William C. Durant who had been ousted from control of General Motors organized the Chevrolet Motor Company to build cars developed by racecar driver Louis Chevrolet.
Source : Historical Society of Michigan
For more information, see Zlati Meyer, “The original Chevrolet; Co-founder Louis wanted to build performance cars”, Detroit Free Press via Lansing State Journal, November 2, 2011.
For more information about William Durant, see Richard A. Wright, “The free-wheeling gambler who created conservative General Motors”, Detroit News, July 30, 1996.
Mark Phelan, “Some Chevrolets to remember”, Detroit Free Press, July 28, 201l.