Profile of the Automobile and Motor Vehicle Industry: Innovation, Transformation, Globalization

The motor vehicle industry is one of the worlds largest. More than 1 billion vehicles are in use around the world, and 80 million are produced and sold annually. Motor vehicles--including passenger cars, trucks, and commercial vehicles such as buses and taxis--are the principal means by which people and goods are transported within and between most communities in the world. The motor vehicle industry includes corporations that design, develop, and manufacture cars and trucks. These carmakers, such as Ford and Toyota, are among the world's most-familiar corporate brands. The motor vehicle industry also encompasses less well-known businesses; including several thousand parts makers, tens of thousands of retailers, and specialized lending agencies. The importance of the motor vehicle industry transcends even its central role in the global economy. The industry was responsible for many of the fundamental innovations of twentieth-century production, such as corporate organization, manufacturing processes, and labor relations, as well as sales innovations, such as product branding and consumer financing. In the twenty-first century, the motor vehicle industry has been a leader in adopting new production strategies and expanding into new markets. This book will cover the history, operations and manufacturing processes, organization, supply chain, key competitors, market and ultra-market forces, regulation, recent innovations and challenges, and the future of the industry.

Oxford, OH; Professor of Geography; Miami University