This Day in History: Pfizer Inc. (PFE)’s Start, McDonald’s Corporation (MCD) Goes Public, and General Motors Company (GM) Dominates

The event, however, was somewhat marred by ongoing contract negotiations with the United Auto Workers, which took up the lion’s share of auto-industry reporting that day. Despite this labor unrest, the Chicago Tribune managed to offer a concise chronology of General Motors Company (NYSE:GM)’s rise to dominance, and a bit of background on the eventful vehicle:

The 100 millionth vehicle was a Chevrolet Caprice coupe, equipped with just about every option offered, from air conditioning to automatic speed control. It will be shipped to the Alfred P. Sloan Jr. museum in Flint, Mich., where it will be pit on permanent display. …

The pace at which General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) approached the 100 million mark has quickened in recent years. From the first car (a Cadillac) in 1908, it took more than 10 years to build the millionth car (an Oldsmobile) in 1919. The five millionth was a Pontiac built in 1926. The 25 millionth was a Chevrolet assembled in 1940. Another Chevrolet was the 50 millionth in 1954.

The article This Day in History: Pfizer’s Beginnings, McDonald’s Goes Public, and GM Dominates originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Alex Planes holds no financial position in any company mentioned here. Add him on Google+ or follow him on Twitter, @TMFBiggles, for more insight into markets, history, and technology.The Motley Fool recommends General Motors and McDonald’s and owns shares of McDonald’s.

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