Founded in 1902 by Henry M. Leland from the remains of the Henry Ford Company, Cadillac was named after Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, Detroit’s founder . It became an early leader in precision manufacturing—winning the 1908 Dewar Trophy for interchangeable parts—and was acquired by GM in 1909 . Known as the "Standard of the World," Cadillac pioneered innovations such as electric starters, V‑8 engines, clutchless transmissions, and the iconic Art & Science design in the 2000s .