A brief history of General Motors Corp.

As General Motors Corp. prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary, some key events in the giant automaker's history:

Sept. 16, 1908 — General Motors Company founded by William C. Durant.

1909 — GM sells 25,000 cars and trucks.

1910 — Durant brings the Buick, Olds, Pontiac, Cadillac, Champion ignition, AC spark plug and other companies into GM. Sales rise 60 percent, but earnings lag. Durant is ousted by bankers as company sinks into debt.

1911 — Electric self-starter first appears on a Cadillac.

1916 — GM incorporated as General Motors Corp. Durant, after founding company that builds Chevrolets, regains control.

1917-19 — GM shifts most truck production to war effort.

1920 — Durant resigns, later files personal bankruptcy and dies running bowling alleys.

1920s — GM creates product policy aiming Buick, Pontiac, Chevrolet, Oldsmobile and Cadillac at five different groups of buyers.

1921 — GM accounts for 12 percent of U.S. car market.

1923 — Alfred P. Sloan named president and chief executive.

1925 — GM acquires Vauxhall Motors Ltd. of Great Britain.

1929 — GM acquires Adam Opel AG of Germany.

1937 — Violent sit-down strikes by GM hourly workers in Flint, Mich., shake company, lead to United Auto Workers representation.

1941 — GM market share grows to 41 percent.

1942 — Civilian auto production halted and plants turned to war effort.

1945-46 — Workers strike for 113 days.

1948 — First automobile fins unveiled, on a Cadillac.

1949 — After purchase of National City Lines of Los Angeles, GM accused of buying streetcar companies since 1920s and replacing them with bus systems. GM is convicted just once, of conspiracy in the Los Angeles case.

1953 — Air conditioning first offered, on a Cadillac.