COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 336350

Motor Vehicle Transmissions and Power Train Manufacturing

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

14companies1900–1987founding years12still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedGKN plcFoundedGKN plc
1900
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedEaton CorporationFoundedEaton Corporation
1911
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedZF Friedrichshafen AGFoundedZF Friedrichshafen AG
1915
FoundedGeneral Motors CorporationFoundedGeneral Motors Corporation
1916
FoundedValeoFoundedValeo
1923
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedAisin Seiki Co., Ltd.FoundedAisin Seiki Co., Ltd.
1943
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedBorg-Warner Automotive, Inc.FoundedBorg-Warner Automotive, Inc.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

GKN plc →
Defunct · founded 1900 · United Kingdom
Born out of the early 20th-century mergers of three companies, GKN plc has evolved into a global industrial giant…
GKN plc →
Defunct · founded 1900 · United Kingdom
Born out of the early 20th-century mergers of three companies, GKN plc has evolved into a global industrial giant…
Eaton Corporation →
Active · founded 1911
Eaton Corporation is a diversified industrial manufacturer whose operations are divided into four main groups: fluid…
Eaton Corporation →
Active · founded 1911
Eaton Corporation is a diversified industrial manufacturer whose operations are divided into four main groups: fluid…
ZF Friedrichshafen AG →
Active · founded 1915 · Germany
ZF Friedrichshafen AG--one of the world's largest vendors to the global auto industry--translates power into motion…
ZF Friedrichshafen AG →
Active · founded 1915 · Germany
ZF Friedrichshafen AG--one of the world's largest vendors to the global auto industry--translates power into motion…
General Motors Corporation →
Active · founded 1916
General Motors Corporation (GM) is the world's largest full-line vehicle manufacturer and marketer.
General Motors Corporation →
Active · founded 1916
General Motors Corporation (GM) is the world's largest full-line vehicle manufacturer and marketer.
Valeo →
Active · founded 1923 · France
France's Valeo is the tenth-largest supplier of components and systems to the worldwide automobile and truck industry.
Valeo →
Active · founded 1923 · France
France's Valeo is the tenth-largest supplier of components and systems to the worldwide automobile and truck industry.
Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1943 · Japan
Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd.
Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1943 · Japan
Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd.
Borg-Warner Automotive, Inc. →
Active · founded 1987
Not to be confused with its former parent (Borg-Warner Corporation) or ex-sibling (Borg-Warner Security Corporation),…
Borg-Warner Automotive, Inc. →
Active · founded 1987
Not to be confused with its former parent (Borg-Warner Corporation) or ex-sibling (Borg-Warner Security Corporation),…
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