Chevrolet is GM’s mainstream brand in US, China and Asia, and it’s hugely popular, but did you know that it’s named after a Swiss racing driver?
Chevrolet was co-founded by Louis Chevrolet and William Durant in 1911. Louis Chevrolet was a Swiss-born American racing car driver. He moved to New York City in 1901, and later befriended Durant whilst racing Buick vehicles.
After disagreements with Durant, Louis Chevrolet sold out his share of the company to the ever ambitious businessman.
Durant, who founded General Motors in 1908, but was deposed just two years later when a bid for Ford failed, used Chevrolet as a vehicle to regain control of General Motors by 1916. He was turfed out in 1920.
With his brothers, Louis Chevrolet founded the Frontenac Motor Corporation to build racing components for the Ford Model T. Louis continued to race, and competed in the Indianapolis 500 four times.
