COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 3713

Truck and Bus Bodies

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

22companies1902–1991founding years22still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedDouglas & Lomason CompanyFoundedDouglas & Lomason Company
1902
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedA. O. Smith CorporationFoundedA. O. Smith Corporation
1904
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedGrumman Corporation
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedHino Motors, Ltd.FoundedHino Motors, Ltd.
1942
FoundedRenault S.A.FoundedRenault S.A.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedDaihatsu Motor Company, Ltd.
1951
FoundedChampion Enterprises, Inc.FoundedChampion Enterprises, Inc.
1953
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedNavistar International CorporationFoundedNavistar International Corporation
1966
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
FoundedDesc, S.A. de C.V.
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.
FoundedSudbury Inc.FoundedSudbury Inc.
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.
FoundedMiller Industries, Inc.
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

Douglas & Lomason Company →
Active · founded 1902
The Douglas and Lomason Company is a leading worldwide supplier of automotive seating systems.
Douglas & Lomason Company →
Active · founded 1902
The Douglas and Lomason Company is a leading worldwide supplier of automotive seating systems.
A. O. Smith Corporation →
Active · founded 1904
A.
A. O. Smith Corporation →
Active · founded 1904
A.
Grumman Corporation →
Active · founded 1929
The manufacturer of the U.S.
Grumman Corporation →
Active · founded 1929
The manufacturer of the U.S.
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.
Champion Enterprises, Inc. →
Active · founded 1953
One of the fastest growing companies in the manufactured housing industry, Champion Enterprises, Inc.
Champion Enterprises, Inc. →
Active · founded 1953
One of the fastest growing companies in the manufactured housing industry, Champion Enterprises, Inc.
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.
Desc, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1973 · Mexico
Desc, S.A.
Desc, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1973 · Mexico
Desc, S.A.
Sudbury Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Sudbury Inc.
Sudbury Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Sudbury Inc.
Miller Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1991
Miller Industries, Inc.
Miller Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1991
Miller Industries, Inc.
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