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[[File:Race car.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|[[Formula One]] race car]]
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. For many 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 customizable.
The [[Recession of 2008]], extending into 2009, plunged the auto industry into chaos. General Motors, long the dominant factor worldwide, lost tens of billions and entered bankruptcy in June 2009, as did Chrysler. This led to government take overs of GM and Chrysler, but not Ford. In the U.S. from 1970 to 2001, there were 760 cars and light trucks sold per 1000 drivers; in 2009 sales dropped to 400 per driver, and hundreds of factories and thousands of dealerships closed down, with hundreds of thousands of employees laid off. The Japanese and European auto makers all lost billions of dollars, but none went bankrupt.
The [[Recession of 2008]], extending into 2009, plunged the auto industry into chaos. General Motors, long the dominant factor worldwide, lost tens of billions and entered bankruptcy in June 2009, as did Chrysler. This led to government take overs of GM and Chrysler, but not Ford. In the U.S. from 1970 to 2001, there were 760 cars and light trucks sold per 1000 drivers; in 2009 sales dropped to nearly half that, and hundreds of factories and thousands of dealerships closed down, with hundreds of thousands of employees laid off. The Japanese and European auto makers all lost billions of dollars, but none went bankrupt.
Around 1932 the profitable auto industry fought for supremacy in [[New York City]], as the [[Chrysler Building]] and [[Empire State Building]] (co-owned by former [[General Motors]] executive John Jakob Raskob) competed with each other to construct the tallest skyscraper.<ref>https://www.esbnyc.com/about/history</ref>
== Effect on societies ==
== Effect on societies ==
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.
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 has also added limited amounts of [[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. Although automobile fumes do cause an increase of smog in urban areas, they do not contribute to the theory of [[Climate Change]]. The [[Left]] generally opposes cars, claiming that they add to the issue of "[[Global Warming]]", while also claiming that those who do support cars are selfish and greedy. These arguments have been proven wrong on many occasions<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8Lo0ieyQtQ</ref>
However, increased automobile use has 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. Although automobile fumes do cause an increase of smog in urban areas, they do not contribute to human-caused [[Climate Change]]. The [[Left]] generally opposes cars, claiming that they add to the issue of "[[Global Warming]]," while also claiming that those who do support cars are selfish and greedy. These arguments have been proven wrong on many occasions.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8Lo0ieyQtQ</ref>
The nation responded by motorizing its [[police]] forces and [[ambulance]] services.
The nation responded by motorizing its [[police]] forces and [[ambulance]] services.
The Big Three had in recent years stressed expensive, fuel-guzzling SUVs and large pickups. They were much more profitable than smaller, fuel-efficient cars. When [[gasoline prices]] shot past US$4 per gallon in 2008, Americans stopped buying the big cars, and the Big Three saw their sales plummet. The [[Financial Crisis of 2008]] played a role as no one was willing to loan GM the money to buy Chrysler. Consumer credit has tightened and it became much harder for people with average or poor credit to obtain a bank loan to buy a car, so sales fell further. Stock prices fell as shareholders worried about bankruptcy; GM's shares fell to 1942 levels.
The Big Three had in recent years stressed expensive, fuel-guzzling SUVs and large pickups. They were much more profitable than smaller, fuel-efficient cars. When [[gasoline prices]] shot past US$4 per gallon in 2008, Americans stopped buying the big cars, and the Big Three saw their sales plummet. The [[Financial Crisis of 2008]] played a role as no one was willing to loan GM the money to buy Chrysler. Consumer credit has tightened and it became much harder for people with average or poor credit to obtain a bank loan to buy a car, so sales fell further. Stock prices fell as shareholders worried about bankruptcy; GM's shares fell to 1942 levels.
Intense debate in December 2008 focused on allowing bankruptcy or injecting billions more of federal aid in loans and buyouts; it would be in addition to a $25 billion loan Congress passed in September 2008 to assist in increasing fuel efficiency. The Democrats in Congress supported president Bush's proposal to sue the fuel-efficiency loans to help with the immediate problem. It passed the House but Senate Republicans broke with Bush and it failed. The opponents called for a bankruptcy that would allow GM to get out of its contracts to pay union members high wages, as well as generous pension sand medical benefits to retired workers. Bush then acted unilaterally and decided to lend GM and Chrysler in [[Financial Crisis of 2008|TARP money]] on December 19. GM and Chrysler will got $13.4 billions in loans they can use to pay their suppliers.<ref>GM and Chrysler will receive $4 billion each when they sign the loan agreements with the Treasury. GM will have access to an addition $5.4 billion on Jan. 16 and another $4 billion on Feb. 17 provided that Congress has released the remaining $350 billion for the Treasury’s TARP rescue program.</ref> GM can receive another $4 billion in February, but by then the Obama administration will be in charge, and it is emphasizing the need for a long-range solution.<ref>David E. Sanger, David M. Herszenhorn and Bill Vlasic, “Bush Aids Detroit, but Hard Choices Wait for Obama,” [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/20/business/20auto.html?hp ''NewYork Times'' Dec. 19, 2008]</ref>
Intense debate in December 2008 focused on allowing bankruptcy or injecting billions more of federal aid in loans and buyouts; it would be in addition to a $25 billion loan Congress passed in September 2008 to assist in increasing fuel efficiency. The Democrats in Congress supported president Bush's proposal to sue the fuel-efficiency loans to help with the immediate problem. It passed the House but Senate Republicans broke with Bush and it failed. The opponents called for a bankruptcy that would allow GM to get out of its contracts to pay union members high wages, as well as generous pension sand medical benefits to retired workers. Bush then acted unilaterally and decided to lend GM and Chrysler in [[Financial Crisis of 2008|TARP money]] on December 19. GM and Chrysler will got $13.4 billion in loans they can use to pay their suppliers.<ref>GM and Chrysler will receive $4 billion each when they sign the loan agreements with the Treasury. GM will have access to an addition $5.4 billion on Jan. 16 and another $4 billion on Feb. 17 provided that Congress has released the remaining $350 billion for the Treasury’s TARP rescue program.</ref> GM can receive another $4 billion in February, but by then the Obama administration will be in charge, and it is emphasizing the need for a long-range solution.<ref>David E. Sanger, David M. Herszenhorn and Bill Vlasic, “Bush Aids Detroit, but Hard Choices Wait for Obama,” [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/20/business/20auto.html?hp ''NewYork Times'' Dec. 19, 2008]</ref>
In addition to the Big Three hundreds of large suppliers of parts are in financial crisis as well; most would go under if the Big Three go bankrupt.
In addition to the Big Three hundreds of large suppliers of parts are in financial crisis as well; most would go under if the Big Three go bankrupt.
When the domestic auto industry was largely nationalized in 1975, British Leyland was the holding company that controlled 40% of production. It was renamed Rover; it went bankrupt in 2005, ending the era of mass production by British makers. The Chinese purchased the MG brand, while Jaguar went first to Ford and now to TATA Motors.
When the domestic auto industry was largely nationalized in 1975, British Leyland was the holding company that controlled 40% of production. It was renamed Rover; it went bankrupt in 2005, ending the era of mass production by British makers. The Chinese purchased the MG brand, while Jaguar went first to Ford and now to TATA Motors.
The gentry who bought cars before 1939 found driving was easy on rural Britain’s smooth road surfaces in its generally mild weather. The rural roads are famously narrow and winding, so cars were small with stiff springs for good handling characteristics on them. High taxes on gasoline and crowded streets encouraged smaller, fuel-efficient cars in the cities.
The gentry who bought cars before 1939 found driving was easy on rural Britain's smooth road surfaces in its generally mild weather. The rural roads are famously narrow and winding, so cars were small with stiff springs for good handling characteristics on them. High taxes on gasoline and crowded streets encouraged smaller, fuel-efficient cars in the cities.
== Fuel ==
== Fuel ==
*Drag Racing
*Drag Racing
*Historical Racing
*Historical Racing
== Old automobiles and scrap metal/car parts ==
[[File:Car scrap metal.jpg|center|500px|thumb|Old automobiles that no longer function are often sold as scrap [[metal]] or for their parts.]]
{{clear}}
== See also ==
*[[Irreligion and car theft]]
==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==
* Berger; Michael L. ''The Automobile in American History and Culture: A Reference Guide'' (2001) [http://www.questia.com/read/107064614?title=The%20Automobile%20in%20American%20History%20and%20Culture%3a%20%20A%20Reference%20Guide online edition]
* Berger; Michael L. ''The Automobile in American History and Culture: A Reference Guide'' (2001) [http://www.questia.com/read/107064614?title=The%20Automobile%20in%20American%20History%20and%20Culture%3a%20%20A%20Reference%20Guide online edition]
* Bonin, Huber et al. ''Ford, 1902-2003: The European History'' 2 vol Paris 2003. ISBN 2-914369-06-9 scholarly essays in English; reviewed in Len Holden, "Fording the Atlantic: Ford and Fordism in Europe" in ''Business History '' Volume 47, #1 Jan 2005 pp 122–127
* Bonin, Huber et al. ''Ford, 1902-2003: The European History'' 2 vol Paris 2003. ISBN 2-914369-06-9 scholarly essays in English; reviewed in Len Holden, "Fording the Atlantic: Ford and Fordism in Europe" in ''Business History '' Volume 47, #1 Jan 2005 pp 122–127
* Brinkley, Douglas G. ''Wheels for the World: Henry Ford, His Company, and a Century of Progress'' (2003) [http://www.amazon.com/Wheels-World-Company-Century-Progress/dp/B000BZ99PQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198975451&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Brinkley, Douglas G. ''Wheels for the World: Henry Ford, His Company, and a Century of Progress'' (2003) [https://www.amazon.com/Wheels-World-Company-Century-Progress/dp/B000BZ99PQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198975451&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* CAR Research Memorandum. "The Impact of the U.S. Economy of a Major Contraction of the Detroit Three Automakers" (Nov 2008) [http://www.cargroup.org/documents/FINALDetroitThreeContractionImpact_3__000.pdf online edition]
* CAR Research Memorandum. "The Impact of the U.S. Economy of a Major Contraction of the Detroit Three Automakers" (Nov 2008) [http://www.cargroup.org/documents/FINALDetroitThreeContractionImpact_3__000.pdf online edition]
* Cooney, Stephen, and Breny Yacobussi, ''CRS Report for Congress, U.S. Automotive Industry: Policy Overview and Recent History'' (April 25, 2005) [http://ncseonline.org/NLE/CRSreports/05apr/RL32883.pdf online]
* Cooney, Stephen, and Breny Yacobussi, ''CRS Report for Congress, U.S. Automotive Industry: Policy Overview and Recent History'' (April 25, 2005) [http://ncseonline.org/NLE/CRSreports/05apr/RL32883.pdf online]
* Farber, David. ''Sloan Rules: Alfred P. Sloan and the Triumph of General Motors'' (2005) [http://www.amazon.com/Sloan-Rules-Alfred-Triumph-General/dp/0226238059/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226722306&sr=8-5 excerpt and text search]
* Farber, David. ''Sloan Rules: Alfred P. Sloan and the Triumph of General Motors'' (2005) [https://www.amazon.com/Sloan-Rules-Alfred-Triumph-General/dp/0226238059/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226722306&sr=8-5 excerpt and text search]
* May, George S. ed. ''The Automobile Industry, 1920-1980'' (1989), 520ppl comprehensive encyclopedia
* May, George S. ed. ''The Automobile Industry, 1920-1980'' (1989), 520ppl comprehensive encyclopedia
[[Category:Transportation]]
[[Category:Transportation]]
* Nevins, Allan and Frank Ernest Hill. ''Ford: The Times, The Man, The Company'' (vol 1, 1954); ''Ford: Expansion and Challenge, 1915-1933'' (1957); ''Ford: Decline and Rebirth, 1933-1962'' (1962), the standard history of the company and biography of Ford; [http://hdl.handle.net/2027/heb.94045 ACLS E-book vol 1]; [http://hdl.handle.net/2027/heb.94045 ACLS E-book vol 2]; [http://hdl.handle.net/2027/heb.94045 ACLS E-book for vol 3]
* Nevins, Allan and Frank Ernest Hill. ''Ford: The Times, The Man, The Company'' (vol 1, 1954); ''Ford: Expansion and Challenge, 1915-1933'' (1957); ''Ford: Decline and Rebirth, 1933-1962'' (1962), the standard history of the company and biography of Ford; [http://hdl.handle.net/2027/heb.94045 ACLS E-book vol 1]; [http://hdl.handle.net/2027/heb.94045 ACLS E-book vol 2]; [http://hdl.handle.net/2027/heb.94045 ACLS E-book for vol 3]
* Pelfrey, William. ''Billy, Alfred, and General Motors: The Story of Two Unique Men, a Legendary Company, and a Remarkable Time in American History'' (2006), on Billy Durant and Alfred Sloan [http://www.amazon.com/Billy-Alfred-General-Motors-Remarkable/dp/0814408699/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226722306&sr=8-9 excerpt and text search]
* Pelfrey, William. ''Billy, Alfred, and General Motors: The Story of Two Unique Men, a Legendary Company, and a Remarkable Time in American History'' (2006), on Billy Durant and Alfred Sloan [https://www.amazon.com/Billy-Alfred-General-Motors-Remarkable/dp/0814408699/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226722306&sr=8-9 excerpt and text search]
* Rae, John B.; ''American Automobile Manufacturers: The First Forty Years'' (1959) [http://www.questia.com/read/9693790?title=American%20Automobile%20Manufacturers%3a%20The%20First%20Forty%20Years%20(1959) online edition]
* Rae, John B.; ''American Automobile Manufacturers: The First Forty Years'' (1959) [http://www.questia.com/read/9693790?title=American%20Automobile%20Manufacturers%3a%20The%20First%20Forty%20Years%20(1959) online edition]
* Setright, L.J.K. ''Drive On!: A Social History of the Motor Car'' (2004), international overview; [http://www.amazon.com/Drive-Social-History-Motor-Car/dp/1862076987/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226722306&sr=8-13 excerpt and text search]
* Setright, L.J.K. ''Drive On!: A Social History of the Motor Car'' (2004), international overview; [https://www.amazon.com/Drive-Social-History-Motor-Car/dp/1862076987/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226722306&sr=8-13 excerpt and text search]
* Watts, Steven. '' The People's Tycoon: Henry Ford and the American Century'' (2005), major biography
* Watts, Steven. '' The People's Tycoon: Henry Ford and the American Century'' (2005), major biography
* Whisler; Timothy R. ''The British Motor Industry, 1945-1994: A Case Study in Industrial Decline'' (1999) [http://www.questia.com/read/23275008?title=The%20British%20Motor%20Industry%2c%201945-1994%3a%20A%20Case%20Study%20in%20Industrial%20Decline online edition]
* Whisler; Timothy R. ''The British Motor Industry, 1945-1994: A Case Study in Industrial Decline'' (1999) [http://www.questia.com/read/23275008?title=The%20British%20Motor%20Industry%2c%201945-1994%3a%20A%20Case%20Study%20in%20Industrial%20Decline online edition]
===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) [https://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), [https://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==
* [[Henry Ford]]
* [[Henry Ford]]
* [[General Motors]]
* [[General Motors]]
* [[General Motors]]
* [https://www.carbibles.com/iconic-american-cars/ 20 most iconic American cars]
==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/05/20050516.html President Bush gives a speech on biodiesel]
*[https://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/05/20050516.html President Bush gives a speech on biodiesel]
*[http://www.gm.com/company/corp_info/global_operations/north_america/mexi.html General Motors Mexican operations]
*[http://www.gm.com/company/corp_info/global_operations/north_america/mexi.html General Motors Mexican operations]