Chevrolet was the first major auto manufacturer to build an assembly plant on the West Coast. The year was 1916, and the location was the corner of Foothill Blvd. and 73rd Avenue in Oakland CA. The plant was in service until 1963. After the closure it became the Eastmont Shopping Mall.

The plant was co-owned by Chevrolet's Billy Durant and Norman DeVaux, the Northern California sales manager. When Durant lost control of GM in 1920, GM paid DeVaux $4 million for his share of the plant. Durant and Devaux went on to build a "Durant" plant at International and Durant streets in Oakland, which later produced DeVaux cars in 1931.

Durant plant in 1922 on International Blvd. More photos and info here.