Chevrolet

Chevrolet, commonly referred to as “Chevy,” is a subsidiary of General Motors. Founded in 1911 by Louis Chevrolet and William C. Durant, the company overtook Ford in 1929 as America’s best-selling automobile. In 1963, Chevrolet accounted for one of every 10 cars sold in the United States.

The iconic Chevy small-block V8 engine design has been produced continually since 1955 and is the longest-standing mass-produced engine in the world. Chevrolet was also a key player in the realm of electric cars with its highly touted Chevy Volt, a plug-in electric that won 2012 American Car of the Year and World Green Car of the Year.

The Volt, obviously, is not the only Chevrolet car that has made waves. In 1953, Chevy produced its first Corvette and the model has been synonymous with affluence and prosperity ever since, and it is still one of the most highly renowned sports cars. Camaro is another sports model, first introduced in 1966.

Chevrolet doesn’t just build quality cars, but trucks and SUVs as well. The Avalanche, Suburban, Equinox and Tahoe are popular among the larger vehicles Chevy sells. Chevrolet has long been known for the quality of its trucks, and in the eyes of many is the best truck maker out there.

Chevrolet has a reputation of quality not only in the United States, but also abroad. Operating in 140 countries, Chevrolet is one of the premier worldwide car manufacturers.The United States sells the most Chevy vehicles, typically followed closely by Brazil and then Japan, but the three countries still only account for roughly a little less than two-thirds of total global sales.

The illustrious Chevy logo was not formally introduced until 1913, a good two years after the company was founded. The original logo featured a kind of stylized cursive with “Chevrolet” spelled out. The “bowtie” logo we know so well today, some claim, originated from wallpaper William Durant saw in a French hotel room. Others say it resembles a stylized Swiss cross, or hearkens back to the logo of the Coalettes Coal Co. The yellow outline around the “bowtie” logo did not appear uniformly until 2004.

Chevrolet has all but been the face of NASCAR for decades, as it is the most successful automobile manufacturer ever to be involved in the sport. With 39 manufacturer’s titles and the most recorded wins by manufacturer, Chevrolet continues to set the bar high when it comes to performance on the track.

Cars used in the Sprint Cup series include the Monte Carlo and Impala, and currently the SS car. The Camaro has raced in the Xfinity series and the Silverado in the Camping World Truck series.

Chevrolet sponsors a number of big-name events and teams. Most notably, they have sponsored the famed Manchester United football club since 2012 and have been an official sponsor of Major League Baseball for years.