General Motors was formed in Flint, Michigan by auto pioneer William Durant, who combined Buick with an assortment of other auto manufacturers and parts suppliers on September 16, 1908. In the next few years, Durant and GM added automakers Oldsmobile, Cadillac, Elmore, and Oakland (later known as Pontiac), along with Reliance Motor Truck Company and the Rapid Motor Vehicle Company (predecessors of
GMC Truck).
In
forming GM in 1908, "Durant introduced two concepts that define manufacturing today: customer choice and industry consolidation." As GM and the auto industry thrived and expanded in and around Flint, Michigan during the 20
th Century, employment opportunities were plentiful, and GM eventually employed close to 85,000 workers in "Vehicle City" by the 1970s.
GM and Flint are now ready to celebrate
GM's 100
th year anniversary (see picture above) this
summer in July with parades, parties, baseball games, paddle boat rides, home tours, car cruises, concerts, new vehicle shows, etc.
What probably won't get celebrated this summer in Flint is this: Almost all of the jobs are gone. Not just most of the GM jobs (there are only about 8,500 left and the number is falling), not just the
automotive jobs, but almost all the manufacturing jobs!
The chart above shows the reality of manufacturing job decline in the Flint area (includes
Genesee County).
