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*Auto Financing Programs*
General Motors and Ford created auto financing programs that allowed people can buy cars on credit. -
*Railway System*
The NCL motorized the railway system of multiple major US cities. -
Chrysler
The Chrysler became number 2 after General Motors in the United States. -
*Car Production and Gas Consumption*
The US had around 65 million cars. Gasoline consumption had increased 42% since 1945. General Motors was the main manufacturer in the US, followed by Ford and Chrysler. -
*Cleveland Engine Factory*
Ford opened the Cleveland engine factory, the most automated factory in the world at that time. -
Corvette
Introduction of the Corvette by General Motors' Chevrolet. -
*Interstate Highway Act*
The US passed the Interstate Highway Act to build a nation-wide network of freeways over 20 years. -
Firebird III
General Motors presented the aircraft-inspired concept car Firebird III that was designed by Harley Earl. It had titanium skin, a gas turbine engine, a double bubble cockpit, cruise control, anti-lock brakes, air conditioning, remote door opener, an automated guidance system, and a joystick controller for steering. -
Cruise Control
Chrysler's Imperial was the first to offer cruise control -
*Destruction of Mass Transit*
Mass transit was destroyed in many cities of the US , because of highway construction sponsored by NCL, ASF and NHUC. Urban freeway become essential to the expansion of the car market since more than 70% of the US population lived in metropolitan areas. -
*Vehicle Air Pollution and Control Act*
The United States enacted the Vehicle Air Pollution and Control Act, mandating tighter emission standards -
*Safety Standards*
The US mandated safety standards for automobiles and road traffic safety. -
*Clean Air Act*
The United States passed the "Clean Air Act" that limited the pollution caused by cars and called for ending leaded gasoline and adopting catalytic converters. -
*Number of Automobiles*
There were 112 million cars in the United States, which was almost half the number of cars in the world.
Automobiles had increased from 64 million in 1949 to 281 million in 1972.