The Popularization Of Production And Consumption Of American Automobile1900-1929

During the short thirty years from1900to1929, the great changes have taken place inAmerican automobile industry. It has experienced the process from the start to thepopularization of automobile consumption. Generally speaking, the development of the U.S.auto industry has experienced three phases: the first stage was befor1908. During thistime,the car is expensive and completely belongs to the upper class; The second stage isfrom1908to1920s. The main characteristics of U.S. auto industry is “mass market”andFord’s low price cars occupied the dominant position during this time; After1920s is thethird stage, the various cars of new functionality and high quality appeared in Americansociety, and this is the arrival of the diversification of the automobile market.The popularization of the automobile consumption is not achieved overnight, butexperienced the arduous process. First of all, it is dependent on mass production. The greatestcontributor to the production aspect is Henry Ford and his Ford Motor Company, theinvention of the Model T and the application of the assembly line technology had laid solidfoundation for the popularity of the automobile consumption. Second, automobile marketingis the medium of the automobile consumption. It needs some methods and strategies to sellmass produced cars to consumers. The outstanding contributions in this field is Alfred Sloanand General Motors, their constant exploration and innovation broke the traditional "fordcreed" of production and the sales pattern, and bring automobile into the third stage. Finally,1920s’ prosperity of the American consumer society eventually led to the realization of thepopularization of automobile consumption. People’ living standard rise and the change ofconsumption idea stimulate the automobile consumption. In conclusion, the popularization ofthe automobile consumption be realized in late1920s, and had a huge impact on AmericanRural and Urban areas, Road construction, Family life, etc.