COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 3711

Motor Vehicles and Passenger Car Bodies

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

34companies1888–1983founding years34still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedRover Group Ltd.FoundedRover Group Ltd.
1888
FoundedVarta AG
1890
FoundedFederal Signal Corp.
1901
FoundedHarley-Davidson, Inc.
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedThe Budd Company
1912
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedPACCAR Inc.
1924
FoundedFord Motor Company, S.A. de C.V.
1925
FoundedHayes Lemmerz International, Inc.
1927
FoundedFMC Corporation
1928
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedHino Motors, Ltd.
1942
FoundedRenault S.A.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedDaihatsu Motor Company, Ltd.
1951
FoundedLotus Cars Ltd.
1955
FoundedHarsco Corporation
1956
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedNavistar International Corporation
1966
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
FoundedSpartan Motors Inc.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedSaturn Corporation
1983
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
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

Rover Group Ltd. →
Active · founded 1888 · England
The Rover Group Ltd.
Rover Group Ltd. →
Active · founded 1888 · England
The Rover Group Ltd.
Varta AG →
Active · founded 1890 · Germany
Varta AG produces batteries, including storage batteries (such as automobile batteries), rechargeable batteries (such…
Varta AG →
Active · founded 1890 · Germany
Varta AG produces batteries, including storage batteries (such as automobile batteries), rechargeable batteries (such…
Federal Signal Corp. →
Active · founded 1901
Federal Signal Corp., the nation's leading manufacturer of emergency vehicles and street sweepers, also produces…
Federal Signal Corp. →
Active · founded 1901
Federal Signal Corp., the nation's leading manufacturer of emergency vehicles and street sweepers, also produces…
Harley-Davidson, Inc. →
Active · founded 1903
The only motorcycle manufacturer in the United States, Harley-Davidson, Inc.
Harley-Davidson, Inc. →
Active · founded 1903
The only motorcycle manufacturer in the United States, Harley-Davidson, Inc.
The Budd Company →
Active · founded 1912
The Budd Company is the leading automotive stamping manufacturer and one of the top automotive suppliers in the United…
The Budd Company →
Active · founded 1912
The Budd Company is the leading automotive stamping manufacturer and one of the top automotive suppliers in the United…
PACCAR Inc. →
Active · founded 1924
As the second largest medium and heavy truck manufacturer in the world, PACCAR Inc.
PACCAR Inc. →
Active · founded 1924
As the second largest medium and heavy truck manufacturer in the world, PACCAR Inc.
Ford Motor Company, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1925 · Mexico
Ford Motor Company, S.A.
Ford Motor Company, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1925 · Mexico
Ford Motor Company, S.A.
Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1927
The largest manufacturer of automobile wheels in the world, Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc.
Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1927
The largest manufacturer of automobile wheels in the world, Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc.
FMC Corporation →
Active · founded 1928
FMC Corporation is a leading producer of industrial and specialty chemicals and maintains interests in defense systems,…
FMC Corporation →
Active · founded 1928
FMC Corporation is a leading producer of industrial and specialty chemicals and maintains interests in defense systems,…
Hino Motors, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1942 · Japan
Hino Motors, Ltd.
Hino Motors, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1942 · Japan
Hino Motors, Ltd.
Renault S.A. →
Active · founded 1945 · France
One of the world's pioneering auto makers, Renault S.A.
Renault S.A. →
Active · founded 1945 · France
One of the world's pioneering auto makers, Renault S.A.
Daihatsu Motor Company, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1951 · Japan
Daihatsu Motor Company, Ltd.
Daihatsu Motor Company, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1951 · Japan
Daihatsu Motor Company, Ltd.
Lotus Cars Ltd. →
Active · founded 1955 · England
Lotus Cars Ltd.
Lotus Cars Ltd. →
Active · founded 1955 · England
Lotus Cars Ltd.
Harsco Corporation →
Active · founded 1956
Harsco Corporation was formed in 1956 as the result of a merger between Harrisburg Steel Corporation, Heckett…
Harsco Corporation →
Active · founded 1956
Harsco Corporation was formed in 1956 as the result of a merger between Harrisburg Steel Corporation, Heckett…
Navistar International Corporation →
Active · founded 1966
Navistar International Corporation is America's largest manufacturer of medium- and heavy-duty diesel trucks.
Navistar International Corporation →
Active · founded 1966
Navistar International Corporation is America's largest manufacturer of medium- and heavy-duty diesel trucks.
Spartan Motors Inc. →
Active · founded 1975
Michigan-based Spartan Motors Inc.
Spartan Motors Inc. →
Active · founded 1975
Michigan-based Spartan Motors Inc.
Saturn Corporation →
Active · founded 1983
Saturn Corporation grew out of a project begun in 1982 within General Motors Corp.
Saturn Corporation →
Active · founded 1983
Saturn Corporation grew out of a project begun in 1982 within General Motors Corp.
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