GM, also known as General Motors Company, is one of the largest worldwide car company and the number one in American vehicle-manufacturing corporations. It was established in 1908, growing to have production plants in more than 30 countries around the world. It has been over 100 years since the creation of one of America’s great truck makers – GMC. It is the oldest brand of the General Motors Company; it is where their story begins.
History of GMC
In 1902, Max Grabowsky sold his first truck to the American Garment Cleaning Company of Detroit. He called this first company Grabowsky Motor Vehicle Company, later reorganized as Rapid Motor Vehicle Company. By 1904, Rapid would turn out 75 trucks from a factory in Pontiac, Michigan.
In 1908, General Motors founder William C. Durant began buying Rapid’s stock, and the company soon became partnered with GMC’s sales force. GMC was growing exponentially and added Rapid fully under the GMC corporation in 1909. That year, a Rapid truck made headlines by climbing to the top of Pike’s Peak. In 1916, a GMC Truck drove across the country from Seattle to New York City in only thirty days, and, in 1926 a 2-ton GMC truck was driven from New York to San Francisco in five days and 30 minutes. GMC trucks were making history!
During the First World War, GMC supplied Model 16 3/4-ton trucks, altering its production to provide 1-ton troop carriers and aviation support vehicles. By 1918, more than 90% of GMC truck manufacturing was for military use. General Motors Truck Company delivered 8,512 trucks to the U.S. government during the war years and earned a Distinguished Service Award. During World War II, General Motors Truck Company produced 600,000 trucks for the United States Armed Forces.
GMC has a long history of providing trucks for war efforts and crisis situations. In 1923, GMC sent trucks to Japan to help the recovery and reconstruction effort due to the Great Kantō earthquake. They continued to provide trucks until the infrastructure was rebuilt. GMC celebrated its 100 anniversary in 2002 and released a book entitled GMC: The First 100 Years, a complete history of the company.
GMC Logos
The GMC logo, which stands for General Motors Truck Company, was first seen on trucks in 1912. The very first logo was orange, black, and white, featuring a scripted GMC with the M underlining the other two letters. This logo was placed on black background, which was inside an orange circle that read General Motors Trucks. However, this emblem was soon deemed too sophisticated for the commercial truck manufacturer. It was replaced with a simple white GMC Truck on a black background.
The GMC logo has had red letters for so long that it is known as the Big Red among loyalists. In 1966, a new GMC logo was introduced. Matching the brand’s minimalistic values, it is nothing more than three letters written in red. An update in 2014 gave it a more of a three-dimensional appearance, but the design and color scheme have stayed the same for half of GMC’s history. Just introduced is a version that will not be red but black, and a new lighted version will be available in 2022. The black GMC logo is available for most models in the GMC lineup, including the Terrain, Acadia, and Canyon, though not the Sierra HD.
GMC Brands
At present, the General Motors Company has only four different brands. GMC, Chevy, Cadillac, and Buick are under the parent company. The GMC brand trucks are the Sierra and the Canyon. They also have the Terrain, Acadia, and Yukon as part of their SUV line.
The Hummer is set for a comeback later this year under the GMC brand later this year. In 2020, General Motors announced the return of the Hummer, this time as a part of GMC instead of a stand-alone. The Hummer lineup includes two models, an electric pickup truck and an SUV. The Edition 1 electric pickup truck features 1,000 horsepower, will accelerate to 60 mph in three seconds, and did become available in late 2021. The new Hummer EV was revealed on October 20, 2020.
Sales
Chevrolet sales are the heart of the General Motor Company, but GMC is its next biggest in sales. We can see by this chart that Chevy out-sells every other brand GMC owns combined. They sell an estimated 2 million vehicles each year. Since 2000, Chevy has topped over 42 million sales worldwide – indicating their popularity among customers. GMC is the fourth automotive company in the world.
Types of Vehicles
There are only two types of vehicles under the GMC name: its trucks and SUVs. These trucks and SUVs are built for durability and affluence. GMC began as a commercial work truck with grit and strength. It has evolved into a solid work truck with style and luxury. Cutting edge technology is incorporated into every vehicle to maintain safety.
Here’s a list of the ones currently available:
Model | Avg Asking Price | Picture | Description |
New: $26,800 Used: $29,843 |  | You never know what lies ahead, but the 2022 Canyon’s powerful and innovative features are engineered and built for all your adventures to come. | |
New: $32,200 Used: $28,081 |  | The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Limited is the peak of GMC performance and design. Its powerful engines, bold presence, and innovative features give you the superior capability to handle what life throws your way. | |
GMC Sierra HD | New: $37,700 Used: $44,936 |  | The 2022 Sierra Heavy Duty pickup truck offers up to 36,000 lbs.† of max towing. It’s built strong, so you can tow strong. Its large driveshaft and rear axle will give you increased durability and strength. And its improved brakes and steering offer superior control. |
New: $27,900 Used: $23,679 |  | With a bold new grille plus restyled GMC signature C-shape lighting, Terrain crossover will turn heads both coming and going. | |
New: $34,800 Used: $28,910 |  | The powerfully efficient Acadia mid-size SUV offers advanced performance to help keep you confidently in control. | |
New: $58,360 Used: $52,100 |  | The 2022 Yukon and Yukon XL give premium a whole new meaning. This powerful full-size SUV is the epitome of GMC performance, advanced technology, and first-class design. | |
GMC Hummer EV Pickup | New: $99,995 Used: Not released |  | GMC HUMMER EV Pickup dominates terrain with revolutionary features and capabilities. |
Most Popular Model
GMC’s full-size Sierra 1500 pickup is frequently the marque’s best-selling vehicle, selling more than 100,000 trucks every year. Its unparalleled diesel engine capabilities are efficient, responsive, and powerful.
The Sierra was first introduced to the market in 1962. It remained in production until 1999. After taking a brief hiatus, it was reintroduced to the market in 2003. The GMC truck is one of the most versatile, powerful, and reliable vehicles on the market. Year after year, The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500’s ranks fourth based on its full size pickup score in Vehicle Dependability Study by J.D. The GMC Sierra 1500 has a score of 8/10, based on the evaluation of many different categories of research and data. It rides smoothly even on rough roads, so you won’t mind driving it to work every day. The Sierra’s massive size means it will never feel like a small truck, but its handling is easy and comfortable.
GMC International Sales
GMC trucks and SUVs can be purchased in Canada, the United States, Mexico, and the Middle East. GMCs are not sold in Europe or Asia. Production plants can be found in the United States and Canada.
Sustainability
GM has stated their vision of the future is clear and simple: a world with zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion. That applies to all of its brands, including the GMC.
The goal is to understand progress will have to be innovative and often rely upon technology and policy fluctuations not always in their control. GMC wants to be transparent with its intentions to maintain accountability. It began a decade ago in 2020, when environmentally friendly changes began in its manufacturing facilities. One of the top goals will be to decrease emissions, however, the ultimate intention is for all of its vehicles to be all-electric models of environmental responsibility.
Safety
When you read a review of the top ten safest vehicles, the General Motors Company name will be listed over and over again. The company earns many awards for safety and dependability from many sources every year. GMCs dedication to safety is seen throughout all of its brands, including GMC. The Safety Alert Seat, Onstar Safety and Security, Teen Driver Settings, and the Safety Assist are examples of their commitment to safety. GMC has a goal of manufacturing all-electric vehicles by 2038. An all-electric Hummer is in the production stage.
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