COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 423110

Automobile and Other Motor Vehicle Merchant Wholesalers

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

14companies1906–1993founding years14still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedTriumph Motorcycles Ltd.FoundedTriumph Motorcycles Ltd.
1906
FoundedLookers plcFoundedLookers plc
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
FoundedArriva PLCFoundedArriva PLC
1938
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedPerusahaan Otomobil Nasional Bhd.FoundedPerusahaan Otomobil Nasional Bhd.
1983
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
FoundedADESA, Inc.FoundedADESA, Inc.
1989
1990
EnvironmentThe Clean Air Act amendments tighten emissions limits.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedAVTOVAZ Joint Stock CompanyFoundedAVTOVAZ Joint Stock Company
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2009
EconomyGM and Chrysler bankruptcies reshape the auto industry.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Haci Omer Sabanci Holdings A.S. →
Active · Turkey
Haci Omer Sabanci Holdings A.S.
Haci Omer Sabanci Holdings A.S. →
Active · Turkey
Haci Omer Sabanci Holdings A.S.
Triumph Motorcycles Ltd. →
Active · founded 1906 · United Kingdom
One of the oldest names in motorcycle manufacturing, Triumph Motorcycles Ltd.
Triumph Motorcycles Ltd. →
Active · founded 1906 · United Kingdom
One of the oldest names in motorcycle manufacturing, Triumph Motorcycles Ltd.
Lookers plc →
Active · founded 1908 · United Kingdom
Lookers plc is one of the United Kingdom's top five new and used car dealers.
Lookers plc →
Active · founded 1908 · United Kingdom
Lookers plc is one of the United Kingdom's top five new and used car dealers.
Arriva PLC →
Active · founded 1938 · United Kingdom
Arriva PLC is one of Europe's leading and fastest-growing publicly traded transportation companies.
Arriva PLC →
Active · founded 1938 · United Kingdom
Arriva PLC is one of Europe's leading and fastest-growing publicly traded transportation companies.
Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Bhd. →
Active · founded 1983 · Malaysia
Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Bhd., better known as Proton, is Malaysia's largest manufacturer of automobiles,…
Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Bhd. →
Active · founded 1983 · Malaysia
Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Bhd., better known as Proton, is Malaysia's largest manufacturer of automobiles,…
ADESA, Inc. →
Active · founded 1989
ADESA, Inc.
ADESA, Inc. →
Active · founded 1989
ADESA, Inc.
AVTOVAZ Joint Stock Company →
Active · founded 1993 · Russia
AVTOVAZ Joint Stock Company, or OAO AVTOVAZ (Avtovaz), manufactures nearly three-quarters of the light automobiles sold…
AVTOVAZ Joint Stock Company →
Active · founded 1993 · Russia
AVTOVAZ Joint Stock Company, or OAO AVTOVAZ (Avtovaz), manufactures nearly three-quarters of the light automobiles sold…
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