Part 2/12:
Their venture quickly flourished. By aggressively marketing high-quality, affordable carriages, Durant and Dorsett sold around 10,000 units in just a few years, reinvesting the profits into their growing enterprise, the Durant-Dorst Carriage Company. As the 20th century dawned, Durant emerged as one of Michigan’s most successful young industrialists, a self-made millionaire by 1900.
The Birth of General Motors
By 1904, Durant’s expertise as a salesman brought him to the rescue of struggling automotive firm Buick. His leadership turned the company around, and by 1908, Buick had surpassed giants like Ford and Cadillac in U.S. vehicle sales. Recognizing the immense potential of the automobile industry, Durant envisioned creating a diversified automotive empire.