Oldsmobile was a brand of American automobiles produced for most of its existence by General Motors. Olds Motor Vehicle Co. was founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897. It produced over 35 million vehicles, including at least 14 million built at its Lansing, Michigan factory. During its time as a division of General Motors, it slotted into the middle of GM's five divisions (above Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, and Cadillac, and below GMC), and was noted for its innovation in design and engineering. In its 107-year history, Oldsmobile produced 35.2 million cars, including 14 million built at its Lansing, Michigan factory. When it was discontinued in 2004, Oldsmobile was the oldest surviving American automobile marque, and one of the oldest in the world, after Renault, Peugeot and Opel. Oldsmobiles were first manufactured by the Olds Motor Vehicle Co. in Lansing, Michigan, a company founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897. In 1901, the company produced 425 cars, making it the largest manufacturer of gasoline-powered automobiles in the world at that time. TheCurved Dash Oldsmobile, the first mass-produced car in the United States, was introduced by Oldsmobile in 1902. It was also the first car to be offered with a factory-installed engine, as opposed to being sold as a kit. In 1904, Oldsmobile was acquired by General Motors (GM), and became one of GM's four main divisions (along with Buick, Cadillac, and Chevrolet). GM continued to produce Oldsmobiles until 2004, when the brand was discontinued. Oldsmobiles were known for their innovation in design and engineering. Some of Oldsmobile's most notable models include the 1903 Curved Dash Oldsmobile (the first mass-produced car in the United States), the 1941 Hydra-Matic transmission (the first fully automatic transmission), and the 1949 Rocket V8 engine (the first high-compression V8 engine). Oldsmobiles were also popular for their exterior accessories, including bumper stickers, decals, and magnets.