Content
The Past (1885-2009)
1885-1909
- The industry develops, evolves and transforms, getting ready for the large-scale production of vehicles that are good enough for regular, albeit limited, daily use
- A large number of automotive companies are created in several areas of the world, and most manage to survive only for 2 to 10 years, during the 1899-1909 period
- some concentrate on the chassis and the engine
- many are just body makers
- This is a tradition that would continue in a significant way until the 1960s and 70s; consider the examples of
- some are simply assemblers
- Innovation drives sales growth in a big way, during this period
- Electric, steam and ICE cars share the market in almost equal proportions, during the early 1900s
1910-1920
- WWI is a catalyst for technical innovations and new government-funded applications of the automotive technology
- The social and political mindset is slowly catching up with the realities of the technology; other technologies related to mobility become more popular during this decade, especially
- planes
- tanks, armored vehicles
1921-1959
- By the 1920s steam and electric cars cease to be competitive and are not offered any longer to the majority of the buyers
- WWII pushes development of new products and more efficient industrial lines
- The SUV category enters the market: Jeeps become popular
- During this period, we have the standardization of functional components such as the dashboard, the pedals, other internal accessories, and some safety features (with seatbelts becoming prevalent only from the 1970s on)
- Larger numbers of women across the world become regular car users
- Car racing becomes one of the most popular sports
- Speed records attract a lot of attention and media coverage