Who made Geo engines?
The engines used in Geo cars were supplied by partner manufacturers, primarily Suzuki, Toyota, and Isuzu.
Geo, GM's compact-brand from 1989 to 1997, rebadged small models from its Japanese partners for the North American market. The engine sources varied by model: Suzuki provided powertrains for the Metro and Tracker, Toyota supplied the Prizm, and Isuzu supplied the Storm. The following outlines the sources model by model.
Engine sources by Geo model
Overview of which manufacturer contributed the engine for each Geo model.
- Geo Metro — Suzuki-sourced small-car engines (1.0L and 1.3L variants) used in the Suzuki Swift/Cultus lineage.
- Geo Tracker — Suzuki-supplied 1.6L four-cylinder engine used in the Sidekick family.
- Geo Prizm — Toyota-sourced engines based on the Corolla lineup (commonly 1.6L/1.8L variants in different years).
- Geo Storm — Isuzu-supplied powertrain used in the Impulse/Storm lineup (typical Isuzu 1.6L DOHC variants).
Engine choices varied by year and market, but the overall pattern was Suzuki for Metro/Tracker, Toyota for Prizm, and Isuzu for Storm.
Notes on variations
Some model years used slightly different engine options within the same partnership, reflecting GM's ongoing alignment with suppliers and emissions standards during the Geo era.
Historical context and closure of Geo
The Geo brand existed from 1989 to 1997 as GM's experiment to market budget import-based vehicles in the United States by badge-engineering familiar platforms from its partners.
Summary
Geo engines were sourced from three primary partners—Suzuki, Toyota, and Isuzu—demonstrating GM's collaborative strategy in the 1990s. The Geo brand was discontinued in 1997, with remaining models ultimately folded into other GM brands.
Who made the Geo engine?
Well, Geo was actually produced by General Motors, which made very cost-effective cars, but they weren't the most reliable. However, the engine that was in it was actually produced by Toyota who makes it the most reliable engines on the planet.
Who owns General Motors now?
General Motors is not owned by a single entity but is a publicly traded company. Its ownership is primarily divided among large institutional investors, such as Vanguard Group and BlackRock Inc., which hold the majority of the company's stock. Individual investors and company insiders own the remaining shares.
- Institutional Investors: A large portion of General Motors is owned by institutional investors, with Vanguard Group and BlackRock Inc. being two of the largest shareholders. Other major institutional holders include State Street Corporation, Franklin Resources, Inc., and numerous other investment firms.
- Individual and Insider Ownership: Individual investors and company insiders own a smaller percentage of the company's stock.
- Historical Context: The U.S. government was a majority shareholder after the 2009 financial crisis, but it sold its stake after the company's initial public offering (IPO) in 2010.
Is Geo made by Suzuki?
Geo models were manufactured by GM in joint ventures with three Japanese automakers: Toyota, Isuzu, and Suzuki.
Is Geo made by Chevy?
Technically a subbrand of Chevrolet, Geo was a new brand that was made up of badge-engineered versions of cars built by Japanese manufacturers like the ones GM was trying to compete with. The brand only had a few models over the course of its run of about a decade before being absorbed into the Chevy brand.
