Who made the Chevy Cavalier?
The Chevy Cavalier was built by Chevrolet, the passenger-car brand of General Motors.
The Cavalier was GM's compact car produced by Chevrolet across three generations from 1981 to 2005. It was developed to replace the Nova in Chevrolet's lineup and was built on GM's J-car platform, with production at several North American plants and, for some markets, in Mexico. The model was eventually phased out in favor of newer designs like the Chevrolet Cobalt.
Generational overview
The Cavalier’s life spans three distinct generations, reflecting GM’s evolution of the compact offering through the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s.
- First generation (1981–1987) — Original J-body design, front-wheel drive, available as a sedan and hatchback variant, aimed at affordable, efficient transportation.
- Second generation (1988–1994) — Redesigned with smoother styling and updated powertrains, still built on the J-car platform and marketed as a practical compact.
- Third generation (1995–2005) — Modernized aesthetics and interior updates, improved safety and efficiency before the Cavalier was discontinued in favor of newer Chevrolet compact models.
These three generations illustrate GM's approach to maintaining a budget-friendly compact car through shifting design trends and technology; production ended after the 2005 model year as Chevrolet shifted focus to the Cobalt and other models.
Manufacturing context
The Cavalier was manufactured by Chevrolet, a division of General Motors, at multiple GM facilities in North America. Early Cavaliers were commonly produced at Lordstown Assembly in Ohio, with additional production across other GM plants and, for certain markets, in Mexico. The vehicle was part of GM's broader effort to standardize compact cars on the J-car platform during the 1980s and 1990s.
Summary
In short, the Chevy Cavalier was made by Chevrolet, under General Motors. Spanning three generations from 1981 to 2005, it served as GM’s compact-car offering in North America before being replaced by newer models like the Chevrolet Cobalt.
