GMC and Chevrolet make similar trucks. So much so, in fact, that it sometimes seems as if GMC copies Chevy. But how close are these two corporate entities that produce popular (and alike) pickup trucks like the GMC Sierra and the Chevrolet Silverado? Are GMC and Chevrolet the same manufacturer?

While GMC and Chevrolet aren’t actually the same manufacturer, they do share some interesting history. In addition, these two well-loved brands are owned by the same parent company. Yep, you guessed it––General Motors (GM).

These car companies have a history

Although GMC and Chevrolet are different car companies, they do have things in common. William C. Durant, the founder of GM, also founded Chevrolet. According to MotorTrend, the success of the Chevrolet Motor Company ultimately gave Durant the ability to buy back enough GM shares (which he had lost control of at that point) to regain his leadership with General Motors.

But that didn’t last long, and soon Durant lost it all again. According to GMC, Rapid Motor Vehicle (which ultimately took on the GMC brand), went under the General Motors corporate umbrella just a few short years before the union with Chevy. That means that all three brands were along for the bumpy beginning of the GM ride that was finally reined in and organized by Alfred P. Sloan, Jr.––according to Brittanica.

GMC and Chevrolet grew up together

Although Chevrolet was invested in the production of cars, GMC remained strictly a truck company. But that didn’t stop Chevy from making pickup trucks too. Then when the SUV segment started to blow up, models like the Chevrolet Blazer, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Jimmy (taking its name from the famed Yellow Truck & Coach military truck), and the GMC Yukon hit the scene and carved a name for GM in terms of rugged, mainstream SUVs.

Both the GMC Sierra and the Chevrolet Silverado are iconic pickup trucks. These two truck models are two of the most recognizable models in each brand’s lineup. But many people say these trucks are twins and claim that there are virtually no differences between one pickup and the other.

Are GMC and Chevrolet the same manufacturer?

No, they are not technically the same manufacturer. That said, these two brands do share a lot of components between the two SUV and truck lineups. In some cases, GMC and Chevrolet are built on the same platform, with the same engine options, on the same factory line––according to GM Authority.

However, there are separate trim materials and certain components that differ. For example, the GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 look much more different than they used to. There are some obvious parts that aren’t interchangeable.

The trucks still have their differences

Technically, one could say that the two trucks are made by the same manufacturer. But each acts enough on its own in terms of design and style that there really is a line in the sand. Especially for a high number of brand loyalists that do not cross-shop the GMC Sierra 1500 and the Chevrolet Silverado 1500.

The pickup trucks by these two different brands do reside beneath GM’s corporate umbrella. GMC pickup trucks are marketed more toward the buyer that want a more luxurious trim. The larger selection of less expensive Chevrolet options draws a different crowd.

That said, each brand offers a wide variety of SUVs and pickup trucks that range from bare-bones base models to a more luxurious feel. These two brands may not be the same manufacturer, but they are close within a tight-knit corporate family. GMC and Chevrolet have a long history and continue full-steam ahead as separate (but related) subsidiaries of General Motors.