Chevrolet History
Durant had worked with Chevrolet previously when he had been hired to race cars at promotional events for GM. Louis Chevrolet was largely responsible for the concept of many of early cars produced by Chevrolet. He later sold his shares of Chevrolet Motor Car Company as early as 1915. Soon after, Durant made the company enormously successful that by 1918 Durant had regained control of GM and turned Chevrolet into its most successful division.
Chevrolet Through The Years
The Standard Six was an affordable six-cylinder model that was introduced to the American market in 1933 and was one of the best-selling vehicles Chevrolet produced. Chevrolet really gained massive popularity in the U.S. following the second World War. In the 1950s, Chevy released the versatile and extremely popular Bel Air, one of the best-selling postwar vehicles to offer features like power windows, power brakes, and air conditioning. The Bel Air was available in four different body styles: coupe, sedan, convertible, and wagon.
Then, in 1953, Chevrolet released the Corvette, a car that went on to become a true icon. The Corvette was the first car to be made of a fiberglass body giving the muscle car a muscular and stylish American take on the classic European roadster.
At the start of the 1960s, Chevrolet unveiled the Corvair compact. The Corvair had a air-cooled rear-mounted engine and was also the first domestic car produced to feature an all-around independent suspension. In 1967, Chevy introduced another iconic sports car in the Camaro, which was designed to be the company’s answer to the Ford Mustang.
During the gasoline crises of the 1970s, Chevrolet began producing more compact vehicles such as the Vega and Chevette. Larger models such as the Caprice and Malibu were downsized to achieve better fuel economy as well.
Chevrolet Models
Currently, Chevrolet features a number of models like the Sonic, Aveo, Cruze, Malibu, Camaro, Corvette, and Volt.
Both the contemporary Corvette and the Camaro are revitalized versions of the classic American sports cars from the 1950s and 1960s. The Malibu is also a modern version of a classic Chevy that debuted back in 1964. The Volt is an all-new hybrid vehicle.
Chevrolet currently commands a large segment of the truck market through vehicles like the Colorado, Silverado, and Avalanche. SUVs include the Tahoe and the even bigger Suburban. Chevrolet also produces crossover vehicles such as the Equinox and Traverse.
Chevrolet Products and Technologies
Chevrolet built its success on a number of key factors. It always offered technology that might otherwise be reserved for higher-priced cars in its regular lineup. The company was also one of the first to standardize many one-time luxury features we now take for granted. Some examples include anti-lock brakes, safety glass, fuel injection, and stability control systems. Chevrolet also made a practice of producing affordable cars that offer good performance. The company’s durable four-cylinder, V-6, and V-8 engines are known for being strong, reliable, and long lasting.
Chevrolet continues to innovate by producing vehicles like the Volt, a plug in hybrid that was rated by the Environmental Protection Agency as the most fuel-efficient compact on the U.S. market.
Chevrolet’s Silverado pickup truck also remains enormously popular today. Originally released back in 1998, the full-size pickup truck is available in both standard and hybrid models.
The Chevrolet Tahoe is a full-size SUV and is available in hybrid and luxury configurations.
Chevrolet boasts a product line that's well rounded and offers a variety of vehicles for all manner of drivers. While the company may not command the same market share it once did, drivers recognize the Chevrolet brand as one of the first names in the American auto industry. The continuing popularity of revamped classics like the Camaro, Corvette, and Malibu is a testament to the legacy of style, performance, and reliability people have come to associate with Chevrolet over the more than 100 years since it was first founded.