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100 Chevy Factoids History of Chevy
1. Louis Chevrolet and William C. Durant co-founded the
Chevrolet Motor Company on November 3, 1911. Chevy celebrates its
100th birthday on November 3, 2011.
2. A seasoned automobile racer and highly respected self-taught
engineer, Louis Chevrolet was born in Switzerland on Dec. 25, 1878
and moved to France with his family as a child. He immigrated to
North America in 1900. By 1902, his younger brothers, Arthur and
Gaston, had joined him. As early as 1905, Louis Chevrolet was
winning notice as a fearless driver of the brutally primitive
racing cars of the period. He became a member of William C.
Durant's famed Buick racing team in 1909. Working with a designer
in a rented loft in Detroit during 1910, Louis Chevrolet began to
lay out the plans for the prototype car that would bear his
name.
3. The grandson of an early Michigan governor, William C. Billy
Durant was born in 1861. By the 1890s, he was a highly successful
manufacturer of horse-drawn carts that were distributed globally.
Durant moved into auto manufacturing when business associates
convinced him to manage the fledgling Buick Motor Co. late in 1904.
Spectacular success at Buick gave him the wherewithal to found
General Motors in 1908. Durant added Cadillac, Oldsmobile, Oakland
and other brands to the GM roster, before a 1910 banking crisis
forced him out.
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4. Looking to build a new automobile after leaving GM, the
irrepressible Billy Durant made a deal
with Louis Chevrolet to produce the well-known racers dream car.
In 1912, Louis Chevrolets $2,150 Series C Classic Six, a luxurious
high-performance six-cylinder model, hit the streets of
Detroit.
5. In late 1913, Louis Chevrolet parted company with Billy
Durant, leaving behind the rights to produce cars bearing his name.
Louis moved to Indianapolis, where he and younger brothers Arthur
and Gaston would become legends in the lore of Indy 500 racing. The
Chevy bowtie logo, designed under Durant's auspices, appeared for
the first time in an ad before 1913 was out. The bowtie badge first
appeared on Durant's new, more moderately priced, Chevrolets for
1914.
6. The Model H line launched with a durable four-cylinder engine
that helped build Chevrolets
reputation as a dependable car. The basic design would power
Chevrolets through 1928.
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7. Billy Durant had his eye on the value-priced market from the
very start of his involvement with Louis Chevrolet and, in late
1915, introduced the Chevrolet 490 into the low-priced field. Its
$490 list price made it a direct competitor to the Model T Ford of
the time. During 1916, Durant leveraged the success of his
Chevrolet car to regain control of General Motors.
8. In 1916, Louis Chevrolet drove a Frontenac racecar designed
by the Chevrolet brothers in the Indianapolis 500. Four years
later, Gaston Chevrolet wheeled a Monroe-Frontenac to victory at
Indy. After Gaston was killed in a racing accident, Louis and
Arthur formed a company to produce speed equipment for racers that
were essentially forerunners of todays sprint cars. Louis also
designed aircraft engines in the late 1920s. Along with millions of
others, Louis suffered heavy losses in the 1929 Wall Street Crash.
Returning to Detroit, he worked for several years in a Chevrolet
factory. Louis Chevrolet died in Detroit, of complications from
diabetes, on June 6, 1941. He was 63.
9. In 1918, the first Chevrolet trucks were introduced; they
were a light-duty model based on the Model 490 chassis and a
heavy-duty 1-ton chassis. Commercial body builders provided
bodies.
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10. Chevrolet formally became part of General Motors Corporation
in 1918, while the company
was under the direction of founder Billy Durant for a second and
final time. After departing GM in late 1920, Durant created Durant
Motors. The company produced Durant, Star, Flint and Locomobile
automobiles, plus Mason trucks, before falling victim to the Great
Depression in 1933. In 1940, Durant, nearing 80 years of age, built
and managed a Flint, Michigan bowling alley that was a prototype
for a proposed chain. After suffering a stroke while on a business
trip in 1942, Durant moved with his wife to New York City, where he
died on March 18, 1947.
11. In 1921, Billy Durant's successor at General Motors, Pierre
S. duPont, turned to future GM
chairman Alfred P. Sloan to help him evaluate Chevrolets
prospects. Ignoring naysayers who thought otherwise, Sloans
research convinced him that Chevrolet could become a globally
successful value-priced brand. William S. Knudsen was brought in to
run Chevrolet in 1922 and immediately set out to introduce a
much-improved Chevy. The result was the well-received Superior
model of 1924. By this time, GM was assembling new Chevrolets at a
new plant in Copenhagen, Denmarkthe first of a number of plants GM
would establish to build cars in the regions and countries where
they were sold.
12. In 1927, Chevrolet overtook Ford for the first time, with
sales of a million-plus vehiclesmore than double the 1925 tally.
Colorful Duco finishes helped attract buyers to the popular
Chevrolet models.
13. By the late 1920s, Chevrolet was a leading global brand,
with assembly operations in numerous countries. General Motors
India was established in 1928, and assembly of Chevrolet
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cars, trucks, and buses soon commenced at a new assembly plant
on the outskirts of Bombay (now Mumbai). That same year, new
Chevrolets began rolling out of a new GM assembly plant in Warsaw,
Poland.
14. The 1929 Chevrolet Six was called a six for the price of a
four, because major American competitors at the time offered only
four-cylinder engines, at about the same price.
15. Chevy introduced Knee-Action independent front suspension to
value-priced American cars when the feature debuted on the
Chevrolet Master series for 1934.
16. GM de Mexico was established during 1935, with a plant built
in what had then been a rural field outside Mexico City. Soon, the
Chevrolet brand in particular was a favorite among Mexican car and
truck aficionados. (Employees shown with 1938 Chevrolet
pickup.)
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17. The 1935 Chevrolet Masters new GM-developed all-steel Turret
Top was a first among value-priced American cars of the period.
18. The Chevrolet Suburban Carryall truck, introduced in 1935,
was the first American station
wagon-type truck-based vehicle to have a body made of steel.
19. In 1940, Argentinas Juan Manuel Fangio, who later became a
world-renown Grand Prix driver, guided his 1940 Chevy to victory in
a 13-day event from Buenos Aires to Lima, Peru and back.
20. Civilian production of Chevrolet cars ceased on January 30,
1942, for the duration of WWII. Production of trucks for military
use, including Carryall Suburbans, continued throughout the war
years. Car production for civilian use was resumed on October 3,
1945
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21. The new 1948 Chevrolet Advance Design trucks introduced
during the summer of 1947 marked the first significant redesign of
Chevrolets truck line since before World War II. New flow-through
ventilation for the cabs of the 1948 trucks improved driving
comfort.
22. Chevrolet became the first low-priced American car to offer
an automatic transmission, when Powerglide was introduced as on an
option on 1950 models. The first Chevrolet Bel Air introduced
hardtop styling to the value-priced field that same model year.
23. Chevy introduced the Corvette in 1953, marking the industrys
first production fiberglass body.
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24. Bel Air became the top-line series designation for the
restyled 1953 Chevrolets. GM E-Z Eye tinted glass was offered for
the first time in Chevrolet cars and trucks that year.
25. On November 23, 1954, the 50 millionth General Motors car, a
gold 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air,
was featured in a nationally televised parade.
26. Chevrolet Chief Engineer Edward N. Cole introduced the
legendary small-block V-8 in the all-new 1955 models. Since then,
the Chevrolet small-block V-8 has powered more winning race
vehicles than any other production engine. It ranks as one of the
most significant engineering developments in Chevrolets 100-year
history.
27. Capping one of the greatest years in its history, Chevrolet
introduced an all-new line of light-duty Chevrolet trucks in March
1955. The Cameo Carrier, a limited production gentlemans pickup
that sported a uniquely styled pickup box, was one of the new
models. The new trucks were available with Chevrolet's standard
six, or the new small block V-8 engine.
28. In 1956 the Dinah Shore Chevy Show launched as a one-hour TV
show, with Shore singing, See the USA in your Chevrolet at the
close of each show. The show grew out of Shores
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earlier 15-minute programs and she was the first woman to host
her own TV show. Shore had sung, See the USA since the early 1950s
and the song was used in Chevrolet advertising after her show ended
in 1963.
29. Chevrolet introduced Ramjet mechanical fuel injection in
1957 as an option on Chevrolet and Corvette models. It was the
first fuel-injection system available on a regular production
American car.
30. In 1957, the Chevy trucks offered factory-installed
four-wheel drive for the first time, with the famous NAPCO-supplied
Powr-Pak system.
31. The Impala was introduced for 1958, and would go on to
become the best-selling traditional
full-size car ever, with more than 13 million vehicles carrying
the nameplate sold by the time the final rear-wheel-drive Impalas
were built in 1996. The Impala name was revived for Chevrolet's
largest modern sedan in 2000 and continues in production today.
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32. The first El Camino passenger car pickup was introduced as a
derivative of the full-size
Chevrolet for 1959. Starting in 1964 and continuing into early
1987, the El Camino was based on contemporary intermediate
Chevelle/Malibu platforms. There were five design generations of
the El Camino produced1959-60, 1964-67, 1968-72, 1973-77, and
1978-87.
33. The original Chevrolet Corvair, the first (and only)
American car to feature an air-cooled, rear-
mounted, six-cylinder engine, was named Motor Trend Car of The
Year in 1960.
34. For 1961, the Corvair 95 panel van and Greenbrier Sports
Wagon were introduced. The Greenbrier could be fully accessorized
for camping.
35. Chevrolet introduced the Chevy II, a more conventional
compact car than the Corvair, for
1962. Topping the Chevy II line were a bevy of deluxe Nova 400
models, which included a convertible. After the compact Chevrolet
was redesigned for 1968, only sedan and coupe styles were offered.
All of the 68s were Chevy II Nova models, while subsequent 1969
through the final 1979 editions were badged simply as Nova models.
The Chevrolet Nova nameplate reappeared in spring 1984, on a 1985
front-wheel drive subcompact. Produced at a GM-Toyota joint venture
plant, it would be built through the 1988 model year.
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36. In 1962, The Beach Boys recorded 409 an ode to Chevrolets
powered by the 409 engine,
which were burning up the quarter-mile at drag strips across the
country.
37. 1963 marked the first and only split window Corvette Sting
Ray Coupe. The popular Sting Ray
design was produced through 1967, but the 1964-67 coupes had a
single-piece rear window.
38. The Chevelle, an intermediate size Chevrolet introduced for
1964, was priced and sized between the full-size traditional
Chevrolet of the era and the compact Chevy II/Nova. Available with
six-cylinder or V-8 power, the Chevelle was offered in base 300 and
uplevel Malibu series. Sporty SS versions of the Malibu Sport Coupe
and Convertible were also available.
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39. In late 1966, the Chevrolet Camaro entered production as a
1967 model. In May, 1967, a specially detailed Camaro SS
Convertible served as the Pace Car for that years Indianapolis 500.
Two years later, Chevrolet returned to pace the Indy classic with a
1969 Camaro SS convertible that is today treasured as an iconic
Indy Pace Car. In 2011, as Chevrolet and the Indianapolis 500
celebrated their shared Centennial anniversaries, a new Camaro SS
Convertible Indy Pace Carcreated in the spirit of the 1969
editionpaced the historic race. Since 1948, Chevy has paced the
Indy 500 a total of 22 times, making more appearances than any
other brand. Camaro has paced the 500 race seven times, including
this years running.
40. Chevys all-new 1967 half-ton trucks included a new Suburban,
which featured a unique three-door arrangement with a single door
on the drivers side, and front and rear doors on the passenger
side. The configuration made the Suburban popular with ambulance
companies, and the new design was also favored for towing RV
equipment.
41. In late 1967, the third-generation Corvette was introduced
as a 1968 model. The 1968 Corvette coupe featured Americas first
regular production T-top removable roof panels.
42. On November 14, 1969, the three Apollo 12 astronauts parked
their custom-painted 1969 Corvettes and blasted off on the second
U.S. moon mission.
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43. The street-legal muscle-car era reached its zenith in 1970,
with that year's Chevelle SS 454 offering the legendary RPO LS-6
V-8, rated at 450-hp.
44. In February 1970, a longer, lower and wider
second-generation Camaro debuted. The new models Rally Sport
appearance package included a popular split-bumper design at the
front. The RS option could be ordered in combination with the RPO
Z28 Special Performance Package, as shown here.
45. The Monte Carlo, a luxury-oriented Chevrolet personal coupe,
made its first appearance in Chevrolet showrooms as a 1970 model.
The new cars hood measured six feet in length, making it the
longest hood on any Chevrolet ever.
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46. Already a drag-racing legend, Bill Grumpy Jenkins won the
very first NHRA Pro Stock race at the Winternationals in 1970,
driving a 1968 Camaro.
47. Chevrolet was among the first to benefit from GM's
pioneering use of biofidelic (human-like) crash test dummies for
automotive crash testing in the 60s and 70s, named Hybrid I. In
2010, GM donated a retired Hybrid III test dummy to the Smithsonian
National Museum of American History.
48. One of America's most warmly remembered commercials,
Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie & Chevrolet, appeared for
1975.
49. The Chevettethe smallest Chevrolet ever at that timewas
introduced for 1976, in response to consumer interest in ultra
fuel-efficient vehicles. Marketed as a subcompact in the U.S., the
Chevette was built to metric measurements and was Chevrolet's first
world car.
Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie &
Chevrolet
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50. Debuting for 1977, new, downsized Impala and Caprice models
were introduced with the slogan, Now thats more like it! Overall
length was reduced by 11 inches and weight was down by 550 lbs.,
yet passenger room and luggage space were uncompromised. Motor
Trend magazine named the new 1977 Caprice its Car of the Year.
51. Corvette celebrated its 25th anniversary and paced the
Indianapolis 500 for the first time in 1978. In total, Chevrolet
Corvette has paced the Indy 500 ten times.
52. A 1979 Monza became the 100-millionth Chevrolet built.
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53. Chevrolet introduced its first front-wheel drive car, the
mid-size Citation, in mid-1979, as a 1980 model. Named Motor Trend
Car of the Year for 1980, the Citation was offered with a 2.5L four
or 2.8L V-6; both were mounted transversely.
54. In 1981, the first Cavalier was introduced, as a 1982 model.
The Hatchback version of the new front-wheel drive subcompact was
considered the line's sport model. Also debuting for 1982 was the
Chevrolet Celebrity, a mid-size front-wheel drive Chevrolet.
55. The third-generation Camaro came to market for the 1982
model year. Seven inches shorter than its predecessor, the new
Camaro was available with engines ranging from a 90-hp 2.5L
four-cylinder to a 165-hp 305-cid V-8 that was optional in the Z28.
A 1982 Z28 paced that years Indianapolis 500.
56. The compact S-10 Blazer, destined to become Americas #1
sport utility vehicle, was introduced in the fall of 1982, as a
1983 model.
57. Completely redesigned, the fourth generation Corvette was
originally slated for introduction in
the fall of 1982, as a 1983 model. However, production delays
resulted in the new car being
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held back until January 1983when it was released as a 1984
model. No 1983 model year Corvettes were sold.
58. The Camaro IROC-Z first appeared for 1985. The car was named
for the International Race of Champions, which featured champions
from various racing series competing against each other in
identically prepared stock cars that were all of the same make and
model. Camaros were used in the IROC races during 1975-80 and
1985-1989.
59. The Heartbeat of America Chevrolet advertising campaign
debuted in 1986.
60. For 1986, Corvette became the first Chevrolet with anti-lock
brakes, a feature that would soon spread to almost all Chevrolet
models.
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61. A Chevy Indy V8 racing engine powered the winning car at the
1988 Indianapolis 500. The
victory marked the first of six consecutive Indy wins by Chevy
Indy V-8 powered cars. The winning drivers were Rick Mears (1988
and 1991), Emerson Fittipaldi (1989 and 1993), Arie Luyendyk (1990)
and Al Unser, Jr. (1992). In 2002, Hlio Castroneves gave the Chevy
Indy V8 its seventh victory at the Brickyard. During 2012,
Chevrolet will compete in the IZOD IndyCar Series with a new
twin-turbocharged, direct-injected V-6 racing engine powered by
renewable E85 ethanol fuel.
62. In April, 1987 Chevrolet introduced its 1988 model-year C/K
Pickupsthe first all-new Chevrolet pickups since 1973. New
Extended-Cab models broadened the appeal of Chevy's new, leaner and
meaner, pickup line.
63. The import-inspired GEO line of cars and trucks were
introduced for 1989. In mid-1989, the Lumina Coupe and Sedan, along
with the Lumina APV, also appearedas 1990 models.
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64. A new Caprice Classic was introduced for 1991. The Caprice
Classic LTZ became Motor Trend's
1991 Car of the Year.
65. The Corvette ZR-1 smashed a trio of speed-endurance records
during 1990, including
averaging more than 175 mph for 24 hours (including pit
stops).
66. In 1991, the Like A Rock advertising campaign was launched
for Chevrolet trucks, with Bob Segers song of the same name serving
as its foundation. The campaign ran through 2004 and is regarded as
one of the auto industrys most successful.
67. Chevy put standard antilock brakes on more 1992 car and
truck models than any other manufacturer.
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68. In 1992, the one-millionth Corvette was built.
69. The fourth-generation Camaro debuted as a 1993 modeland
Camaro paced the 1993
Indianapolis 500, marking its fourth appearance as the official
pace car for the famed race.
70. The fifth-generation Corvette appeared for 1997. Its
standard 350-hp RPO LS1 Gen III small-block V-8 introduced the
design architecture of the GM LS-series V-8 engine family.
71. In 2004, the sixth-generation Corvette debuted as a 2005
model, with a 400-hp RPO LS2 V-8 standard. Former Secretary of
State, General Colin L. Powell paced the 2005 Indianapolis 500 in a
new Corvette convertible.
72. GM introduced the Chevrolet Volt advanced technology concept
car in 2007. The forward-looking design incorporated new
technologies and materials, as well as an innovative
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rechargeable electric drive system.
73. The 2007 blockbuster movie Transformers introduced
Bumblebee, a character that transformed into a yellow Camaro
concept car. Chevrolet later introduced a TRANSFORMERS Special
Edition of the newly introduced production 2010 Camaro in 2009.
74. The Corvette ZR1, introduced as a 2009 model, was the most
powerful and fastest production car in GM historyand with 638-hp,
the 2011 version retains that distinction. The ZR1 is also the
first car to feature exposed weave carbon fiber on the exterior,
with the benefit of a sunscreen-like protective coating developed
by GM engineers.
75. The Traverse, Chevrolets first full-size crossover, debuted
in 2008 as a 2009 model.
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76. In 2009, the second-generation 2010 Equinox crossover
debuted with EPA-estimated 32 MPG highway.
77. In 2009, the fifth-generation Camaro debuted as a 2010
model.
78. In 2010, the Chevy Cruze debuted in the U.S., as a 2011
modelwith the Cruze Eco version offering EPA-estimated 42 MPG
highway, with manual transmission.
79. Chevrolet Cruze is the first car in the compact segment to
feature 10 standard airbags and achieve a 5-star overall vehicle
score for safety from the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA). Government 5-Star Safety Ratings are part
of the U.S. Department of Transportation's New Car Assessment
Program (www.SaferCar.gov). The 2011 Cruze achieved 5-star U.S. New
Car Assessment Program (NCAP) ratings in every individual frontal
and side crash test and is the first car, in any market segment, to
achieve these crash ratings
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everywhere it is rated and sold in the worldincluding, in
addition to the United States, Korea, China, Australia and
Europe.
80. Chevy Volt, Chevys innovative extended range electric
vehicle, debuted in December 2010. The Volt has been named Motor
Trend Magazines 2011 Car of the Year, was North American Car of the
Year at the North American International Auto Show, and was picked
by Automobile Magazine as their 2011 Automobile of the Year. It was
also honored as 2011 Green Car of the Year by Green Car Journal,
and was included in Car and Drivers 10 Best Awards for 2011.
81. The 2011 Silverado HD was named 2011 Motor Trend Truck of
the Year, at the same time that the Chevrolet Volt was honored as
the magazine's 2011 Car of the Year."
82. Chevrolet announced in 2011 that MyLink, an in-car
infotainment package that builds on the
safety and security of OnStar, will be available in the 2012
Chevy Volt and Equinox.
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83. On June 12, 2011, Corvette Racings new C6.R ZR1 car won the
GTE Pro Class during the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans race. The win
marked the seventh victory for Corvette at the legendary French
course since 2001. Making the achievement even more worthy of
celebration was that it came on the 10th anniversary of Corvette
Racings first win at Le Mans, and occurred during Chevy's 100th
anniversary year.
84. In 2011, Chevy launched the Corvette Centennial Special
Edition as a 2012 model, with a nod
to founding father Louis Chevrolet. A graphic logo featuring an
iconic image of Louis Chevrolet appears on the B-pillars, the
center caps of the wheels, and the center of the steering wheel.
The seat headrests also carry an embossed centennial logo.
Present Day
85. Only four of the 270 American automotive brands that existed
when Chevrolet was founded in 1911 are still going a century later.
They are Chevrolet, its GM sister brands Buick and Cadillac, and
Chevrolet's traditional competitor from Dearborn, Ford. The GMC
Truck brand was also established in 1911, with the nameplate first
appearing on 1912 models.
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86. Since 1912, Chevrolet has produced more than 200 million
cars and trucks. In North America, Chevrolet has produced 180
million cars and trucks since 1912 (passenger Cars: 111 million;
trucks: 69 million).
87. More than 40,000 employees, working in 30 General Motors
manufacturing and assembly plants, help produce Chevrolet cars and
trucks in the United States. Largest of the plants is the massive
(six million sq. ft.) Lordstown Complex in Warren, Ohio, where
4,500 employees build and assemble the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. The
smallest is the Wixom, Michigan, Performance Build Center, where 23
employees hand-build Corvettes highest performance engines.
88. Current GM Vice-President of Global Design, Edward T.
Welburn, is only the sixth executive head of GM design activities
since Harley Earl founded the GM Styling section in 1927. Earl
directed the design of the original Corvette Motorama dream car in
1953 and his successor, William L. Mitchell, designed the 1959
Stingray concept that inspired the production 1963 Corvette. Ed
Welburn provided the design impetus that resulted in the 2006
Camaro concept coupe becoming a production reality for 2010. He is
shown introducing the 2012 Camaro ZL1.
89. Performance is steeped in Chevrolets history, dating back to
Louis Chevrolets passion for
racing. Chevrolet is the most winning name in NASCAR history and
has won the NASCAR Cup 34 times, more than any other brand.
Counting Corvette Racing's June 2011 GTE Pro Class win, Corvette
has won the coveted 24 Hours of Le Mans trophy seven times. And,
Chevy V-8 racing engines won the Indy 500 seven times between 1988
and 2002. These victories make Chevy one of a very few brands to
have won at Le Mans, Daytona and Indyauto racings triple crown.
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90. Chevrolet sold 4.26 million vehicles globally in 2010, an
average of one every 7.4 seconds.
Around the world, one in every 1,616 people on this planet
bought a Chevrolet last year. 91. If you lined up all of the
Chevrolets purchased in 2010 bumper-to-bumper, the line would
stretch 12,940 miles 52 percent of the circumference of the
earth. 92. Chevrolets are on the road in two thirds of the world,
with the brand sold in 140 countries
worldwide.
93. Top 5 Chevrolet Nameplates, according to 2010 Global Vehicle
Sales: - Silverado
- Cruze - Aveo - Malibu - Spark
94. Eight of the top-10 selling markets for Chevrolet 2010 are
emerging markets Brazil, China, Uzbekistan, Mexico, Russia, India,
Argentina and Colombia. The shift to Emerging Markets is causing a
fundamental shift in the global segment mix to entry level
vehicles. (Chart shows 2010 sales growth in U.S. and BRIC
nations.)
95. Chevrolet has been in Brazil for 87 years. Today, the
country is the third largest market for GM globally and GM has
24,000 employees there. In 2010, GM sold 658,000 Chevrolet vehicles
in
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Brazil. This 1928 photo celebrates the 50,000th Chevrolet
produced in Brazil. It shows the very first Chevrolet built in
Brazil, a 1924 commercial model, posed with a 1928 National Series
AB touring car. The 1928 photo at left celebrated the 50 thousandth
Chevrolet produced in Brazil.
96. Chevrolet has been leading the South American market for 10
years. In 2010, GM sold 1.026 million units in that region,
achieving a 19.9 percent market share. In Venezuela and Ecuador,
the GM market share is 40 percent. Chevrolet is the market leader
in six countries in South America: Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador,
Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay. The whole market in the region reached
five million cars for the first time ever in 2010. At the 2011
Buenos Aires International Auto Show in Argentina, Chevrolet
revealed the Colorado Rally, the most recent show truck version of
its next generation global midsize pickupa truck segment that is of
huge importance to consumers in many countries around the
world.
97. In South Africa, Chevrolets share of the passenger market
has increased from 4.3 percent May
2010 YTD to 7.2 percent May 2011 YTD. The Chevrolet Corsa
Utility has occupied the number one position in the three-quarter
ton segment of the market for over six years. The next generation
vehicle promises to be an even bigger success, with its new styling
and added features. Chevrolet has been in the South African market
since 1916. Captiva SUV shown here was new for 2010.
98. On March 1, 2011, GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. (GM
Daewoo) announced they would be replacing their current nameplate
with Chevrolet. Additionally, GM Daewoo changed its company name to
GM Korea Co., which is globally consistent with all other GM
country
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operations. The Korean company produces the Chevrolet Aveo,
introduced into the U.S. market for 2004.
99. In the Middle East, the addition of new passenger cars, such
as the Cruze and Malibu, have added to Chevrolets already strong
offering of SUVs, crossovers and pick-ups, and is helping to grow
Chevrolets sales in the region. In 2010, Chevrolet sold 83,187
vehicles, representing nine percent sales growth. In the first five
months of 2011, Chevrolet sold 38,760 vehicles, representing 31
percent year-on-year growth. Chevrolets have been sold in the
Middle East since the 1920s. A special display honoring Chevrolets
2011 Centennial features Chevrolet models that are popular in the
region.
100. Chevrolet has a proud heritage in China dating back to the
1920s. In 2010, Chevrolet sales in China rose an unprecedented 63.4
percent to 543,709 vehicles an all-time high. China ended the year
as Chevrolets third-largest market behind the United States and
Brazil. A Chevrolet Volt was recently displayed at GM China
headquarters in Shanghai, and its capabilities were demonstrated on
Chinese roads.