Canada

A timeline of auto industry mergers

As speculation about a General Motors and Chrysler merger heats up, CBCNews.ca takes a look at a century of auto industry hookups and breakups.

WHO OWNS WHAT?

GM – Chevrolet, GMC, Pontiac, Buick, Cadillac, Saturn, Opel, Vauxhall, Holden, Saab, Hummer.

Ford – Ford, Volvo, Lincoln Mercury, Mazda.

Chrysler – Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge.

Toyota – Toyota, Daihatsu, Lexus, Scion.

Volkswagen – VW, Skoda, Seat, Audi, Lamborghini, Bentley.

Renault – Renault, Nissan, Dacia, Renault-Samsung, VAZ.

BMW – BMW, Rolls-Royce, Mini.

Tata Motors – Tata, Jaguar, Land Rover, Daewoo Trucks.

As speculation about a General Motors and Chrysler merger heats up, CBCNews.ca takes a look at a century of auto industry hookups and breakups.

1904: Ford starts manufacturing in Canada in partnership with carriage-maker Gordon McGregor.

1908: General Motors Company is organized in September, incorporating the Buick Motor Company. Oldsmobile becomes the second company to join General Motors when Olds Motor Works is sold to GM in November 1908. Fisher Body Company is incorporated in July 1908.

1954: American luxury carmaker Packard buys U.S. wagon and carmaker Studebaker, forming the Studebaker-Packard Corporation.

1958: The final Packard vehicle rolls off the production line.

1971: Chrysler buys stake in Japanese automaker Mitsubishi.

1976: French motorcycle manufacturer Citroën buys bankrupt French auto company Peugeot.

1979: Ford buys stake in Japanese carmaker Mazda. Ford increases its ownership stake in Mazda during the 1980s.

1979: French automaker Renault buys a stake in American Motors Corporation.

1987: Ford buys controlling stake in British luxury carmaker Aston Martin.

March 1987: Chrysler buys American Motors Corporation.

December 1989: GM announces it will buy half of Swedish automaker Saab. GM buys the remaining half in 2000.

February 1990: Ford buys British carmaker Jaguar.

1993: Chrysler sells off remaining stake in Mitsubishi.

June 1998: Volkswagen buys Rolls-Royce and Bentley.

November 1998: Chrysler and Daimler Benz announce $38-billion merger.

January 1999: Ford buys Sweden's Volvo.

1999: GM buys controlling stake in Isuzu.

March 1999: Renault and Nissan form alliance, maintaining distinct brands but holding shares in each other's companies.

March 2000: GM buys stake in Italian automaker Fiat.

2000: Ford buys Land Rover from BMW.

March 2000: DaimlerChrysler buys stake in Mitsubishi.

June 2000: DaimlerChrysler buys stake in Hyundai.

2001: General Motors buys failed South Korean automaker Daewoo Motors.

2002: Isuzu buys back most of GM's shares in Isuzu.

June 2006: GM board members reportedly consider offer to form alliance with Renault-Nissan.

September 2006: Published reports say executives from GM and Ford have held merger talks.

February 2007: GM in high-level talks to buy Chrysler Group from DaimlerChrysler, say reports.

May 2007: DaimlerChrysler sells Chrysler Group to Cerberus Capital Management.

June 2008: India's Tata Motors buys Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford.

August 2008: Chrysler, Fiat hold partnership talks, according to reports.

October 2008: Wall Street Journal reports Renault wants to buy or partner with Chrysler.

October 2008: GM, Chrysler hold merger talks.

October 2008: Reports say Ford considering selling its stake in Mazda.