When Was Chevrolet Founded?

November 3, 1911. For fans of Chevrolet in Kansas City and Shawnee Mission, that’s a date to remember, because it’s the day that Chervrolet was born in Detroit. From 1911 to the 2020 Corvette C8, Chevy has been the leader in driving innovation and excitement for 109 years. Want to know more? Read ahead to learn more about who founded Chevrolet and when Chevrolet was founded from your Corvette headquarters, Hendrick Chevrolet Shawnee Mission.

Who Founded Chevrolet?

Louis Chevrolet and William C. Durant were the people who founded Chevrolet in 1911. Chevrolet was a Swiss race car driver and engineer. Durant was the founder and one of the first presidents of General Motors.

A Timeline of Chevrolet’s Early History

• 1911: Chevrolet Motor Company was founded by Louis Chevrolet and William C. Durant.
• 1912: The first Chevrolet was built in Flint, Michigan. It was a six-cylinder luxury performance car called the Series C “Classic 6,” with a price tag of $2,150.
• 1913: Louis Chevrolet left the company, leaving them the rights to use his name.
• 1914: The Royal Mail Roadster debuted.
• 1915: Chevy entered the value-priced market with the $490 Model 490, putting them in direct competition with Ford for the first time.
• 1916: After six years, Durant regained control of General Motors.
• 1918: A big year, as Chevy introduced its first truck, and became part of the GM family.
• 1924: The first Chevrolet factory outside of the U.S. opened in Copenhagen, Denmark.
• 1927: For the first time, Chevrolet surpassed Ford in sales.
• 1929: The Chevrolet Six became the first six-cylinder offered in the value car market.
• 1935: Chevrolet introduced the Suburban Carryall, the first SUV. (Though, in its time, it was considered a station wagon.)

 What Does the Chevy Logo Mean?

Designed by Durant, the Chevy bowtie logo first appeared in advertising in 1913, and on its first car one year later. There’s much debate on whether the bowtie was inspired by wallpaper in a hotel room, the logo of a coal company, or the Swiss cross.

Learn More About Chevy with Hendrick Chevrolet Shawnee Mission

Now that they can answer when was Chevrolet founded, Overland Park drivers who want to learn more about Chevrolet should take a look at what Chevy is doing these days. Find out more about current Chevy technology and innovation when you read up on more manufacturer information from Hendrick Chevrolet Shawnee Mission!