Changes

The '''automobile''', or '''car''', was invented in 1885 by Karl Friedrich Benz, a German engineer. But it was [[Henry Ford]], an American, who made the automobile popular by mass-producing it on the world's first moving automotive [[assembly line]] in [[Detroit]], which became the "Automobile Capital of the World" by 1910.

The '''automobile''', or '''car''', was invented in 1885 by Karl Friedrich Benz, a German engineer. But it was [[Henry Ford]], an American, who made the automobile popular by mass-producing it on the world's first moving automotive [[assembly line]] in [[Detroit]], which became the "Automobile Capital of the World" by 1910.

The term "car" covers a wide variety of vehicles from "micro-city" cars to full sized body on frame pickup trucks.  They have become essential transportation. As an expensive status symbol they are widely [[Car color popularity|customizable]].   

The term "car" covers a wide variety of vehicles from "micro-city" cars to full sized body on frame pickup trucks.  For many they have become essential transportation. As an expensive status symbol they are widely [[Car color popularity|customizable]].   

The automobile industry forced nations, starting with the U.S., to develop good streets and roads.  In the U.S. especially the industry created a vast network of new and used car dealers, repair shops, and gas stations, not to mention GPS devices, motels, drive-through windows, shopping malls, and many businesses catering to customers in autos.  The auto gave consumers a much wider geographical range, leading to the decline of isolated rural stores and the rise of small cities as regional market centers.  Automobiles enabled employees to commute to work without reference to buses, trolleys or trains, opening up the suburbs to settlement after 1945. Automobiles also added pollution to the air and caused traffic accidents with many fatalities. The nation responded by motorizing its police forces and ambulance services.

 

The automobile industry forced nations, starting with the [[United States]], to develop good streets and roads.  In the U.S. especially the industry created a vast network of new and used car dealers, repair shops, and [[gasoline|gas]] stations, not to mention GPS devices, [[motel]]s, drive-through windows, shopping malls, and many businesses catering to customers in autos.  The auto gave consumers a much wider geographical range, leading to the decline of isolated rural stores and the rise of small cities as regional market centers.  Automobiles enabled employees to commute to work without reference to [[bus]]es, [[tram|trolleys]] or [[train]]s, opening up the suburbs to settlement after 1945.

 

However, increased automobile use also added [[pollution]] to the air, led to a rise in injuries and fatalities in traffic accidents, took more land, and resulted in a rise in congestion on the roads.

 

The nation responded by motorizing its [[police]] forces and [[ambulance]] services.

 

All the major car companies have three roles: they design cars for the future, they build cars, and they sell them through network of locally-owned dealers. Until recently the car-makers built practically the entire car.  In the 21st century, however, the makers build their own engines but purchase nearly all the other parts from independent parts companies, then assemble them.  Several thousand parts companies now operate in the U.S.; the largest are Delco, Visteon, American Axle (as well as the tire makers). They employ more factory workers than the car makers do, typically at much lower wages. Blue collar workers at the Big Three (GM, Ford and Chrysler) are unionized and are paid on average $55 an hour (including benefits). Blue collar workers at the "transplants" in the U.S. (Toyota, Honda, Mercedes, etc.) are not unionized and are paid on average $40 an hour (including benefits.  The automobile industry in Canada is integrated with the U.S. industry.

All the major car companies have three roles: they design cars for the future, they build cars, and they sell them through network of locally-owned dealers. Until recently the car-makers built practically the entire car.  In the 21st century, however, the makers build their own engines but purchase nearly all the other parts from independent parts companies, then assemble them.  Several thousand parts companies now operate in the U.S.; the largest are Delco, Visteon, American Axle (as well as the tire makers). They employ more factory workers than the car makers do, typically at much lower wages. Blue collar workers at the Big Three (GM, Ford and Chrysler) are unionized and are paid on average $55 an hour (including benefits). Blue collar workers at the "transplants" in the U.S. (Toyota, Honda, Mercedes, etc.) are not unionized and are paid on average $40 an hour (including benefits.  The automobile industry in Canada is integrated with the U.S. industry.