New “Ford vs. Chevrolet” Podcast Tells the Story of an Epic Detroit Rivalry
Ford vs. Chevrolet is one of the all-time great American car rivalries, and now it’s the subject of a new podcast miniseries.
Business Wars: Ford vs. Chevrolet was written and narrated by author and historian A.J. Baime. The four-part podcast is part of Wondery’s larger Business Wars series.
With both automakers headquartered just a short drive apart in the Detroit area, the Ford-Chevy battle for dominance feels a little more personal. It’s always been that way, ever since the 1920s when new General Motors executive William Knudsen took aim at Ford.
Until then, Ford had dominated American car sales. Knudsen declared a new goal for his company: sell one Chevrolet for every vehicle sold by Ford. After a few years, he succeeded, setting the stage for a competition that’s lasted nearly a century.
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Ford vs. Chevrolet traces the automakers’ rivalry from those early years to their World War II cooperation and Chevy’s midcentury dominance. It covers their fierce sports car competitions — Corvette vs. Thunderbird, Camaro vs. Mustang — and racetrack battles of the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s.
The podcast also recounts the events of the 1970s and 1980s, a difficult era for American automakers. While Ford managed to regain its advantage during this period, both rivals were primarily trying to survive an influx of more agile foreign competitors.
The series wraps up with a look at the rivals’ post-Great Recession fortunes as they position themselves for a future of electric vehicles, self-driving technology, and other seismic changes.
Business Wars: Ford vs. Chevrolet is available on Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher, and other major podcast platforms. You can also listen on Wondery’s website.
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News Sources: Detroit Free Press, Wondery
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