50 fascinating facts about the automotive industry
Few industries have had a more transformative impact on society than the automobile industry. Since it first challenged the horse for transportation supremacy in the late 19th century, the automobile has been a source of fascination, as well as a springboard for innovation and ambition.
Supporters see the car as a symbol of freedom and millions of jobs. Detractors blame automobiles for suburban sprawl, the decline of cities, pollution, traffic, and fatalities.
For more than 120 years, the automobile has spawned interesting facts and data that have accounted for famous firsts (the first accident or traffic ticket); zany customized options (cars outfitted with flamethrowers—no, not a James Bond car), trends (from the electric car to the combustion engine and back to electric), and quirky laws pertaining to cars (in California, it’s illegal to jump from cars traveling over 65 miles per hour).