Automobiles are wheeled vehicles that are used for transportation. By definition, they are motor vehicles that run on roads, seat one to eight people, and have four wheels. Their main purpose is to carry people from point A to point B. In modern terms, cars are classified into two general categories. One is passenger cars and the other is commercial vehicles.
Daimler’s inventions
Gottlieb Daimler was a German engineer. His early career was spent as an apprentice gunsmith. He created a double-barreled pistol when he was just ten years old. Later, he studied mechanical engineering at the Stuttgart Polytechnic, where he met and teamed up with the engineer Wilhelm Maybach. They would work together for the rest of Daimler’s life. Their inventions included a self-firing ignition starter and an automobile-powered internal combustion engine.
Henry Ford’s invention
Henry Ford’s invention of automobiles changed the course of history. He revolutionized the way that cars were made and quickly became the dominant force in the industry. His Model T was so popular that he eventually bought out all of his partners and became sole owner of the Ford Motor Company. Ford was convinced that the Model T was the only car that people wanted. He ignored competition from competitors like Chevrolet, who offered better looking and more expensive cars.
Daimler’s mass production techniques
The Viper-Prowler plant is not your average assembly line. It uses craftsman-style production and builds cars by hand. By comparison, Daimler Chrysler’s Jefferson North Assembly Plant can produce 1,114 Jeep Grand Cherokees in a 24-hour workday. At the Viper plant, production rates are lower, with only 13 Vipers being produced per day. However, the plant can build up to 20 Prowlers per day.
Chrysler’s mass production techniques
By using robotic automation and mass production techniques, Chrysler is able to produce a variety of vehicles quickly and efficiently. Before, changing production lines required an extensive manual process. Today, robots are reprogrammed to work on different models, making them more versatile than ever.
General Motors’ mass production techniques
One of General Motors’ mass production techniques is the use of advanced spot welding. This technique combines metals with different melting points to create a stronger bond. This allows GM to create a lightweight aluminum shell that compliments the strength of the steel frame. The company plans to license some of these techniques to other automakers.
George Baldwin Selden’s car
In 1895, a patent lawyer and inventor named George Baldwin Selden gained the U.S. patent for an automobile. The invention was a big success, and he built hundreds of cars before he died at the age of 67.