GMC

General Motors Truck Company (GMC) is a division of General Motors and the second best-selling light truck division in the conglomerate after Chevrolet. GMC manufactures light trucks, SUVs and medium-duty vehicles and in the past has produced fire trucks, military vehicles and ambulances. The company started life as the Rapid Motor Vehicle Company in 1901 and was bought by General Motors in 1909 who adopted the current name. The manager of General Motors at this time was William Durant who embarked on a huge acquisition drive to develop general Motors into the largest car maker in the United States and for a long time, in the world. GMC trucks are almost identical to Chevrolets but there are some superficial differences in grill and detailing.

With the filing for bankruptcy in 2009 by its parent, General Motors, speculation increased that the GMC brand would be dropped but when the announcements were made, Pontiac was the brand name to be dropped in favor of retaining GMC.

General Motors purchased the Rapid Motor Vehicle Company in 1909 and immediately changed the name to “General Motors Trucking Company”, or simply GMC as it better known. General Motors was managed by William Durant at this time and he had embarked on a rapid plan of expansion by buying up car makers who had brands and models which sold to a particular niche – GMC was to form the truck division of General Motors and today, it is the second best selling division of light trucks after Chevrolet. Indeed, GMC trucks are almost identical to Chevrolets though there are some superficial differences in grillwork and cab detailing and all models are built on the same platforms.

With General Motors filing for bankruptcy in 2009, there was a great deal of speculation that the GMC brand would disappear, however, it has become clear that GMC will be retained as a brand at the expense of the Pontiac marque.