The word “Automobile” originates in Greek and Latin and has become an integral part of every man’s life. It has become so indispensable that, on average, a person spends at least 3 hours in his vehicle daily. The automobile was once considered a luxury, and only a select few could indulge. Now, the times have changed, and cars have become a means of transportation catering to the vast majority.
The transformation from luxury to the inevitability
Automobiles, in general, refer to the humble car, and the estimates suggest that there is a car for every eleven persons on earth, amounting to up to 590 million passenger cars. There are various variants of automobiles that cater to every cross-section of the population. Some variants could set you back by a couple of million dollars, and other models cost you a few thousand dollars.
The technological advances in the automobile sector have been tremendous in the last 100 years. The century’s greatest invention or advancement should belong to the automobile industry. One of the earliest pioneers of the automobile Industry was Ransom Olds from the Oldsmobile factory. In the early 1900s, he introduced the Production Line concept, churning out vehicles every few minutes. This idea was greatly revolutionized and implemented by Henry Ford, who elevated the automobile industry to the next level. Ford quickly grew in the first half of the 20th century and slowly but steadily spread globally.
Growing along with time
With the advancement of age, the automobile industry gradually grew in continental Europe and England. Japan introduced quality initiatives that further enhanced the industry. Toyota from Japan pioneered Total Quality Management and Six Sigma, which have been the guiding principles of the automobile industry for the last 50 years. Today, according to recent market estimates, Toyota is the world’s biggest automobile company.
The global boom of the 1980s was large because of the automobile revolution. Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler, the big three automotive giants of America, had a huge say on the country’s economy. They decided on the economy’s health, and the recent global economic recession has affected them badly. This has made them approach the government for loans and benefits, which the government has fulfilled after placing appropriate clauses.
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The advent of technology and innovations
The automobile has transcended from being a medium of transportation to a medium of entertainment after the advent of super-fast cars competing against each other. NASCAR and F1 races are huge crowd-pullers every year. People have made fortunes, and drivers of these machines have made their name in history. The fact that automobile racing involves huge costs has made the racing industry reel in these uncertain economic times. The sport has seen tragedies with loss of life in some instances. This has made room for strict safety regulations, which are now mandatory for all automobile shows.
The negative part
Although man has made a huge leap forward with automobiles, there is a downside to this technological wonder. The emissions from these machines have raised serious environmental concerns with calls for more eco-friendly vehicles. Automobile companies have invested hugely in the research and development of eco-friendly cars. Except for this single downside, there is the slightest doubt that automobiles have been the find of the previous century.
