Changes

The [[Recession of 2008]] saw auto sales plunged by 18% from 2007, to only 13.2 million units, with very steep declines at the end of the year as sales fell 36% in December. GM and Chrysler verged on bankruptcy.  They were rescued, temporally, by a bailout from President [[George W. Bush]] in December, 2008, in order to avoid a major economic disaster that would cost the nation hundreds of thousands of jobs.

The [[Recession of 2008]] saw auto sales plunged by 18% from 2007, to only 13.2 million units, with very steep declines at the end of the year as sales fell 36% in December. GM and Chrysler verged on bankruptcy.  They were rescued, temporally, by a bailout from President [[George W. Bush]] in December, 2008, in order to avoid a major economic disaster that would cost the nation hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Many of the world's major auto companies have plants in the U.S., called "transplants."  Ford started in 1910 to open factories across the world, and General Motors followed in the 1920s.  

Many of the world's major auto companies have plants in the U.S., called "transplants."  Ford started in 1910 to open factories across the world, and General Motors followed in the 1920s.  

Auto sales were down again in December 2008, as the major companies (including the Big Three, Toyota and Honda) all reported sales declines from 2007 of about 30-32%.  

Auto sales were down again in December 2008, as the major companies (including the Big Three, Toyota and Honda) all reported sales declines from 2007 of about 30-32%.  

===Crisis worsens in 2009===

===Crisis worsens in 2009===

===Auto crisis===

===Auto crisis===

===Japan===

===Japan===

Japan, with its large population squeezed into very high density cities with good public transit, has limited roadways that carry very heavy traffic. Hence most automobiles are small in terms of size and weight.  Nissan began making trucks in 1914, and sold cars under the "Datsun" brand until it switched to "Nissan" in the 1980s. It opened its first U.S. plant in Tennessee in the early 1980s and a British plant in 1986. It is 44% owned by Renault of France. Honda, which began with motorcycles,  emerged after World War II. Its luxury cars carry the "Acura" brand. Toyota began making cars in the 1930s and is now the world's largest producer. Its luxury models carry the "Lexus" brand.  Toyota is famous for its innovative, quality-conscious management style, and its hybrid gas-electric vehicles, especially the Prius, which was launched in 1997. Other major companies include Subaru, Mitsubishi, and Mazda. Japan became the world's  leading auto maker in 1980, the first year since 1905 that the United States had been outproduced by any other nation.

Japan, with its large population squeezed into very high density cities with good public transit, has limited roadways that carry very heavy traffic. Hence most automobiles are small in terms of size and weight.  Nissan began making trucks in 1914, and sold cars under the "Datsun" brand until it switched to "Nissan" in the 1980s. It opened its first U.S. plant in Tennessee in the early 1980s and a British plant in 1986. It is 44% owned by Renault of France. Honda, which began with motorcycles,  emerged after World War II. Its luxury cars carry the "Acura" brand. Toyota began making cars in the 1930s and is now the world's largest producer. Its luxury models carry the "Lexus" brand.  Toyota is famous for its innovative, quality-conscious management style, and its hybrid gas-electric vehicles, especially the Prius, which was launched in 1997. Other major companies include Subaru, Mitsubishi, and Mazda. Japan became the world's  leading auto maker in 1980, the first year since 1905 that the United States had been outproduced by any other nation.

===Britain===

===Britain===

The auto industry developed late in Britain and for the first half of the 20th century the small output of British-owned companies focused on luxury and upscale models notably  Rolls-Royce and  later Bentley as well as Jaguar and Rover.  The stress was on high quality hand-made craftsmanship, regardless of high cost.   

The auto industry developed late in Britain and for the first half of the 20th century the small output of British-owned companies focused on luxury and upscale models notably  Rolls-Royce and  later Bentley as well as Jaguar and Rover.  The stress was on high quality hand-made craftsmanship, regardless of high cost.   

Ford opened a plant as early as 1911 and soon had 40% of the British market. In 1931 Ford opened the largest auto plant in Europe near London. Ford eventually acquired [[Aston Martin]], Jaguar and Land Rover. By 2008 it was selling off those divisions.<ref> Huber Bonin, et al. ''Ford, 1902-2003: The European History'' 2 vol Paris 2003. ISBN 2-914369-06-9</ref>  Rootes was taken over by Chrysler in the late 1960s and its brands phased out by the 1970s.  The Chrysler operations were taken over by Peugeot in 1978.  Nissan opened a plant in 1986.

Ford opened a plant as early as 1911 and soon had 40% of the British market. In 1931 Ford opened the largest auto plant in Europe near London. Ford eventually acquired [[Aston Martin]], Jaguar and Land Rover. By 2008 it was selling off those divisions.<ref> Huber Bonin, et al. ''Ford, 1902-2003: The European History'' 2 vol Paris 2003. ISBN 2-914369-06-9</ref>  Rootes was taken over by Chrysler in the late 1960s and its brands phased out by the 1970s.  The Chrysler operations were taken over by Peugeot in 1978.  Nissan opened a plant in 1986.

After 1945 and the end of the Second World War, American and British firms dominated the European market. In 1950, of 523,000 cars produced in Britain, 398,000 were exported.  By the late 1950s, however, the Germans were back, followed soon by the French and Italian producers, and Britain lost most of its continental market. By 1970 Japanese firms identified the British market as the first major European market to attack because of the relative weakness of the domestic car industry.<ref>Peter Johnson, ed. ''The Structure of British Industry'' (1988) ch. 8</ref>  

After 1945 and the end of the Second World War, American and British firms dominated the European market. In 1950, of 523,000 cars produced in Britain, 398,000 were exported.  By the late 1950s, however, the Germans were back, followed soon by the French and Italian producers, and Britain lost most of its continental market. By 1970 Japanese firms identified the British market as the first major European market to attack because of the relative weakness of the domestic car industry.<ref>Peter Johnson, ed. ''The Structure of British Industry'' (1988) ch. 8</ref>  

===Memoirs===

===Memoirs===

* Iacocca, Lee. ''Iacocca'' (1970) [http://www.amazon.com/Iacocca-Lee/dp/055338497X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226722176&sr=8-2 excerpt and text search], best-selling memoir by outspoken head of Ford and Chrysler

* Iacocca, Lee. ''Iacocca'' (1970) [http://www.amazon.com/Iacocca-Lee/dp/055338497X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226722176&sr=8-2 excerpt and text search], best-selling memoir by outspoken head of Ford and Chrysler

* Sloan, Alfred. ''My Years with General Motors'' (1964), [http://www.amazon.com/Years-General-Motors-Alfred-Sloan/dp/0385042353/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226722306&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search] influential study of GM by its powerful head from 1923 to 1956

* Sloan, Alfred. ''My Years with General Motors'' (1964), [http://www.amazon.com/Years-General-Motors-Alfred-Sloan/dp/0385042353/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226722306&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search] influential study of GM by its powerful head from 1923 to 1956.

 

==References==

==References==