Pat Devereux

A VOICE OF REASON IN THE LAND OF THE FREE PART 6: WHO OWNS WHOM

Yep, there has been a stack of changes to the US auto landscape in the past few years. But the good news is that it’s much easier to sort out now. Between 1900 and 1930, there were 1,800 US carmakers. Today, there are just 13 making cars in the USA.

OK, so who are they?

In no particular order: General Motors, Fiat Chrysler, Ford, Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Hyundai-Kia, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Mazda, Mitsubishi, VW and Subaru.

And aren’t they split into various other brands?

Yes. Let’s start with GM, which includes Buick, which shares a lot of Vauxhall and Opel models; Cadillac; Chevrolet, which makes everything from the mini Spark to the stomping Corvette Stingray Z06; and GMC, which is a pickup and SUV maker. The GM stable also used to include Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Saturn, Hummer and Saab, all of which have now died or moved on.

GM owns all those brands? I could’ve sworn some of those belonged to other car companies...

These brands have only ever been independent or owned by GM. The company did have afliations with other carmakers that might be confusing you. In the past, it has worked with Fiat, Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru’s parent company), PSA and Suzuki. Can I continue now?

Yes, please do… ith all the takeovers, closures and mergers, I can’t keep up with the car industry. Who owns what, and what do they make?

OK, there’s been lots of change at Fiat Chrysler. As the name suggests, the two companies have merged. Starting with the US nameplates, there’s Chrysler, which makes the more upmarket cars and minivans; Dodge, which makes the sporty ones like the Viper and now, once