Automotive History - Period 1931 - 1940

America has built 830,000 miles of highways. With 26 million cars are registered to the American people have a total of 216 billion-mile journey.

1932

June 1932, Alfred Sloan convening the GM Board of Directors approved a plan to end production line Cadillac which had been severely degraded after the Great Depression. The idea was to follow Packard is the market leader for luxury cars are targeted to low-income customers. Removing a Cadillac can not profitably be made ​​less expensive than brand LaSalle became the most expensive brand of GM. A young engineer, Nicholas Dreystadt for 10 minutes during the meeting to present the plan to rescue the Cadillac. Like most manufacturers, GM is also brings the racism in the business - Cadillac GM does not sell to blacks. Board Dreystadt to know that black people owned the wealth Cadillac through their white friends. Dreystadt argued, why not give the rich black people in the target group of Cadillac customers, even a small part of the expansion of the market also creates a big difference for GM board of directors Dreystadt 18 months for testing. Until 1934, the Cadillac brand was profitable. In 1940, Cadillac sales increased 1000%. Besides showing a small step to eliminate racial discrimination in business, Dreystadt initiative has won the backing of wealthy blacks. This is a typical example of the application of marketing in the automobile industry.

1934

In England, Morris Motors was the first production application of automotive production line. Income distribution, the availability of other means of public transport, the British conservative, all this has prevented the development of the auto industry.Before this time not a British manufacturer to get enough sales to invest in plant and equipment to produce cars with industrial chain. Determination of cars is a luxury goods has led to the British car industry tends to favor small and scattered.

1935

Oklahoma City, became the first city in the world watches the installation of automated parking meters.

Sales of the U.S. auto market (from 1900) over 50 million units. In 5 Americans have a car. 
The auto industry union was established (United Automobile Workers).

1936

William C. Durant, founder of General Motors, went bankrupt with debts of up to $ 1 million.

With 22% market share of U.S. new vehicle, Ford ranked third among U.S. car makers. 43% General Motors, Chrysler ranked second accounting for 25%. This extended only three occupied 90% market share of American cars.

1937

General Motors recognized the union auto industry representative for legal workers.

1938

U.S. auto industry is affected by the Great Depression to stop production at 2.5 million vehicles. Water production is the second largest British car with 445 thousand units, accounting for 9% of total world production of 4 million units (less than U.S. production in 1929). Fledgling automobile industry of Japan contributed 24,000 units.

1939

General Motors introduced the automatic transmission.

General Motors, Ford and Chrysler accounted for 90% of U.S. automobile production.While the remaining 10% belongs to 'Middle Five' including Hudson, Nash, Packard, Studebaker and Willys-Overland.

1940

Fuel consumption per year is 773 gallons per car.

U.S. Defense Department invited 135 manufacturers bid to build a Vietnamese car has 4 wheel drive with a weight not exceeding 1300 pounds and 500 pound payload.

There are only two bidding companies: American Bantam and Willys-Overland.American Bantam won the bid package but then did not meet the requirements and design time by the U.S. Defense Department set out. Willys-Overland was invited to the joint venture. The Willys-Overland's engineers soon designed to remove heavy and weak Bantam. These efforts have brought to Willys was a Vietnamese car sealskin very light weight, equipped with a 4-cylinder, 60 horsepower. Until 1941, Willys first orders from the U.S. Department of Defense, the cars called 'Jeep' and $ 740 dollars / unit. Lot vehicles 'Jeep' final order that the U.S. Army in 1982.