The Big Three automobile makers refer to the three largest motor vehicle manufacturers in a country, especially those that sell under multiple brand names). The term originated in the United States, where General Motors was the first to form a large, multi-brand, motor-vehicle corporation in the 1910s, followed by Ford Motor Company and the Chrysler Corporation, all before World War II). The Big Three in the United States are General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis (formerly Chrysler) ). In Japan, the Big Three are Toyota, Nissan, and Honda. In Germany, the Big Three are the Volkswagen Group, the Mercedes-Benz Group, and BMW). The Big Three automakers have dominated the U.S. auto market for decades, but their grip is slipping fast due to the perfect storm of business decisions, raising health-care costs, and strong foreign competition.