When Was Chevrolet Founded?

You know you can depend on your Chevy to get you around Crawfordville, but do you know when Chevrolet was founded? On November 3, 1911, the Chevrolet Motor Company was founded in Detroit, Michigan. The team of Louis Chevrolet and William C. Durant worked together to build the Chevrolet brand, which grew to be known as one of the best-selling automakers in the industry in just a few decades. 

Drivers all round Quincy still feel excitement about the Chevrolet Motor Company. Learn more about who founded Chevrolet and how they made their legacy with the team at Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet, then browse our current lineup of exciting Chevy models.

Chevrolet Founders

Who founded Chevrolet? Chevrolet was founded by Louis Chevrolet and William C. Durant, but there’s more to them that’s interesting. Havana drivers may be surprised to learn that Chevrolet himself was a Swiss race car driver. On top of that, he was a talented engineer who set out to inspire, and continues to inspire, other engineers with his unique ethos and outlook. 

The other person who founded Chevrolet was William C. Durant, and he also has an exciting background. He originally was the president and founder of General Motors before helping Chevrolet. Once the company made a name for itself, they were able to create a new merger with GM, and Durant was able to reclaim the former position he was ousted from in 1918. However, by 1919, he was replaced again by Alfred Sloan. 

The company changing hands didn’t hold Chevrolet back from becoming a leader within the GM brands. Sloan set out to provide “a car for every purse and every purpose.” This sentiment is still true today as new Chevy models represent that commitment.

The First Chevrolet Factory

While Chevrolet was founded in Detroit, the first factory built was actually on the corner of Wilcox and Kearsley Street in Flint, Michigan. The whole state has a place in Chevy history. The first factory is located across the street from Kettering University, and is now known as the “Chevy Commons.”

The First Chevy Model

Monticello Chevy enthusiasts will easily point out the Series C Classic Six as the first Chevy model ever produced. With specs drawn by Louis Chevrolet himself and the design finished by Etienne Planche, the first Chevy model was unveiled at the New York Auto Show of 1913, two years after the Chevrolet Motor Company was founded. 

Chevrolet Logo History

While we know the first Chevrolet logo was used on the H Series Baby Grand, the Royal Mail, and the Light Six L Series in 1914, the actual origin behind the Chevy logo is up for debate.

Some believe the origins start when Willian C. Durant was in a hotel room in France where the wallpaper of the room inspired the iconic Chevrolet bowtie emblem. Others believe the origin was a play off the logo of the Coalettes coal company. However, people also believe that the brand’s bowtie emblem is similar to the Swiss cross, a symbol that has ties to the background of the founders. However the Chevrolet logo was created, it is easily one of the most recognizable logos in the U.S.

Explore the Chevrolet Brand with Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet! 

Now that you know when Chevrolet was founded and by who, join the Chevrolet family! Contact our team to explore the range of reliable Chevy cars, trucks, and SUVs, and find one that matches your driving needs. See how Chevy fits the whole family and explore the Chevy Teen Driver Technology.