Is General Motors a Chevy?
General Motors (GM) is the parent corporation; Chevrolet, commonly known as Chevy, is a brand owned by GM. In short, GM is the company, and Chevy is one of its brands.
Clarifying the corporate relationship
GM is a multinational automaker headquartered in Detroit, founded in 1908. Chevrolet was established as a distinct brand in 1911 and became part of GM in 1918, making Chevy one of GM’s core brands rather than the company itself. Today, GM owns and operates multiple brands under its corporate umbrella, with Chevrolet serving as one of the principal consumer-facing brands.
GM's core brands
The company operates several major brands around the world. The following four are its primary consumer brands in the United States and many international markets:
- Chevrolet (often marketed as "Chevy")
- GMC
- Buick
- Cadillac
Chevrolet is the best-known GM brand for mass-market vehicles, but GMC, Buick, and Cadillac cover distinct segments from trucks to luxury cars. Note that Holden, once a GM brand in Australia, was retired in 2020.
Timeline of key moments in GM and Chevrolet
The timeline below highlights pivotal moments in the relationship between General Motors and the Chevrolet brand, illustrating how a separate company evolved into a brand within a larger corporate structure.
- 1908: General Motors is formed as a holding company by William C. Durant and partners.
- 1911: Chevrolet is founded by Louis Chevrolet and William C. Durant as a separate automaker.
- 1918: GM acquires Chevrolet, integrating it as a leading GM brand.
- 2009–2010: GM reorganizes during bankruptcy proceedings; Chevrolet remains a core GM brand amid a broader corporate restructuring.
- 2020: Holden, formerly a GM brand in Australia, is retired as a separate brand as GM winds down local operations.
The milestones outline how Chevrolet transformed from an independent company to a flagship GM brand and how GM reshaped its global brand portfolio over time.
Where the name "Chevy" fits today
Chevrolet, or Chevy, remains the consumer-facing name used for GM’s mainstream vehicles. It functions as a brand under General Motors, not as the corporate entity itself. The on-the-ground distinction matters for branding, marketing, and investor understanding, even as the two terms are closely linked in everyday usage.
Summary
In summary, General Motors is the parent company, not Chevy. Chevy is one of GM’s four primary brands, alongside GMC, Buick, and Cadillac. Chevrolet has a long history within GM, originating as its own company before becoming a cornerstone brand of the corporation. Holden’s retirement in 2020 marks a shift in GM’s global brand strategy, but the GM brand family remains centered on Chevrolet plus the other three core brands.
Does General Motors own Chevy and Ford?
Ford Motor Co.
(U.S.) owns Ford and Lincoln. General Motors (U.S.) owns Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC. Hummer is now a GMC sub-brand. GM has a formal partnership with Honda to co-develop EVs.
Is General Motors Chevy?
Yes, General Motors (GM) is the parent company that owns the Chevrolet brand, along with Buick, Cadillac, and GMC. Chevrolet is one of GM's automotive brands, not a separate company.
- Parent company: General Motors (GM) is a large corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells vehicles.
- Brands: Chevrolet is one of several automotive brands under the GM umbrella, alongside GMC, Buick, and Cadillac.
- Relationship: GM owns Chevrolet, which operates as a specific brand within the larger General Motors company.
Who owns General Motors?
General Motors is a publicly traded company, so it is owned by its shareholders, with institutional investors holding the majority stake. The largest shareholders include The Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street, which own significant portions of the company's stock.
- Institutional Shareholders: Large investment firms like Vanguard, BlackRock, and State Street own the largest percentage of GM stock.
- Insider Ownership: Executives and directors like Mary Barra hold a smaller, but notable, percentage of ownership through their stock holdings.
- Individual and Retail Investors: The remaining shares are owned by individual investors and other public companies.
- Former Government Ownership: Following the 2008 financial crisis, the U.S. government was a major shareholder but divested its stake by 2013.
Are General Motors and Chevy the same thing?
No, GM and Chevy are not the same, but they are related: GM is the parent company, and Chevy is one of its brands. Chevrolet is a brand owned by General Motors, which also owns other brands like GMC, Buick, and Cadillac.
- GM (General Motors): The overarching multinational automotive company that designs, manufactures, and sells vehicles under various brand names.
- Chevrolet: One of the four main vehicle brands owned by General Motors, known for its focus on mass-market appeal and a wide range of vehicles.
