Chevrolet facts for kids
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Chevrolet dealership in Wallingford, Connecticut, June 2014
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Formerly
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| Division | |
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | November 3, 1911 |
| Founder | Arthur Chevrolet Louis Chevrolet William C. Durant |
| Headquarters |
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U.S.
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Area served
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Key people
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Alan Batey (SVP) |
| Products | Automobiles Commercial vehicles Trucks |
| Brands | Chevrolet Performance |
| Services |
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| Parent | General Motors (1918–present) |
Chevrolet (pronounced SHEV-rə-LAY) is a famous American car brand. It's a part of a bigger company called General Motors (GM). In North America, Chevrolet makes and sells many different types of vehicles. These range from small cars to large commercial trucks. Because Chevrolet is so well-known, people sometimes use "Chevrolet" or its nickname "Chevy" (SHEV-ee) to talk about General Motors or its products.
The company was started on November 3, 1911. The founders were Louis Chevrolet (a Swiss race car driver), his brother Arthur Chevrolet, and William C. Durant. Durant was actually the founder of General Motors but had been removed from his position. He used the Chevrolet Motor Car Company to buy back control of General Motors. This happened in a "reverse merger" on May 2, 1918. After Durant left GM again in 1919, Alfred Sloan decided that Chevrolet should be the main brand for GM. He wanted Chevrolet to sell cars for everyone, no matter their budget. Chevrolet competed with Henry Ford's Ford Model T and became the best-selling car in the United States by 1929.
Chevrolet cars are sold in most parts of the world. In places like Oceania (Australia and New Zealand), Chevrolet returned in 2018 after a long time away. They started selling popular models like the Chevrolet Camaro and Chevrolet Silverado pickup trucks. In 2021, General Motors Specialty Vehicles took over selling Chevrolets there. Chevrolet was also relaunched in Europe in 2005, mainly selling cars made by GM Daewoo from South Korea. The idea was to make Chevrolet a brand that offered good value. However, GM decided in late 2013 to pull Chevrolet from Europe by 2016, except for the Camaro and Chevrolet Corvette. Chevrolet vehicles are still sold in countries like Russia. When General Motors fully bought GM Daewoo Motors in 2011, the Daewoo brand was stopped in South Korea and replaced by Chevrolet.
The Story of Chevrolet
How Chevrolet Began
The Chevrolet Motor Car Company officially started on November 8, 1911. It was founded by Swiss race car driver Louis Chevrolet and his brother Arthur Chevrolet. They teamed up with William C. Durant and other investors. Durant had founded General Motors in 1908 but was removed from his leadership role in 1910. He had hired Louis Chevrolet to race Buick cars to promote them. Durant planned to use Louis Chevrolet's racing fame to help his new car company.
The first Chevrolet factory was in Flint, Michigan. It was located where "Chevy Commons" is today. One cool thing about early Chevrolet cars was their engine design. They used an "overhead valve" engine from the start. This design was more efficient than other engines used at the time.
The First Chevrolet Cars
The first Chevrolet car was called the Chevrolet Series C Classic Six. It was designed by Etienne Planche, following Louis Chevrolet's ideas. The first test car was ready months before the company officially started. However, the first cars for sale were actually the 1913 models. These were shown at the New York International Auto Show in the fall of 1912.
The Famous Bowtie Logo
Chevrolet first used its well-known "bowtie emblem" logo in 1914. It appeared on the H series and L series models. There are a few stories about where the logo came from. One idea is that William C. Durant saw the pattern on wallpaper in a French hotel. Another idea is that it came from a logo for a coal company called "Coalettes" in 1911. Some people also think it's a stylish version of the Swiss flag's cross, honoring Louis Chevrolet's home country.
Over the years, Chevrolet used different versions of the bowtie logo. Sometimes it was blue for cars and gold for trucks. In 2004, Chevrolet decided to use the gold bowtie for all its vehicles. This helped make the brand look more unified. It also helped Chevrolet stand out from rivals like Ford Motor Company (which uses a blue oval logo) and Dodge (which often uses red).
Chevrolet Joins General Motors
Louis Chevrolet and William C. Durant had disagreements about car designs. In 1914, Louis sold his share of the company to Durant. By 1916, Chevrolet was doing very well, especially with sales of the cheaper Chevrolet Series 490. This success allowed Durant to buy back control of General Motors. After this deal in 1918, Durant became president of General Motors again. Chevrolet then became a separate division within GM.
In 1918, Chevrolet introduced the Chevrolet Series D, which had a V8 engine. However, sales were not good, and it was stopped in 1919. Also in 1919, GMC trucks started being sold as Chevrolet trucks. They used the same parts as Chevrolet passenger cars.
Chevrolet Grows and Changes
Chevrolet continued to compete with Ford throughout the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. After Chrysler Corporation created the Plymouth brand in 1928, Chevrolet, Ford, and Plymouth were known as the "Low-priced three." In 1929, Chevrolet introduced its "Stovebolt" six-cylinder engine. This gave Chevrolet an advantage over Ford, which was still selling cars with four-cylinder engines. During the Great Depression, Chevrolet cars like the Chevrolet Master looked more modern. Before and after World War II, the Chevrolet Deluxe and Chevrolet Fleetline were very popular.
Chevrolet had a big impact on the American car market in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1953, they made the Chevrolet Corvette, a cool two-seater sports car with a fiberglass body. In 1957, Chevy offered its first fuel-injected engine. By 1963, one out of every ten cars sold in the United States was a Chevrolet!
During the 1960s and early 1970s, the Chevrolet Impala was one of the best-selling cars ever. Other successful models included the mid-sized Chevrolet Chevelle and the affordable Chevrolet Nova. These cars came as family sedans, station wagons, and sporty coupes. As smaller, fuel-efficient imported cars became popular in the 1970s and 1980s, Chevrolet introduced models like the Chevrolet Vega and Chevrolet Chevette.
When Chevrolet needed more small cars, they started importing Japanese models and selling them as Chevrolets. Cars like the Chevrolet Sprint (from Suzuki) and Chevrolet Spectrum (from Isuzu) helped them compete with cars like the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic. Chevrolet also made its first front-wheel-drive cars, like the Chevrolet Citation and Chevrolet Cavalier. In the 1990s, Chevrolet partnered with Toyota to create the Geo Prizm. They also offered popular family sedans like the Chevrolet Lumina and SUVs like the Trailblazer and Chevrolet Traverse.
The basic Chevrolet small-block V8 engine has been made continuously since 1955. It's one of the longest-produced engines in the world! Modern versions have been updated with new technology, but the basic design is still there.
In 2000, Chevrolet brought back the famous Impala. This time, it was a mid-sized, front-wheel-drive sedan. It was made until 2020.
Chevrolet has recovered well from economic challenges by launching new and improved vehicles. In late 2010, General Motors started making the plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volt. This car won many awards, including North American Car of the Year. The Volt was the world's best-selling plug-in hybrid for a while. By October 2015, over 100,000 Volt cars had been sold worldwide.
In October 2016, GM started making the Chevrolet Bolt EV. This was the first affordable all-electric car that could travel over 200 miles on a single charge. The Chevrolet Bolt won many awards, including Motor Trend Car of the Year. On February 14, 2021, Chevrolet showed off the updated 2022 Bolt EUV and redesigned Bolt EV.
Chevrolet Around the World
Chevrolet sells vehicles in many countries. In 2011, they sold a record 4.76 million vehicles worldwide.
| Rank in GM |
Location | Vehicle sales |
Market share (%) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  United States |
1,175,812 | 36.9% | ||||
| 2 |  Brazil |
632,201 | 13.3% | ||||
| 3 |  China |
595,068 | 12.5% | ||||
| 4 |  Russia |
173,485 | 3.6% | ||||
| 5 |  Mexico |
162,461 | 3.4% | ||||
| 6 |  Canada |
150,540 | 3.2% | ||||
| 7 |  Argentina |
133,491 | 2.8% | 8 |  Uzbekistan |
121,584 | 2.6% |
| 9 |  India |
111,056 | 2.3% | ||||
| 10 |  Colombia |
105,783 | 2.2% |
| Location | Vehicle sales |
|---|---|
| United States |
1,437,604 |
| Brazil |
242,108 |
| China |
229,600 |
| Mexico |
118,969 |
| Canada |
108,786 |
| Uzbekistan |
> 100,000 |
 South Korea |
54,292 |
 Chile |
38,657 |
| Colombia |
34,624 |
 Kazakhstan |
> 28,500 |
North America
Canada
Chevrolet has a strong presence in Canada, similar to the United States.
Mexico
Mexico sells a mix of Chevrolet models. Some come from the US, some from GM Korea, and some are made in Mexico. For example, the Chevy C2 was a redesigned older Corsa model made in Mexico.
Asia
China
By 2009, China became Chevrolet's third-largest market. In 2010, Chevy sold over half a million cars there, with the Cruze being the most popular. In 2018, over 673,000 Chevrolets were sold in China.
India
Chevrolet officially started selling cars in India in 2003. They sold many models like the Chevrolet Cruze and Chevrolet Spark. Chevrolet also supplied engines for a racing series in India. In 2017, GM stopped making and selling Chevrolet cars in India, but they still provide service for existing cars.
Indonesia
In 1999, Opel cars in Indonesia were rebranded as Chevrolet. Chevrolet stopped selling and making cars in Indonesia by March 2020.
Japan
From 1995 to 2000, Toyota sold the Chevrolet Cavalier in Japan as the Toyota Cavalier. In return, GM sold the Geo/Chevrolet Prism in the US. In the 2000s, Suzuki sold the Chevrolet TrailBlazer and the Chevrolet Optra wagon in Japan. Suzuki also made and sold the Chevrolet MW microvan.
As of 2022, General Motors Japan imports and sells the Camaro and right-hand-drive Corvette in Japan.
Kazakhstan
In March 2020, a plant in Kostanay, Kazakhstan, started assembling Chevrolet cars. These cars are put together from parts shipped from other places.
Kyrgyzstan
A new assembly plant is opening near Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan in summer 2024. It will assemble Chevrolet and Isuzu vehicles. The first Chevrolet car to be assembled there will be the Chevrolet Cobalt compact sedan.
Malaysia
Chevrolet came to Malaysia in 2003. In 2010, Naza Quest Sdn Bhd took over as Chevrolet's dealer. They sold models like the Chevrolet Sonic and Chevrolet Cruze. In 2018, Naza Quest stopped selling new Chevrolet vehicles but still provides service for existing customers.
Middle East
In the Middle East, Chevrolet cars, trucks, and SUVs come from GM Korea and North America. Some high-performance models, like the CR8 sedan, came from Holden Special Vehicles in Australia. The Holden Commodore was sold as the Chevrolet Lumina in the Middle East.
Pakistan
In Pakistan, Chevrolet partnered with Nexus Automotive. They sold models like the Chevrolet Optra and Chevrolet Spark.
Philippines
Chevrolet has been in the Philippines for a long time. The Yutivo family's General Motors plant used to assemble cars like the Chevrolet Bel-Air and Chevrolet Impala. GM left the Philippines in 1985 but returned in 2000.
Currently, The Covenant Car Company Inc. manages Chevrolet's operations in the Philippines. They have many dealerships across the country. Their current lineup includes the Chevrolet Spark, Chevrolet Sail, and Trailblazer. In 2018, the Corvette was added, and in 2019, the Camaro returned to compete with the Ford Mustang.
South Korea
Many Chevrolet vehicles sold worldwide are designed and made by GM Korea in South Korea. These cars were sold under the Daewoo Motors brand in South Korea until February 2011. The Daewoo brand was completely replaced by Chevrolet in March 2011. All Daewoo products were relaunched as Chevrolet, including the Chevrolet Camaro and Chevrolet Orlando. In 2015, the Impala was added to the lineup. In 2018, some plants closed, and models like the Chevrolet Cruze and Chevrolet Orlando were stopped. Their best-selling vehicles are the Chevrolet Spark and Chevrolet Malibu.
Thailand
The American-made Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck is also made in Rayong, Thailand. From 2003 to 2005, the Holden Commodore was sold as the Chevrolet Lumina in Thailand. General Motors also assembled the Chevrolet Captiva SUV, Chevrolet Aveo, and Chevrolet Cruze at its Rayong plant. Chevrolet stopped selling vehicles in Thailand in 2020.
Uzbekistan
UzAuto Motors (formerly GM Uzbekistan) is a car maker owned by the Government of Uzbekistan. It makes vehicles under the Chevrolet and Ravon brands for sale at home and for export. GM Uzbekistan was partly owned by General Motors, but in 2019, the Government of Uzbekistan bought it completely.
Australia
Australia used to have many American cars. Bodies for Chevrolet cars were built in Australia as early as 1918. By 1926, General Motors (Australia) Pty Ltd had assembly plants in five Australian states. They made Chevrolet and other GM vehicles. In 1931, General Motors (Australia) Pty Ltd merged with Holden Motor Body Builders to create General Motors-Holden. They continued to make Chevrolet cars. Australian Chevrolets were assembled from parts imported from Canada starting in 1949. The last full year of Chevrolet assembly in Australia was 1968.
Classic Chevrolet models like the Chevrolet Bel Air are still found in Australia. From the 1970s to the 1980s, the Chevrolet name was also used on light trucks in Australia. From 1998 to 2001, the Chevrolet Suburban was sold as the Holden Suburban.
Chevrolet and Holden share many models and names, like Malibu and Colorado. The Holden VF Commodore was even sent from Australia to the United States as the Chevrolet SS until Holden stopped making cars in May 2017.
In 2018, the Chevrolet brand returned to Australia and New Zealand. They launched the Camaro 2SS Coupe and the Silverado 2500HD/3500HD. These vehicles kept their Chevrolet badges and names. They were converted to right-hand drive in Australia. With the Holden brand retired in 2021, GM continues to send Chevrolet models to the region under the "General Motors Specialty Vehicles" network.
South Africa
In South Africa, Chevrolet was GM's main brand until 1982. Many cars from Vauxhall and Holden were built under the Chevy name from 1965. In the 1970s, a famous advertising song mentioned "braaivleis, rugby, sunny skies and Chevrolet." This song showed the ideal lifestyle for white South African men.
Originally, Chevrolets were imported as kits and assembled in South Africa. Because South Africa used right-hand drive cars and the US used left-hand drive, and because the South African government wanted local parts, Chevrolets like the Chevrolet Biscayne were eventually made entirely in South Africa. By the 1970s, larger South African Chevrolets were based on Australian Holden models.
However, these were replaced by Opel models, and in 1982, the Chevrolet brand name was dropped. GM left South Africa in 1986, and a local group bought GM's operations. In 2001, the Chevrolet name came back. It was used on the Chevrolet Lumina (a rebadged Holden Commodore) and later on Daewoo cars.
In 2017, GM left South Africa again. Its truck division and plant went to Isuzu. All sales and dealerships for the Chevrolet brand ended. GM worked with Isuzu and PSA (the new owners of Opel) to make sure existing customers still got parts and support.
Europe
Before 2005, Chevrolet Europe sold a few models, mostly US models changed to fit European rules. These included the Chevrolet Alero and Chevrolet Trans Sport. Other models sold were the Chevrolet Camaro, Chevrolet Corvette, and TrailBlazer.
From 2005, all models from GM Daewoo were rebranded as Chevrolet in Europe. In the rest of the world, most Daewoo models had been called Chevrolet since 2003.
From the start of 2016, General Motors reduced its presence in Europe to only its most famous models, like the Chevrolet Corvette. This was to make its Opel and Vauxhall brands stronger. As of March 2016, only the US-built Corvette Stingray and Chevrolet Tahoe, as well as the Russian-built Chevrolet Niva, were sold in Russia.
Currently, as of 2025, only the Corvette Stingray is available in most European countries. In countries like Russia, Chevrolet vehicles are mostly from Uzbekistan-based UzAuto Motors.
Poland
During World War II in Poland, the Polish resistance built an armored car called Kubuś. It was based on a civilian Chevrolet 157 truck chassis. This car was used against the German army in Warsaw during the Warsaw Uprising in 1944. The damaged Kubuś survived the war and is now in a museum.
Russia
GM-AvtoVAZ was a joint company between GM and the Russian company AvtoVAZ. It was started in 2001 and made the Chevrolet Niva, an SUV designed for Russia. This partnership ended in December 2019.
General Motors also had a factory in Saint Petersburg, Russia. It made SUVs like the Opel Antara and Chevrolet Captiva, and the Chevrolet Cruze. This factory stopped production in July 2015. Chevrolet vehicles were also made at the Avtotor plant in Kaliningrad.
As of December 2017, the Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Camaro, Chevrolet Corvette, and Chevrolet Niva were officially sold in Russia. In April 2022, both sales channels for Chevrolet vehicles in Russia stopped due to international sanctions.
South America
Many GM vehicles in Latin America were changed versions of older models from North America and Europe. However, more modern vehicles are now being sold as markets change.
Argentina
In 1924, General Motors de Argentina started importing Chevrolet cars. In 1925, GM decided to make cars in Argentina to save costs. They started producing a sedan, a roadster, a truck chassis, and the Chevrolet Double Phaeton, which was called "Especial Argentino." This model was made only for Argentina.
During World War II, car production stopped. After the war, GM started making Oldsmobile and Pontiac cars, and then Chevrolet was added. In 1959, plants were expanded to make cars, pickups, and trucks. On January 25, 1960, the first Argentine Chevrolet pickup was introduced. On March 12, 1962, the first Chevrolet 400 was made, based on the North American Chevy II. By 1969, the Chevy line, based on the American Chevy Nova, was introduced.
In the mid-1970s, General Motors' sales in Argentina dropped a lot. The company decided to stop making cars there. The Chevrolet brand came back in 1985 for pickup trucks. In 1995, a new factory was built near Rosario, Santa Fe, to make the Opel-based Chevrolet Corsa and the Suzuki-based Chevrolet Grand Vitara for export. By 2010, the cars sold were mostly based on GM Korea models.
Brazil
In Brazil, the Chevrolet Opala was based on the German Opel Rekord and American Chevrolet Nova. It was made until the early 1990s. Other smaller Chevrolets in Brazil, like the Kadett and Monza, were based on Opel models.
Chevrolet's cars in Brazil included unique designs like the Corsa "B" based Chevrolet Celta. The current car lineup includes the Cruze, Captiva, and the Chevrolet Onix. The latest car made in Brazil is the Chevrolet Prisma MKII, released in 2013. Utility vehicles include the S-10, Blazer, and the Chevrolet Montana, a small pickup truck.
Chile
Chile sells a mix of Chevrolet models from different GM brands and places. Chevrolet started making cars in Chile in 1962. The Chevrolet C/K truck was made in Chile between 1975 and 1988.
Ecuador
Chevrolet has been in Ecuador for 80 years. GM Ecuador sells US Chevrolets and models from GM Korea. They also sell the 1983 Suzuki Supercarry as a Chevrolet.
Venezuela
In Venezuela, Chevrolet has been operating since 1948. Truck production started in Caracas. In 1979, production moved to a plant in Valencia. Chevrolet assembled over 1,500,000 vehicles in its first 50 years in Venezuela.
Colombia
The Colombian Automotive Factory SA (Colmotores) started making Chevrolet cars in 1980. Colmotores has a large share of the local market. They sell models from GM Korea and Suzuki, like the Aveo, Optra, and Spark.
Trinidad and Tobago
Chevrolet cars and trucks have been sold in Trinidad and Tobago since the early 1920s. All cars were right-hand drive and imported from Canada and Australia. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Australian Holden DeVilles were sold as Chevrolet Caprices. The brand left the market in 1974.
Chevrolet returned in 1998 with the Chevy Monza and Joy, but they didn't do well. In 2003, another dealer sold the Aveo and Optra. A later dealer, Lifestyle Motors, had more success. Models available included the Chevrolet Colorado, Spark, Aveo, Optra, Captiva SUV, and Epica. In March 2011, the Cruze was added to the lineup.
Chevrolet Car Models
Chevrolet in Sports
Chevrolet is very active in car racing around the world. They are especially famous in NASCAR, IndyCar, and the FIA World Touring Car Championship.
NASCAR
Major teams like Hendrick Motorsports and Richard Childress Racing use Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE cars. Chevrolet is the most successful manufacturer in NASCAR. They have won many championships and races. In the past, models like the Chevrolet Lumina and Chevrolet Monte Carlo were used. Today, NASCAR Cup Series teams use the Camaro ZL1 1LE. Xfinity teams use the Camaro SS, and Truck Series teams race with the Silverado.
IndyCar
Chevrolet won six Indianapolis 500 races in a row from 1988 to 1993. They also won five CART Series championships. Famous drivers like Rick Mears and Al Unser Jr. drove for them. Chevrolet returned to IndyCar in 2012 after Honda was the only engine provider for several years. Chevrolet has won several races, including the Indianapolis 500 in 2013, 2015, 2018–2019, 2023–2024. They have also won seven driver championships.
Tudor United SportsCar Championship
The Chevrolet Corvette races in the GT LeMans class for the Tudor United SportsCar Championship. Corvette Racing started in 1999 and has won many championships. The Corvette also takes part in the famous French 24 Hours of Le Mans race.
FIA World Touring Car Championship
In 2005, Chevrolet joined the WTCC with a version of the Chevrolet Lacetti. In 2009, the Chevrolet Cruze replaced the Lacetti. It won the Drivers' and Manufacturers' championships from 2010 to 2012.
British Touring Car Championship
Chevrolet also raced in the British Touring Car Championship with the Chevrolet Cruze between 2010 and 2011.
British Football
In May 2012, Chevrolet became the official car sponsor of the English football team Manchester United. From the 2014–15 season, Chevrolet became the team's main shirt sponsor. This deal was for seven years and was worth a record $560 million USD.
In July 2012, Chevrolet also partnered with the English Premier League team Liverpool F.C.. This deal ended early in 2014 when GM pulled the Chevrolet brand out of Europe.
Racecars
| Year | Vehicle | Image | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Chevrolet Impala |  |
NASCAR Gen 1 |
| 1966 | Chevrolet Corvair | Group 2 | |
| 1967 | Chevrolet Camaro |  |
Group 2 |
| Chevrolet Chevelle | NASCAR Gen 2 | ||
| Chevrolet Malibu | NASCAR Gen 2 | ||
| 1971 | Chevrolet Corvette | IMSA GTO | |
| Chevrolet Monte Carlo | NASCAR Gen 2 | ||
| 1973 | Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna | .jpg) |
NASCAR Gen 2 |
| 1976 | Chevrolet Monza |  |
Group 5 |
| 1977 | Chevrolet Monza | IMSA GTO | |
| 1979 | Chevrolet Camaro Z28 | Group C | |
| 1980 | Chevrolet Corvette C2 Sting Ray | IMSA GTO | |
| Chevrolet Corvette C3 | IMSA GTO | ||
| Chevrolet Nova | IMSA GTO | ||
| 1981 | Chevrolet Malibu | NASCAR Gen 3 | |
| Chevrolet Monte Carlo |  |
NASCAR Gen 3 | |
| 1984 | Chevrolet Corvette GTP |  |
IMSA GTP |
| 1987 | Chevrolet Opala |  |
Stock Car Brazil |
| 1988 | Chevrolet Corvette C4 | IMSA GTO | |
| 1989 | Chevrolet Lumina |  |
NASCAR Gen 3 |
| 1990 | Chevrolet Opala |  |
Stock Car Brazil |
| 1991 | Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 | IMSA GTO | |
| 1992 | Chevrolet Lumina |  |
NASCAR Gen 4 |
| 1994 | Chevrolet Omega |  |
Stock Car Brazil |
| 1995 | Chevrolet C/K |  |
NASCAR Truck |
| Chevrolet Monte Carlo |  |
NASCAR Gen 4 | |
| 1998 | Chevrolet Silverado | .jpg) |
NASCAR Truck |
| 2000 | Chevrolet Vectra | Stock Car Brazil | |
| 2001 | Chevrolet Corvette LM-GT (C5) | LM GTE | |
| 2004 | Chevrolet Astra | Stock Car Brazil | |
| 2006 | Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS | .jpg) |
NASCAR Gen 4 |
| 2007 | Chevrolet Corvette Z06.R GT3 | .jpg) |
Group GT3 |
| Chevrolet Impala SS | .jpg) |
NASCAR CoT | |
| 2008 | Chevrolet Cruze | .jpg) |
Super 2000 |
| 2009 | Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 C6.R | .jpg) |
LM GTE |
| Chevrolet Impala |  |
NASCAR Gen 4 | |
| Chevrolet Vectra | .jpg) |
Stock Car Brazil | |
| 2010 | Chevrolet Callaway Corvette Z06.R GT3 |  |
Group GT3 |
| Chevrolet Impala |  |
NASCAR CoT | |
| 2012 | Chevrolet Camaro GT3 |  |
Group GT3 |
| Chevrolet Corvette DP |  |
Daytona Prototype | |
| Chevrolet Sonic | Stock Car Brazil | ||
| 2013 | Chevrolet SS |  |
NASCAR Gen 6 |
| 2014 | Chevrolet Corvette C7.R | _(cropped).jpg) |
LM GTE |
| 2016 | Chevrolet Callaway Corvette C7 GT3-R |  |
Group GT3 |
| Chevrolet Cruze |  |
Stock Car Brazil | |
| 2018 | Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 |  |
NASCAR Gen 6 |
| 2020 | Chevrolet Corvette C8.R |  |
LM GTE |
| 2022 | Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 |  |
Next Gen NASCAR |
| 2023 | Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R | .jpg) |
Group GT3 |
| 2025 | Chevrolet Tracker | Stock Car Brazil |
Chevrolet's Look and Marketing
The Chevrolet Bowtie Logo
The Chevrolet bowtie logo was first used by co-founder William C. Durant in late 1913. One story says Durant saw the pattern on wallpaper in a French hotel in 1908. He thought it would be a good logo for a car. Another story from Durant's wife, Catherine, says he saw the design in a newspaper in 1912. A historian named Ken Kaufmann found an advertisement from November 12, 1911, for "Coalettes" coal. This ad had a slanted bowtie shape very similar to the Chevrolet logo. The date was just nine days after Chevrolet Motor Co. was started. Another idea is that the design is a stylish version of the Swiss flag's cross, honoring Louis Chevrolet's Swiss background.
The first bowtie logo without text appeared in 1985. In 2004, Chevrolet started using the gold bowtie for all its cars and trucks worldwide. Before that, the logo was blue for cars and gold for trucks.
Advertising Campaigns
Chevrolet has used many different advertising slogans over the years. Early ads talked about being efficient and saving money. Later, slogans like "See the U.S.A. in Your Chevrolet" (1950s–1960s) became very famous. This slogan was even sung by Dinah Shore on her TV show.
Here are some of Chevrolet's advertising campaigns:
- See the U.S.A. in Your Chevrolet (1950s–1960s)
- Baseball, Hotdogs, Apple Pie & Chevrolet (1975; 2006)
- The Heartbeat of America (1987–1994)
- Like a Rock (1991–2004; for Chevrolet Trucks), featuring the Bob Seger song.
- An American Revolution (2004–2009)
- Chevy Runs Deep (2010–2013; United States): These ads showed Chevrolet as a big part of American life.
- Find New Roads (2013–present; United States, Canada, Latin America): This slogan replaced "Chevy Runs Deep." It encourages people to explore new possibilities. The first "Find New Roads" commercial showed different Chevrolet cars doing cool things.
Reliability Claims Controversy
Chevrolet had an advertisement that claimed their cars were more reliable than Toyota, Honda, and Ford. This ad was pulled after some people complained. Chevrolet's claim was based on a 2015 survey, but many of those car models had been updated since then. Other independent studies by J. D. Power and Consumer Reports did not agree with Chevrolet's claim.
"Chevrolet" vs. "Chevy"
In 2010, a memo was sent to Chevrolet employees. It told them to only use "Chevrolet" when talking about the brand, not "Chevy." The idea was to make the brand message consistent. There was even a "Chevy" jar where employees had to put a quarter if they used the nickname! However, General Motors later said they weren't trying to stop customers from using the "Chevy" name. Since then, some campaigns still use "Chevy," while others use "Chevrolet."
Chevrolet Watches
In 2007, a company was allowed to use the Louis Chevrolet name for a line of fancy Swiss watches. These watches are not made by General Motors. They honor Louis Chevrolet, who co-founded the car company. His father was a watchmaker, and Louis helped him as a child. The watches are called "Frontenac," after a race car company Louis Chevrolet founded. They are made in Switzerland and have designs inspired by old Chevrolet cars.
Images for kids
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Chevrolet plant in Tarrytown, NY, around 1918
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1929 Chevrolet Firebrigade, Porto
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1911–13
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1913–14
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1914–34
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1934–40
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1940–50
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1943–45
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1950–64
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1964–76
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1976–88
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1988–2002
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2023–24
See also
In Spanish: Chevrolet para niños
