Buick became part of General Motors (GM) in 1908, but the brand’s history starts several years earlier.

Buick was founded in 1899 by David Dunbar Buick as the Buick Auto-Vim and Power Company, producing its first two cars in 1899 and 1900. The Buick Motor Company was fully realized and established in 1903, selling its first car publicly in 1904 called the Model B. Buick eventually made over 8,000 cars by 1908.

William C. Durant—founder of the Durant-Dort Carriage Company in Flint, Michigan (the largest manufacturer of horse-drawn vehicles in the United States)—formed the General Motors Company in 1908 as a holding company with partner Charles Stewart Mott. GM’s first acquisition was Buick.

Since then, General Motors has expanded its reach by acquiring the most well-known vehicle brands including Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac.

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