History of Automotive

The study of the automotive industry is inherently interesting: it is

massive, it is competitive, and it is just a few years older than a
century. It is expected to undergo major changes in recent times
due to the impact of globalization, increased regulations because
of environmental concerns, and rising fossil fuel prices due to
decreasing oil reserves.

The evolution of the automotive industry has been

influenced by various innovations in fuels, vehicle
components, societal infrastructure, and manufacturing
practices, as well as changes in markets, suppliers and
business structures.
 The year 1600:
Some historians cite examples as early as the year 1600 of sail-mounted carriages as the first
vehicles to be propelled by something other than animals or humans. However, it is
believed by most historians that the key starting point for the automobile was the
development of the engine.
 First Fuel Engine in 1876:
 The engine was developed as a result of discovering new energy-carrying mediums, such as
steam in the 1700s, and new fuels, such as gas and gasoline in the 1800s. Shortly after the
invention of the 4-stroke internal combustion gasoline-fueled engine in 1876, the
development of the first motor vehicles and establishment of the first automotive firms in
Europe and America occurred.
 First Practical Automobile in 1885:

 The first practical automobile with a petrol engine was

built by Karl Benz in 1885 in Mannheim, Germany. Benz
was granted a patent for his automobile on 29 January
1886, and began the first production of automobiles in
1888, after Bertha Benz, his wife, had proved with the first
long-distance trip in August 1888 (104 km (65 mi) from
Mannheim to Pforzheim and back) that the horseless
coach was absolutely suitable for daily use. Since 2008 a
Bertha Benz Memorial Route commemorates this event.
Birth of Automotive Industry (1890 –
1910):
During the 1890s and early 1900s, developments of other
technologies, such as the steering wheel and floor-mounted
accelerator, sped up the development of the automotive industry
by making vehicles easier to use. Almost simultaneously, in
America, the societal infrastructure that would provide fertile
ground for the proliferation of automobiles was being set. Driver’s
licenses were issued, service stations were opened, and car sales
with loan structures were instituted. Famous vehicle models such as
Ford’s Model T were developed during these times and, by 1906,
car designs began abandoning the carriage look and taking on a
more car-like appearance.
 Early Automotive Infrastructure Put
in Place (1910-1920):
During the 1910s, the development of technologies and societal
infrastructure continued in addition to new manufacturing practices and
business strategies. Traffic lights started appearing in the U.S. and thousands
of road signs were posted by B. F. Goodrich on over 100,000 miles of U.S.
roads. Henry Ford’s famous assembly line was launched in 1913, which
allowed vehicles to be mass-produced and thus achieved economies of
scale. Ford also introduced the concept of using interchangeable and
standard parts to further enable the mass production process. Automakers
also started to merge with other companies (e.g., GM acquired Chevrolet)
and to expand to other markets (e.g., GM of Canada)
The era of Mass Production and Variety
(1920-1930):
In the 1920s, the development of infrastructure, adoption of new
manufacturing practices, and the merging of companies continued (e.g.,
Benz and Daimler, Chrysler and Dodge, Ford and Lincoln). In the U.S., the
Bureau of Public Roads and the enactment of the Kahn-Wadsworth Bill
helped facilitate road-building projects and develop a national road system.
In manufacturing, mass production methods became better established,
which led to the availability of a wide range of satisfactory cars to the public.
While Ford had focused on a single model, GM adopted a new production
strategy for providing greater product variety, which helped the company
increase its market share by snatching it from Ford
The decade of New Market Players
(1930-1940):
In the 1930s, several new vehicle brands were developed (e.g., Ford
Mercury, Lincoln Continental, Volkswagen) and trends in vehicle
consumer preferences were established that differentiated the
American and European markets. In the U.S. market, consumers
preferred luxurious and powerful cars, whereas in Europe consumers
preferred smaller and low-priced cars. Also during this time, GM’s
product variety strategy continued to give them a competitive
advantage over Ford, allowing GM to continue increasing its
market share while Ford kept losing theirs.
 The End of World War II (1940-1950)
 Many European and Asian-Pacific countries led to the development of
new products and business strategies. In the 1940s, during World War II
(WWII), automotive factories were used to make military vehicles and
weapons, thus halting civilian vehicle production. After WWII, the
economies of most European and some Asian-pacific countries, such as
Japan, were decimated; this required the development of new products
and business strategies such as those of Toyota, which began to develop
Just in Time (JIT) manufacturing. Most of the first models produced were
similar to the pre-war designs since it took some time for the plants to
revamp their operations to make new designs and models. Using this
strategy there were able to improve return on investment by reducing in-
process inventory and lowering carrying costs
The era of Technological Innovations
(1950-1960)
In the 1950s and 1960s, more technological innovations
brought many changes in the automotive industry.
Some new concepts were, new look and feel of the
automobiles, fiberglass bodies, higher compression ratio
fuels, vehicle comfort, look and feel, emerging safety
and environmental regulations, vehicle speed limits,
front seat belts, and, heating and ventilation
equipment.
 The era of Fuel-Efficient Cars (1970-
1980):
The 1970s were marked by stricter environmental regulations and
the oil crisis of the early 70s, which led to the development of low
emission vehicle technologies, such as catalytic converters.
Foreign cars like the Japanese Honda Civic started appearing in
the U.S. market. Consumer interest in fuel-efficient vehicles was
increasing due to high oil and fuel prices. Vehicles made in Asia
that were highly fuel-efficient began increasing their market share
in developed markets. This decade also marked the beginning of
Lean production by Japanese automakers.
 Start of Globalization (1980 – 1990):
 In this decade affordable, fuel-efficient vehicles continued to
increase their market share. The U.S. automotive industry began
losing market share to the higher quality, affordable, and fuel-
efficient cars from Japanese automakers. Due to this, vehicle
manufacturing became more globalized as auto
manufacturers started assembling vehicles from around the
world. This trend was accelerated in the 1990s with the
construction of overseas facilities and mergers between
multinational automakers. This global expansion gave
automakers a greater capacity to infiltrate new markets quickly
and at lower costs.
 Variety & Empowerment of Consumer
(1990 – 2000):
 The influence of globalization continued in the 1990s. Huge overseas
assembly plants were built and many mergers took place between large,
multinational automakers. This resulted in a greater variety of products in
the marketplace available for consumers to choose from and increased
competition among the automotive players. Increasing sophistication
and empowerment of the consumer-led to new and more specialized
markets with diverse consumer bases such as Southeast Asia and Latin
America. This further fueled global alliances and commercial strategic
partnerships with foreign automakers.
 The era of Financial Troubles (2000 –
Present):
This decade has been tumultuous for automobile and light-duty motor
vehicle manufacturers. Industry revenue growth was very low compared to
past and skyrocketing fuel prices and growing environmental concerns
shifted consumers' preferences away from fuel-guzzling pickup trucks to
smaller, more fuel-efficient cars. The global economic crisis that began in
2007, led to financial troubles for many of the world's largest automakers
and rippled through other countries around the globe, causing
unemployment to rise and wealth to dive. General Motors was hit
particularly hard, filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June 2009. Due to lower
disposable income and growing pessimism about the future, demand for
cars dropped. Motor vehicle sales crashed in 2008 and 2009, although they
have recovered strongly since.
 Car parts and function
.
 Transmission
FRONT PARTS
The transmission is a gearbox filled with gears and
gear trains that makes effective use of the
Engine engine’s torque to change the gears and power
the vehicle. It's what moves the power from the
The heart and soul of your vehicle is the internal
engine to the wheels.
combustion engine. The engine block features parts
such as the timing chain, camshaft, crankshaft, spark
plugs, cylinder heads, valves and pistons.
Battery Alternator
The battery delivers the electricity needed to run type of electric generator to charge the battery
your vehicle’s electrical components. Without a and powers the electrical system while your car is
battery, your car won’t run. running.
Radiator Front Axle
Is to lower the temperature of the hot liquid Part of the suspension system, the front axle is where
coming from your engine & return it cooled. This the front wheel hubs are attached.
then reduces the heat that is produced through
the normal running of the motor. The cooling is
achieved by air flowing over the large surface
area of the radiator itself
Front Steering and Suspension
Your steering system and suspension system are two separate systems that work in tandem to
keep your car under control.
SUSPENSION-SYSTEM
The suspension system supports the weight of your vehicle, provides a smooth ride and
creates stable road control, drivability and handling.
STEERING-WHEEL
The steering system provides directional control of your car. In a way, your steering system
selects the direction of the suspension system and the car simply follows along as it is riding
atop of the suspension system.
 Back parts
Brakes Catalytic Converter
Found on all four wheels, your brakes are one of the uses a chamber called a catalyst to change the
most important safety systems on your vehicle. The harmful compounds from an engine's emissions
main function of the brake system is to decelerate into safe gases, like steam. It works to split up the
or decrease the speed of a vehicle unsafe molecules in the gases that a car produces
before they get released into the air.
Muffler Tailpipe
are part of your vehicle's exhaust system and are it is designed to release exhaust away from the vehicle
located at the rear, bottom of your vehicle. It is and into the air.
engineered as an acoustic device to reduce the
loudness of the sound pressure created by the
engine
Fuel Tank Rear Axle
Typically located before the rear axle, the fuel Key part of the suspension system to which the rear
tank holds the gasoline that powers your vehicle. wheels are mounted.
Rear Suspension
As with the front suspension, the rear suspension contributes to the handling and ride
quality of the vehicle.
THE END