Chevrolet got its start in 1911. William Durant was removed from the General Motors board. So he teamed up with Louis Chevrolet, a successful racecar driver. Together the two made the new auto manufacture, Chevrolet was so successful that Durant was able to buy back a majority share of GM in 1916. Soon after in 1917 Durant was once again president of GM. Durant merged GM and Chevy together that next year. This move was a big one for Chevrolet, making them a powerhouse.