History of GM

1901- Makes 1st American car to be manufactured in quantity
1908- Becomes formally chartered in the city of Hudson, NJ
1908- Introduces the first electric headlamp
1910- Offers closed bodies as standard equipment
1911- Introduces the electric self-starter, invented by Charles F. Kettering
1912- Adopts the first all-steel body
1919- Acquires the Frigidaire Corp.
1920- Completes the GM Building
1924- Assembles first GM vehicle abroad, in Denmark.
1924- Opens the first automotive Proving Ground test facility
1926- Develops the first comprehensive service policy, offered worldwide by Cadillac
1926- Introduces shatter-resistant safety glass
1927- LaSalle. First production car done completely by an automobile stylist
1931- Cadillac V-16 Phaeton. Highlight of the classic car era with V-8, 12 & 16 engines.
1933- Develops individual front wheel suspension, called Knee-Action
1933- Develops built-in trunk
1934- Conducts the first rollover and barrier impact tests.
1935- Introduces the Carry-All Surburban
1938- Buick Y-Job-GM's first official experimental vehicle
1938- Sets the industry standard by introducing the column-mounted gearshift
1939- Makes rear directional signals standard
1940- Produces 25 million cars on January 11
1940-45- Supports the war effort with materials including airplane engines and parts, trucks, tanks, marine diesel, guns, and shells
1942-48- Buick Fastback Coupe. New sedanet fastback styling with innovative 'airfoil' fender design
1948- Introduces curved glass windshields, increasing driver vision, and reducing glare
1948- Introduces the first torque converter-type automatic transmission offered in U.S. passenger cars
1949- Introduces the modern, high compression OHV V8 engines
1950- Introduces the first American, mass-produced vehicle with a sports car motif- the Chevrolet Corvette
1953- Chevrolet Corvette. First GM vehicle to evolve unchanged from a Motorama show car to production
1954- Pontiac Bonneville
1954- Provides power steering and automatic windshield wipers as standard equipment
1955- Establishes the world's first safety test laboratory at the GM Proving Grounds
1955- Conducts atmosheric research and shares its findings with government and industry
1957- Chevrolet Belair. Embodied the successful trim, clean, lean look which defined the 50's
1958- Marks its 50th Anniversary
1960- Cadillac Fleetwood. Unrestrained styling, uncluttered appearance, and detailed elegance set a theme
1961- Introduces first American V6 passenger-car engine
1962- Assists in the development of the concrete bridge rail; now used as median barrier throughout U.S.
1964- GM-X Stiletto
1964- Pontiac GTO. Start of the compact, high performance muscle car era
1966- Introduces the first energy-absorbing steering column
1966- Oldsmobile Tornado. First front wheel drive passenger vehicle produced in America since the 30's
1969- Introduces the first side-guard door beam
1969- Manufactures guidance and navigation systems which guide the Apollo 11 astronauts to man's first landing on the moon and then safely back to earth
1974- Becomes the first to offer air bags in production vehicles
1975- Cadillac Seville. Started the small luxury car trend
1975- Installs the industry's first catalytic converters on all its cars sold in the U.S.
1978- Forms the General Motors Cancer Research Foundation in September to recognize individual excellence in cancer research
1981- Opens its European assembly plant in Zaregoza, Spain, the largest overseas expansion project ever undertaken by GM
1985- Establishes a Medical Committee for Automative Safety
1987- Chevrolet Blazer XT-1
1987- Wins the inaugural World Solar Challenge Race with the GM Sunraycer
1989- Develops the a crash dummy to measure forces exerted during side impacts
1990- Hybrid-HX-3. Nearly a pollutant free, gas-electric powered vehicle
1991- Introduces ABS-VI-a less expensive, full-function anti-lock braking sysytem
1993- Unveils world's first pregnant crash test dummy
1994- Records the one billionth test mile driven at the Milford Proving Grounds
1995- Becomes the first to install daytime running lamps as standard equipment on many of its models
1996- Established the Concept Cure Program for the fight against breast cancer
1996- Pledges more money to the 1996 nationwide United Way campaign than any other U.S. corporation, $37.3 million
1996- Delivers the first electric vehicle to consumers, GM EV1
1997- Introduces 14 all-new models, the most introductions for any one model year in GM's history
1997- Sets official industry standard with its Hybrid III crash dummy