Automobiles have changed our lifestyle in many ways. The advent of mass production led to lower costs, making cars affordable for many families. Today, they are common in all developed countries. They have revolutionized transportation, lifestyle, and environment. However, how do cars impact our environment? Let’s explore some of the most important factors in the development of cars.
Benz’s inventions
The development of the automobile by Karl Benz was largely financed by his wife, Bertha. It won high praise at the 1889 Paris World Fair and Benz and Bertha founded a number of car companies that would continue selling Mercedes-Benz cars for decades. They continued to innovate, and Benz and Bertha were among the most popular car manufacturers in Europe. However, by the 1920s, Benz and Bertha were facing competition from Daimler, the maker of the Mercedes engine.
Benz began selling the first automobile, the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, in late summer 1888. Emile Roger, a Parisian bicycle manufacturer, had already been building Benz engines under license for a few years. When Benz saw the potential for automobile sales in his city, he decided to add automobiles to his product line. Initially, most Benz automobiles were sold in Paris.
Ford’s first plant
Ford Motor Company had the most successful selling car in 1907 with the Model N. By 1908, Edsel Ford, who was fourteen years old, was working at the plant almost every day after school. He was fascinated with the secret experimental room that his father ran, which he wanted to see.
In July 1912, Ford announced plans to build the first plant for automobile assembly in Memphis. The new facility would cost $150,000 and would distribute automobiles throughout the South. In 1916, the Commercial Appeal reported that the Memphis assembly plant was extremely efficient, and by 1917, the company was expected to build 20,000 cars in a year.
General Motors’ first plant
In the early 1920s, General Motors began manufacturing cars. The company started in Detroit and now operates plants around the world. Today, it is the largest automobile manufacturer in the world and the number of its plants is growing every day. Listed below are the main milestones in the history of the company.
In 1911, General Motors acquired Adam Opel, a company located in Germany. In the same year, GM also forms a joint venture with the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. to manufacture cars in China. The company also develops the first individual front-wheel suspension, called Knee-Action. In addition, GM engineers develop the two-cycle engine, which powers the Burlington Zephyr. The company also introduces the Holden in Australia.
Benz’s co-operation with Benz & Cie
Karl Benz retired from his role as head of design and development in 1903. The company’s directors appointed a French designer to create the company’s next model, the Parsifil, which reached a top speed of 37 mph or 60 km/h. The directors had not sought Benz’s approval prior to hiring the French designer, but he remained on the Board of Management until his retirement in 1926.
The collaboration has a number of advantages. Firstly, the two companies can concentrate on different parts of the manufacturing process, which helps them cut back on costs. Secondly, the collaborating organization may have better capabilities than the Mercedes-Benz in certain areas. Furthermore, by cooperating with celebrities, the company can gain more exposure to customers. Celebrities also tend to have large followings, which can help increase the brand’s awareness.
Ford’s relationship with General Motors
General Motors and Ford have recently agreed to make electric vehicles, or EVs. The EVs will be powered by batteries and will have a range of 250 miles. The EVs will also feature up to 600 cubic feet of cargo space. Ford has committed $22 billion to the development of these vehicles. The two companies have also committed to making 40% of their vehicle sales electrified by 2030. The EV market is currently only about 3% of the total new-car market in the U.S., and Tesla dominates it with a share of 55%.
In 1995, General Motors’ board members announced a bold business plan. The company wanted to own 700 new dealerships in the top 130 domestic markets. They would oversee the expansion through their retail holdings company. The board’s reasoning was that this move would secure GM’s dominance in the domestic auto industry for decades to come and reduce its current distribution costs. But many automotive critics were horrified at this plan, believing that it would eliminate the role of independent franchises.