Automotive industry facts for kids
The automotive industry is all about designing, building, selling, and marketing cars and other motor vehicles. It is one of the largest industries in the world, making a huge amount of money every year. This industry affects many jobs and businesses around the globe.
The Start of the Car Industry
The automotive industry began in the 1890s. Back then, many small companies started making what people called "horseless carriages." These were the very first cars, and they looked quite different from cars today.
One of the most important cars was the Ford Model T. It was one of the first cars that many people could afford to buy. This car helped make cars popular for everyday families.
Who Made the Most Cars?
For a long time, the United States was the biggest car maker in the world. In 1929, before a tough economic time called the Great Depression, there were over 32 million cars being used worldwide. More than 90% of these cars were made in the U.S. At that time, there was about one car for every five people in the United States.
After the 1960s, Japan grew to become the second-largest car producer. Japanese car companies became very well known for making reliable and fuel-efficient cars.
More recently, China has become the world leader in making automobiles. China took the top spot in 2009 and has continued to produce more cars than any other country.
Images for kids
-
A modern assembly-line
-
Thomas B. Jeffery automobile factory in Kenosha, Wisconsin, c.1916
-
Fiat assembly line in 1961
-
World motor production (1997-2016)
-
Global automobile import and export in 2011
.png){kind=small}
See also
In Spanish: Industria automotriz para niños
