History of Car in Timeline

A car, or automobile, is a wheeled motor vehicle designed primarily for road use. Typically seating one to eight people, cars are mainly used for transporting individuals rather than cargo. There are approximately one billion cars currently in use globally.

1900: Daimler's Death and Maybach's Engine Design

In 1900, Daimler died and later that year, Maybach designed an engine named Daimler-Mercedes that was placed in a specially ordered model built to specifications set by Emil Jellinek.

1901: Oldsmobile Factory Production

In 1901, large-scale, production-line manufacturing of affordable cars was started by Ransom Olds at his Oldsmobile factory in Lansing, Michigan, and based upon stationary assembly line techniques pioneered by Marc Isambard Brunel at the Portsmouth Block Mills, England, in 1802.

1901: Oldsmobile Curved Dash Mass Production

In 1901, the Oldsmobile Curved Dash, an American car, is widely considered one of the first mass-produced cars. Large-scale production-line manufacturing of affordable cars was started by Ransom Olds at his Oldsmobile factory in Lansing, Michigan.

1902: Studebaker Commences Sales of Electric Vehicles

In 1902, Studebaker, subsidiary of a long-established wagon and coach manufacturer, commenced sales of electric vehicles.

1902: Mercedes Car Model Produced

In 1902, a new model DMG car was produced and the model was named Mercedes after the Maybach engine, which generated 35 hp. Maybach quit DMG shortly thereafter and opened a business of his own.

1904: Studebaker Commences Sales of Petrol Vehicles

In 1904, Studebaker, subsidiary of a long-established wagon and coach manufacturer, commenced sales of petrol vehicles.

1908: Ford Model T Mass Affordable Car

In 1908, the Ford Model T, an American car, is widely considered one of the first mass-affordable cars. Commercial cars became widely available during the 20th century.

1910: Electric Ignition Development

In 1910, Charles Kettering developed electric ignition for the Cadillac Motor Company, marking a key advancement in automotive technology.

1911: Electric Self-Starter Development

In 1911, Charles Kettering developed the electric self-starter for the Cadillac Motor Company, representing another significant technological advancement in the automotive industry.

1911: Selden Patent Overturned

In 1911, Henry Ford and others challenged Selden's patent, and it was overturned. George Selden had received a US patent (U.S. patent 549,160) for a two-stroke car engine, which hindered the development of cars in the United States.

1911: Founding of Ford France and Ford Britain

In 1911, due to the success of mass production, Ford France and Ford Britain were founded, marking the expansion of Ford's production model internationally.

1913: Ford's Moving Assembly Line

Beginning in 1913, Henry Ford greatly expanded on assembly line techniques with the world's first moving assembly line for cars at the Highland Park Ford Plant.

1913: Ford Assembly Line Production

In 1913, Ford's cars came off the assembly line in 15-minute intervals, much faster than previous methods, increasing productivity eightfold, while using less manpower (from 12.5 manhours to 1 hour 33 minutes).

1914: Model T Affordability for Workers

In 1914, an assembly line worker could buy a Model T with four months' pay, highlighting the increasing affordability of cars due to mass production.

1919: Citroën Comes to Cars

Citroën started producing cars in 1919, becoming a key player in the French automotive industry.

1920: Number of American Car Makers in Existence

In 1920, there were some two hundred American car makers in existence, reflecting the early diversity of the automotive industry.

1921: Citroën Adopts Production Method

In 1921, Citroën was the first native European manufacturer to adopt the mass production method, demonstrating the widespread adoption of this technique.

1922: Isuzu Building Wolseley A-9

In 1922, Isuzu partnered with European companies to build the Wolseley A-9, showing early collaborations in the Japanese automotive industry.

1923: Morris Follows Ford's Vertical Integration

Beginning in 1923, Morris started following Ford's practice of vertical integration, acquiring companies such as Hotchkiss' British subsidiary, Wrigley, and Osberton.

1923: Founding of Ford Denmark

Ford Denmark was founded in 1923, further expanding Ford's international presence and influence.

1924: Morris Sets Up Production Line at Cowley

In 1924, Morris established its production line at Cowley and soon outsold Ford, becoming a significant player in the British automotive industry.

1925: Founding of Ford Germany

Ford Germany was founded in 1925, solidifying Ford's presence in Europe and its influence on the automotive industry.

1925: Morris' Share of British Car Production

In 1925, Morris held 41 percent of total British car production, demonstrating its dominance in the British automotive market.

1926: Development of Duco Lacquer

In 1926, fast-drying Duco lacquer was developed, resolving a paint bottleneck that had previously limited the variety of colors available for Ford cars before 1913.

1930: Company Bankruptcies Due to Lack of Assembly Lines

By 1930, 250 companies that did not adopt assembly lines had disappeared, highlighting the necessity of mass production for survival in the automotive industry.

1930: Survival of American Car Makers

By 1930, only 43 of the approximately two hundred American car makers in existence in 1920 had survived, highlighting the industry's consolidation.

1940: American Car Makers Survived Great Depression

By 1940, due to the Great Depression, only 17 of the 43 American car makers that existed in 1930 were still in business, underscoring the economic challenges faced by the industry.

2006: Car-sharing services experiencing growth

In 2006, car-sharing services in the US began experiencing double-digit growth in revenue and membership. Car-sharing allows residents to share a vehicle instead of owning one, easing congestion.

2007: Continued growth of car-sharing services

In 2007, car-sharing services in the US continued to experience double-digit growth in both revenue and membership, expanding the trend of shared vehicle usage.

2017: Peak Production of Petrol-Fuelled Cars

Production of petrol-fuelled cars peaked in 2017, indicating a shift in the automotive industry towards alternative fuel vehicles.

2018: Most Congested Cities

In 2018, Moscow, Istanbul, Bogotá, Mexico City and São Paulo were the world's most congested cities, according to INRIX, a data analytics company.

2019: Cars Consume Quarter of World Oil

As of 2019, cars consume almost a quarter of world oil production.

2019: Typical Car Weight

As of 2019, cars typically weigh between 1 and 3 tonnes (1.1 and 3.3 short tons; 0.98 and 2.95 long tons).

2020: Worldwide car production declines

In 2020, worldwide car production fell to 56 million vehicles, a decrease from 67 million the previous year. China led production with 20 million cars, followed by Japan, Germany, South Korea, and India. China also remained the largest market.

July 2021: European Commission introduces "Fit for 55" legislation

In July 2021, the European Commission introduced the "Fit for 55" legislation package. This package outlines directives for the automotive sector's future, including a mandate that all new cars sold in the European market must be zero-emissions vehicles by 2035.

2021: Electric Car Sales and Global Presence

In 2021, nine percent of all cars sold were electric, and there were more than 16 million electric cars on the world's roads by the end of that year.

2022: Car Contribution to CO2 Emissions

In 2022, cars and vans caused 10% of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions.

2023: Electric Car Emission Compared to Fossil Fuel Cars

As of 2023, electric cars produce about half the emissions over their lifetime as diesel and petrol cars.

2025: Electric Cars Predicted to Cost Less

By 2025, electric cars are predicted to cost less to buy than petrol-driven cars. The transition from fossil fuel-powered cars to electric cars features prominently in most climate change mitigation scenarios.

2025: Countries Plan to Stop Selling Fossil Cars

Many countries plan to stop selling fossil cars altogether between 2025 and 2050.

2035: Zero-emission vehicle mandate in Europe

By 2035, as outlined in the European Commission's "Fit for 55" legislation, all newly sold cars in the European market must be Zero-emissions vehicles.