COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 336510

Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing

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

14companies1869–1953founding years14still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedWabtec CorporationFoundedWabtec Corporation
1869
FoundedGeneral Electric CompanyFoundedGeneral Electric Company
1892
FoundedKawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.FoundedKawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.
1896
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedFiat SpAFoundedFiat SpA
1906
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.
FoundedFaiveley S.A.FoundedFaiveley S.A.FoundedGeneral Motors CorporationFoundedGeneral Motors Corporation
1916
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
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.
FoundedThe Marmon Group, Inc.FoundedThe Marmon Group, Inc.
1953
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.
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.
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.
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

Wabtec Corporation →
Active · founded 1869
Wabtec Corporation was created as a result of the 1999 merger of Westinghouse Air Brake Company and MotivePower.
Wabtec Corporation →
Active · founded 1869
Wabtec Corporation was created as a result of the 1999 merger of Westinghouse Air Brake Company and MotivePower.
General Electric Company →
Active · founded 1892
The history of General Electric Company is a significant part of the history of technology in the United States.
General Electric Company →
Active · founded 1892
The history of General Electric Company is a significant part of the history of technology in the United States.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1896 · Japan
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1896 · Japan
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Fiat SpA →
Active · founded 1906 · Italy
Fiat SpA, one of Europe's largest companies, is perhaps best known as a manufacturer of automobiles.
Fiat SpA →
Active · founded 1906 · Italy
Fiat SpA, one of Europe's largest companies, is perhaps best known as a manufacturer of automobiles.
Faiveley S.A. →
Active · founded 1916 · France
Faiveley S.A.
Faiveley S.A. →
Active · founded 1916 · France
Faiveley S.A.
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.
The Marmon Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1953
The Marmon Group, Inc., one of the largest privately owned organizations in the United States, is in essence a holding…
The Marmon Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1953
The Marmon Group, Inc., one of the largest privately owned organizations in the United States, is in essence a holding…
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