General Motors Overseas Operations

The global` empire of General Motors in the mid-1950s.

COLORS DENOTE TERRITORIES (NOT COUNTRIES) SERVED BY PLANTS, WAREHOUSES OR FOREIGN DISTRIBUTORS DIVISION.

At first glance, this mid-century poster map looks like it could depict any number of Cold War-era political alliances or international NGO’s. But instead, it captures the global extent of the world’s largest company (at the time) – General Motors. Between manufacturing, subsidiary firms, and distributors, GM proudly had flourishing operations across six continents. If it wasn’t exploiting local laborers, then GM would use aggressive takeover tactics to enlarge its market share overseas (see Holden’s in Australia). Cars would be shipped in crates to avoid import tariffs, and bribes flowed freely from company coffers, allowing for a global footprint that greatly exceeded any of its contemporary competitors.

The map was prepared in 1956 by General Drafting Company, Inc. of Convent Station, New Jersey. Published on behalf of the General Motors Corporation.