ABSTRACT
William Durant, who was largely responsible for the creation of General Motors in the United States, had quite the contrary reputation.5 Durant, who had made his fortune as the largest wagon maker in the United States, offered to sell Buick engines and other components to McLauglins. The offer was accepted, and in 1908 Durant concluded a 15-year agreement with McLauglin's son, Robert, to sell Buick engines and other parts for McLauglin's locally produced automobiles. Robert S. McLauglin became a Director of General Motors (GM), and following Durant's (temporary) fall from power in GM, in 1915 he agreed to build Chevrolets when it was a company independent of General Motors and under Durant's control.6 In the process, McLauglin organized the Chevrolet Motor Company of Canada. Durant regained control of GM in 1916, and in 1918, Chevrolet Canada was sold to, and merged with the US General Motors Corporation. However, McLauglin's connection with Buick was maintained throughout Durant's break with GM, and was continued as a joint venture after the formation of General Motors-Canada.7 This produced the McLauglinBuick that was successfully exported throughout the world.8 By 1921, when the Chrysler Corporation of Canada began production at Windsor, the 'big three' US car producers had become established in Canada.9
