How Cars Have Changed Over 100 Years

The 100 Year History of Automobiles

While automobiles were first invented in the late 1800s, it wasn’t until around the early 1900s that cars began to be mass-produced. Today, many Orfordville drivers and beyond find themselves getting into the driver’s seat of their vehicle almost every day. Whether it’s for long road trips on the weekends or quick grocery runs during the week, automobiles have become an integral part of our daily lives. Let’s take a quick look at the history behind automobiles:

• 1900:The first hybrid car is introduced at the Paris world’s fair by Ferdinand Porsche.
• 1912: Hand engine cranking becomes obsolete thanks to the introduction of the first electric starter from Cadillac. Before then, you had to hand-crank your vehicle which proved to be an unsafe process.
• 1913: Vehicle ownership is becoming available to the masses, thanks to Henry Ford’s assembly line.
• 1920s: General Motors introduces the idea of annual minor face-lifts and cosmetic changes to new iterations of vehicles.
• 1930s: Innovations like automatic transmissions and drop-frame construction were introduced.
• 1940: Willy-Overland produces the first-ever Jeep for the U.S. Army. Since then, the popular Jeep Wrangler that we all know and love today is a direct descendant of the Willys Jeep.
• 1959: Drivers get the chance to buckle up with the first-ever three-point front seat belt introduced by Volvo.
• 1968: Vehicles are beginning to have an electromechanical airbag system implemented for safer driving.
• 1981: The first carbon-fiber race car is developed by McLaren. Today, carbon fiber is a crucial component of modern race cars.
• 1997: The fuel-saving Toyota Prius is announced and sparks interest in gas-electric hybrid vehicles.
• 2012-Present: Electric vehicle interest begins gaining momentum with the introduction of the electric vehicle (EV) Tesla Roadster in 2012. Today, car shoppers are increasingly looking for advanced, fuel-efficient, and spacious vehicles to fit into their busy lives!

How the Car Buying Process Has Evolved

Not only have automobiles themselves changed over the years, but so has the car-buying process. However, the steps that Janesville shoppers take today to obtain a car loan aren’t much different from how it used to be. In the early 1900s, automotive companies began offering consumer loans and monthly payment plans for car shoppers. However, pre-owned cars weren’t a huge hit until about three years after automobiles were debuted.

Additionally, leasing predates the automobile altogether being introduced in the 1700s to increase the sales of horse-drawn wagons. Today, buyers are more likely to conduct research, explore options, and even purchase a vehicle online. With plenty of shopping tools available online that allow you to apply for financing, start vehicle trade-ins, and more, purchasing a vehicle has never been easier!