What type of vehicle do you drive? Could it be a Chevrolet? A Buick? And a Cadillac? Or a GMC? All of these brands and many more are manufactured by General Motors Company, or better known as GM. GM is the second largest automobile manufacturer in the world (General Motors Company, 2011). They have supplied millions, if not more, of vehicles to the world. Thanks to GM, they have produced many of the popular vehicle brands available. You can understand how vital GM has been to the automotive world when you discover that "the company was the world's largest automaker from 1931 until 2008, when it was surpassed by Toyota" (Costantini). The history of GM dates back to 1908. At that time, or more specifically on September 16, GM was founded in Flint, Michigan by William C Durant (General Motors Company, 2011). The company began as the Durant-Dot Carriage Company in 1886, and by 1900 it was producing over 100,000 cars per year (Flint). By the late 1920s, GM's sales exceeded those of Ford Motor Company, as the company paid close attention to consumer demands. “Car buyers no longer wanted the cheapest, most basic model; they wanted style, power and prestige, which GM offered them” (100 Years of GM – A Brief History of General Motors). While Ford focused on reducing the cost of vehicles. Additionally, GM offered payment plans, while Ford did not. Henry was opposed to credit on moral grounds (100 Years of GM – A Brief History of General Motors). In the 1950s, GM continued to dominate the automobile industry. They had 46 percent of the U.S. auto market, Ford and Chrysler 44 percent, and all other automakers combined 10 percent. By the 1960s, GM's percentage had increased to 51, more than...... middle of paper ...... March 9, 2011, from http://www.motorera.com/100-years- of-GM.htmCostantini, F. (February 24, 2011). General engines. In the New York Times. Retrieved March 10, 2011, from http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/general_motors_corporation/index.html Elliott, H. (April 27, 2009). The fastest dying American car brands. Accessed March 9, 2011, from Forbes.com: http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/27/dying-car-brands-lifestyle-vehicles-pontiac.htmlFlint (nd). In Encyclopedia Britannica. Accessed March 9, 2011, from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/210279/Flint?anchor=ref282801General Motors Company. (2011). About GM. Retrieved March 9, 2011 from General Motors: http://www.gm.com/corporate/about/General Motors Company. (2011). Explore the history of GM. Retrieved March 9, 2011 from General Motors: http://www.gm.com/corporate/about/history/historyPopUp.jsp?0