The first automobile company to celebrate 100 years of business was Oldsmobile, which marked its centennial in 1997.
Ransom E. Olds founded the Olds Motor Vehicle Company in Lansing, Michigan, in 1897. The company became famous for the Curved Dash Oldsmobile, introduced in 1901 and widely regarded as the first mass-produced automobile. Its early success helped establish automobile manufacturing as a scalable business rather than a craft industry.
Oldsmobile became part of General Motors in 1908 but continued operating as a distinct marque. Its engineering reputation grew through innovations such as the Rocket V8 engine and the Hydra-Matic automatic transmission, introduced for the 1940 model year. These achievements sometimes cause confusion with claims about the first mass-produced car or the first automatic-transmission car—different milestones involving different vehicles and dates.
Oldsmobile’s centennial celebration took place in Lansing in 1997. The brand ultimately lasted 107 years, ending production in 2004, making it the oldest American automobile marque at the time it was discontinued.