History of Car in Timeline
A car, also known as an automobile, is a wheeled motor vehicle designed for road use. Typically, a car seats one to eight passengers, has four wheels, and serves to transport people. It is not primarily intended for cargo transport. Cars are a ubiquitous form of transportation, with approximately one billion currently in use across the globe.
1900: Death of Daimler and Maybach engine design
In 1900, Daimler died and later that year, Maybach designed an engine named Daimler-Mercedes.
1901: Oldsmobile Factory Production Line
In 1901, Ransom Olds started large-scale, production-line manufacturing of affordable cars at his Oldsmobile factory in Lansing, Michigan.
1901: Oldsmobile Curved Dash Introduced
In 1901, the Oldsmobile Curved Dash, an American car, was introduced and is widely considered one of the first mass-produced cars.
1902: Studebaker Begins Electric Vehicle Sales
In 1902, Studebaker, a wagon and coach manufacturer, started sales of electric vehicles.
1902: Mercedes Model Car Production
In 1902, a new DMG car was produced and named Mercedes, after the Maybach engine that generated 35 hp.
1904: Studebaker Commences Petrol Vehicle Sales
In 1904, Studebaker started sales of petrol vehicles.
1908: Ford Model T Introduced
In 1908, the Ford Model T, an American car, was introduced and is widely considered one of the first mass-affordable cars.
1910: Kettering's Electric Ignition
In 1910, Charles Kettering developed electric ignition for the Cadillac Motor Company.
1911: Kettering's Electric Self-Starter
In 1911, Charles Kettering developed the electric self-starter for the Cadillac Motor Company.
1911: Founding of Ford France and Ford Britain
In 1911, Ford France and Ford Britain were founded, marking the international expansion of Ford's automotive business.
1911: Selden Patent Overturned
In 1911, Henry Ford and others successfully challenged and overturned George Selden's car engine patent in the United States.
1913: Ford's Moving Assembly Line
Beginning in 1913, Henry Ford expanded on the assembly line concept with the world's first moving assembly line for cars at the Highland Park Ford Plant.
1913: Ford's Increased Productivity
In 1913, Ford's cars came off the line in 15-minute intervals, increasing productivity eightfold due to the moving assembly line.
1914: Model T Affordability
In 1914, an assembly line worker could buy a Model T with four months' pay, demonstrating its affordability.
1919: Citroën Comes to Cars
In 1919, Citroën came to car manufacturing in France.
1920: American Car Makers in Existence
In 1920, there were approximately two hundred American car makers in existence, illustrating a fragmented industry landscape.
1921: Citroën Adopts Production Line Method
In 1921, Citroën was the first native European manufacturer to adopt the production line method for car manufacturing.
1922: Isuzu builds the Wolseley A-9
In 1922, Isuzu partnered with Wolseley and built the Wolseley A-9, illustrating early collaborations between European and Japanese automakers.
1923: Morris Begins Vertical Integration
Beginning in 1923, Morris began following Ford's practice of vertical integration, buying various automotive component suppliers.
1923: Founding of Ford Denmark
In 1923, Ford Denmark was founded, further expanding Ford's international presence.
1924: Morris Production Line at Cowley
In 1924, Morris set up its production line at Cowley and soon outsold Ford.
1925: Founding of Ford Germany
In 1925, Ford Germany was founded, solidifying Ford's presence in Europe.
1925: Morris Dominates British Car Production
In 1925, Morris had 41 percent of total British car production, establishing its dominance in the market.
1926: Development of Fast-Drying Duco Lacquer
In 1926, fast-drying Duco lacquer was developed, resolving a bottleneck in car production caused by the need for quick-drying paint.
1930: Consolidation in the Automotive Industry
By 1930, 250 car companies that did not adopt assembly lines disappeared, highlighting the impact of mass production techniques.
1930: Survival of American Car Makers
By 1930, only 43 of the approximately two hundred American car makers from 1920 survived, indicating industry consolidation.
1940: American Car Makers Left
By 1940, with the onset of the Great Depression, only 17 of the American car makers from 1930 were left, showing further industry contraction.
2006: Car-Sharing Revenue Growth
In the US, some car-sharing services experienced double-digit growth in revenue between 2006 and 2007.
2007: Car-Sharing Membership Growth
In the US, some car-sharing services experienced double-digit growth in membership between 2006 and 2007.
2017: Peak Petrol-Fuelled Car Production
In 2017, production of petrol-fueled cars peaked, marking a potential turning point in automotive industry trends.
2018: Most Congested Cities
In 2018, Moscow, Istanbul, Bogotá, Mexico City, and São Paulo were the world's most congested cities according to INRIX.
2019: Cars' Oil Consumption
As of 2019, cars consume almost a quarter of world oil production.
2019: Car Weight Increase
In 2019, cars typically weighed between 1 and 3 tonnes due to added features and safety measures.
2020: Global Car Manufacturing Numbers
In 2020, the global automotive industry manufactured 56 million cars, a decrease from 67 million the previous year, with China leading production.
July 2021: European Commission's "Fit for 55" Legislation
In July 2021, the European Commission introduced the "Fit for 55" legislation package, which outlines directives for the automotive sector's future, including a mandate for zero-emission new cars by 2035.
2021: Electric Car Sales
Out of all cars sold in 2021, nine percent were electric, and by the end of that year there were more than 16 million electric cars on the world's roads.
2022: Cars' Contribution to Carbon Dioxide Emissions
In 2022, cars and vans caused 10% of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions.
2023: Electric Cars' Emission Reduction
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 than Petrol-Driven Cars
Around 2025, electric cars are predicted to cost less to buy than petrol-driven cars, influencing climate change mitigation.
2025: Planned Sales Stop of Fossil Cars
Many countries plan to stop selling fossil cars altogether between 2025 and 2050.
2035: EU Zero-Emission Vehicle Mandate
By 2035, according to the "Fit for 55" legislation package introduced by the European Commission, all newly sold cars in the European market must be zero-emissions vehicles.
2050: Planned Sales Stop of Fossil Cars
Many countries plan to stop selling fossil cars altogether between 2025 and 2050.
