-
Three Biggest Car Companies
Ford, Chrysler, and GM were named the Big Three car productions of the United States in the 1950s. -
Auto Industry At It's Peak
The USA has 40 million cars and gasoline consumption has increased by 42% over 1945, and General Motors is the main manufacturer in the USA, followed by Ford and Chrysler. -
Post World War ll
After the Great Depression and World War II, the U.S. produced nearly three-quarters of all automobiles in the world by 1950. -
Ford Thrives
Ford opens the Cleveland engine factory, the most automated factory in the world, the first one to extensively employ transfer machines. -
Auto Industry in the U.S.A is Thriving
73% of world cars are produced in the USA -
Jet Travel Starts
Jet passenger travel began. The De Havilland Comet was the world's first jet airliner. The first scheduled service began in May of 1952 between London and Johannesburg. -
Act Passed by Congress
The USA passes the Interstate Highway Act to build over 20 years a nation-wide network of freeways, turning many towns (motels, restaurants, souvenir shops) into ghost towns, the success of lobbying by NHUC and ASF and dooming mass-transit in the USA -
USA Auto Industry Leading the Way
Car manufacturers of the USA (mostly around Detroit) account for 93% of the cars sold in the USA and 48% of those sold in the entire world -
The Ford Mustang Introduced
Ford introduces the Mustang, a sports coupe based on Falcon components with a long hood and short rear, a two-seater to replace the Thunderbird, conceived by Lee Iacocca for the youth market, a runaway success. -
Air Pollution and Control Act
The USA enacts the Motor Vehicle Air Pollution and Control Act. -
Air Pollution Act Mandating Emissions
The USA enacts the Vehicle Air Pollution and Control Act, mandating tighter emission standards -
National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards required shoulder belts for front passengers, front head restraints, energy-absorbing steering columns, ignition-key warning systems, anti-theft steering column/transmission locks, side marker lights and padded interiors starting in 1968.