 with a rebranding and made the decision to drop such brands as Pontiac, Oldsmobile and Hummer. GM continues to work toward the rebranding and establish itself as a major player in the auto industry as it once was.

Reference: http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/General-Motors-Corporation-company-History.html No author, No