COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 336112

Light Truck and Utility Vehicle Manufacturing

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

18companies1901–1970founding years18still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedMack Trucks, Inc.FoundedMack Trucks, Inc.
1901
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
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.
FoundedGeneral Motors CorporationFoundedGeneral Motors Corporation
1916
FoundedFord Motor CompanyFoundedFord Motor Company
1919
FoundedMazda Motor CorporationFoundedMazda Motor Corporation
1920
FoundedTextron Inc.FoundedTextron Inc.
1923
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
FoundedNissan Motor Co., Ltd.FoundedNissan Motor Co., Ltd.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
FoundedToyota Motor CorporationFoundedToyota Motor Corporation
1937
FoundedVolkswagen AktiengesellschaftFoundedVolkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
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.
FoundedMitsubishi Motors CorporationFoundedMitsubishi Motors Corporation
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.
1980
EnvironmentSuperfund law makes polluters pay for cleanup.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1990
EnvironmentThe Clean Air Act amendments tighten emissions limits.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
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

Mack Trucks, Inc. →
Active · founded 1901
A prominent fixture in the U.S.
Mack Trucks, Inc. →
Active · founded 1901
A prominent fixture in the U.S.
General Motors Corporation →
Active · founded 1916
General Motors Corporation (GM) is the world's largest full-line vehicle manufacturer and marketer.
General Motors Corporation →
Active · founded 1916
General Motors Corporation (GM) is the world's largest full-line vehicle manufacturer and marketer.
Ford Motor Company →
Active · founded 1919
As the second-largest automobile company in the world, Ford Motor Company represents a $164 billion multinational…
Ford Motor Company →
Active · founded 1919
As the second-largest automobile company in the world, Ford Motor Company represents a $164 billion multinational…
Mazda Motor Corporation →
Active · founded 1920 · Japan
Mazda Motor Corporation is the number five Japanese automaker, behind Toyota Motor Corporation; Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.;…
Mazda Motor Corporation →
Active · founded 1920 · Japan
Mazda Motor Corporation is the number five Japanese automaker, behind Toyota Motor Corporation; Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.;…
Textron Inc. →
Active · founded 1923
Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. →
Active · founded 1923
Textron Inc.
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1933 · Japan
Early 1940s:During World War II, the company makes military trucks and engines for airplanes and torpedo boats.
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1933 · Japan
Early 1940s:During World War II, the company makes military trucks and engines for airplanes and torpedo boats.
Toyota Motor Corporation →
Active · founded 1937 · Japan
Toyota Motor Corporation was Japan's largest car company and the world's third largest by the year 2000.
Toyota Motor Corporation →
Active · founded 1937 · Japan
Toyota Motor Corporation was Japan's largest car company and the world's third largest by the year 2000.
Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft →
Active · founded 1938 · Germany
Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, a company born in the shadow of Nazism, rose to become the world's third largest…
Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft →
Active · founded 1938 · Germany
Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, a company born in the shadow of Nazism, rose to become the world's third largest…
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation →
Active · founded 1970 · Japan
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation is Japan's fourth largest car company, and manufactures and markets passenger cars and…
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation →
Active · founded 1970 · Japan
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation is Japan's fourth largest car company, and manufactures and markets passenger cars and…
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