Is Chevrolet manufactured by GM?
Yes. Chevrolet is a brand owned by General Motors (GM) and is produced by GM’s global manufacturing network, including joint ventures such as SAIC-GM in China.
Chevrolet traces its origins to 1911 and became part of General Motors in 1918. Today it operates as GM’s mass‑market brand, with production happening across multiple regions via GM-owned plants and regional partnerships. This article explains the corporate relationship and where Chevrolets are built around the world.
Corporate relationship
Chevrolet is positioned as GM’s global mass‑market brand and is managed within GM’s corporate structure. GM owns the Chevrolet brand, develops its product strategy, and oversees production through a mix of GM‑owned facilities and joint ventures with regional partners to serve local markets, including multinational markets like China.
Global manufacturing footprint
Chevrolet vehicles are produced in a variety of regions through GM’s factories and partner arrangements. The following overview highlights where production occurs and how it’s organized in key markets.
- North America: GM-operated plants in the United States and Canada assemble a broad range of Chevrolet models, from pickups to SUVs and passenger cars.
- South America and the Caribbean: GM’s regional facilities in countries such as Brazil and Mexico manufacture Chevrolets for local and regional demand.
- China: The SAIC‑GM joint venture produces Chevrolet vehicles specifically for the Chinese market, with models tailored to local preferences and regulations.
- Other markets: GM uses additional plants and partnerships to manufacture or assemble Chevrolet models in various regions as part of its global operations. In some markets where the brand is smaller, production may rely on local assembly or import arrangements.
These arrangements illustrate that Chevrolet is produced through GM’s integrated manufacturing network and strategic regional partnerships, rather than as an independent automaker.
China operations
In China, Chevrolet is produced through the SAIC‑GM joint venture, a long‑standing collaboration between GM and SAIC Motor. This partnership enables Chevrolet to offer models that meet Chinese regulatory requirements and consumer preferences while leveraging local manufacturing capabilities.
European presence
Chevrolet’s footprint in Europe has diminished since the mid‑2010s as GM focused on its Opel/Vauxhall division. While the brand previously offered several models in Europe, current official Chevrolet sales are limited in the region, with production and marketing largely oriented toward GM’s other brands and global markets.
Historical context and current structure
Chevrolet began as an independent company in 1911 and was acquired by General Motors in 1918. Since then, it has functioned as GM’s flagship mass‑market brand, produced and marketed around the world through a combination of GM plants and regional joint ventures.
- 1911: Chevrolet Motor Company is founded by Louis Chevrolet and William C. Durant.
- 1918: General Motors acquires a controlling interest and integrates Chevrolet into its corporate portfolio.
- Present: Chevrolet operates as GM’s global mass‑market brand, with production in GM plants and regional joint ventures (notably SAIC‑GM in China).
The brand’s evolution reflects GM’s strategy to maintain a broad, affordable product lineup while distributing manufacturing through a combination of in‑house plants and strategic partnerships worldwide.
Product strategy and market positioning
Chevrolet emphasizes value and practicality across its model lineup, spanning passenger cars, SUVs, trucks, and electrified vehicles. GM has been expanding Chevrolet’s electrification efforts with battery‑electric models like the Bolt family and upcoming EV offerings, produced across GM’s global manufacturing network and regional facilities.
Summary: Chevrolet is manufactured by GM through a global network of GM‑owned plants and regional joint ventures, including SAIC‑GM in China. The brand remains GM’s principal mass‑market line with a global production footprint that adapts to regional markets.
