Technological Aspect of Automotive Industry - Case Study Example

Technological Aspect of Automotive Industry Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Introduction/ Historical Background The imminent evolution of the car industry across the globe is directly related to the numerous forms of innovations made in fuels, vehicle components, societal structures as well as transformations in their respective manufacturing practices (Bradley et al, 2005). Despite the early form of transportation that was conducted in sail-mounted carriages, most of the historians argue that the real transformation of the automobile came about as a result of the creation of the engine (Li-Chen, 2009). Engines were made a success feature in automobile transformation due to the fact that it operated under such newer forms of energy components like gas and gasoline before efforts were made to develop the first ever motor vehicles as well as creation of automotive companies in both Europe and America at as a whole (Bradley et al, 2005). In the period between 1890 and early 1900 saw the immediate development of other forms of technologies like the steering wheels as well as a floor- mounted accelerator, which helped to transform the manner for which automotive industry was portrayed given that vehicles become now easier to use. In essence, it is within the late 1900s that further development of technologies and societal infrastructure was seen in addition to such aspects as a newer manufacturing process as well as business strategies (Bradley et al, 2005). The development of the motor-age industry in the United States of America can be linked to Detroit city while in Australia; Melbourne still leads as the car manufacturing point. In the course of 1970s, the automobile industry across the globe was imposed with tighter and much stricter environmental regulations and together with the oil embargo that was created within the same period resulted to new innovations that focused on the production of low-emission motor vehicle technologies like the catalytic converters (Bradley et al, 2005). In the United States of America just like in Australia, the development of the automobile cities; Detroit and Melbourne respectively has resulted to transformation of the areas significantly. Due to the intense development of the automobile industry, the populations within these cities enjoyed vast benefits that came as a result of job opportunities derived from the industry as a whole (Davis, 2012). Impacts of These Cities towards Lifestyle Change, Transport & Other Amenities The growth and development witnessed in both Detroit and Melbourne is directly linked to the competitive packages and the need for such companies like Ford, GM and Chrysler to execute corporate social responsibility (Davis, 2012). As the industry grew, so did the level of development. Job opportunities increased as more workers were needed for the purpose of assembly lines for which they were developed in different sections of these cities. In essence, other unplanned economic essence was perceived as a substantial number of people purchased and operated motor vehicles as an essential form of transportation and commerce at large. Another important facet that resulted from the boom of car manufacturing within these cities could be related to the different dreams proposed by both governmental and non-governmental agencies (Davis, 2012). The development of the car industry resulted to increased level of mobility as millions of people sought to find better lifestyles in developing and evolving suburbs that had just sprawled beyond the metropolitan limits of these two cities. Due to the growth in the industry in relation to revenues, the workers could now access affordable finances to purchase houses while at the same offered cars as forms of compensation packages; a feature that helped achieve the American Dream and Melbourne lifestyle (Davis, 2012). In truth, the rapid impact of the automobile industry fostered development in other areas of the city like in the transportation sector. For instance, in Detroit, America; the trucking industry flourished especially in the course of the Interstate Highway period (Davis, 2012). The era allowed intensive transportation of goods by trucks with the immediate creation of the “piggy-back” system that enabled transportation of trucks by rail network to specific locations where they would then be offloaded and sent to their respective destinations through roads. In the course of the later 1930s, United Auto Workers Union was established that resulted in the provision of union members within the sector with increase in wages and other competitive packages like pension schemes and medical cover (Davis, 2012). As a result of a more imminent health cover system that was created by the industry, more facilities like health centres and insurance firms thrived as revenues increased with time. Urban Environments Transformation (Social, Economic & Environmental) The automobile industry across the globe has helped reshape a nation’s landscape level in a manner that has made it virtually unrecognisable from the unpaved model that existed in the previous century (Melosi, n.d). In both America and Australia, the transformation of the car-manufacturing cities by the launching of motorised vehicles was indeed a 20th century prowess, which developed as a result of the impacts of transportation technological advancements that occurred before; like the developments of both the railroad. The automobile technological development resulted in the direct emergence of a private-based transit model at the expense of the public transportation model, which helped people within these industrial cities to settle over a significant level of area (Melosi, n.d). However, for others the technology was perceived to be the direct cause of an undermined urban physical integrity and a creation of an unending sprawl while still sabotaging necessary aspects as a positive sense of community living. Some of the important urban transformation that can be attributed to the developments of the automobile industry is discussed as follows; A Change from Walking to Automobile Cities Urban growth in both the US and Australia has resulted to immense transformation especially since automobiles have played a critical role in transforming a walking city to an automobile one within a short span. In the course of the walking phase, many of the cities constituted a population that walked to their place of employment while the location of the wealthy dwelling places were positioned within the city centres (Melosi, n.d). Popular mode of transportation were basically carriages and steam locomotives that helped the population traverse other places but were deemed to be noisy and expensive to integrate into the already existing urban landscape as a technique of inner-city model of transportation (Melosi, n.d). However, with the introduction of the automobile sector, the walking city phenomenon reduced significant since there was effective transit development that facilitated the movement of urbanites to other section of the central cities to more spacious suburbs, which resulted to immediate escape from congestion and pollution (Melosi, n.d). In fact, with the advent of the automobile era, which arose after World War 1, resulted to the erosion of the streetcar city by way of de-concentration of large corporate units; the weakening of the fundamental aspect of both social and cultural way of life as well as the dispersal of most of the population into suburbs. It is further argued that the development and launching of the automobile sector however; failed to guarantee a proper level of infrastructure would follow suit. Most of the motor vehicles were compelled to alter their operations in order to fit in with the already existing structures of urban environments (Melosi, n.d). Increased Traffic & Congestion The immediate adoption of the motor vehicle form of transportation resulted to traffic congestion despite a stringent effort made to salvage the cities through well-executed expansion programmes for both the street and road systems. The feature indicates fairly-well the manner for which cities are used and, also the degree for which urban environment is deemed able to allow the absorption or rather rationalisation of process concerned with movement of people (Melosi, n.d). Traffic congestion, a form of societal miscalculation emanating from the technological aspect of cars, did not arise within the motor vehicles era; rather, this phase propelled it given that the mass-produced vehicles were packed into slots that were not prepared to accommodate the new transit model. In fact, older cities that existed within the pre-car phase witnessed severe forms of traffic congestion. The broadening of road networks indeed fostered intensive creation of traffic at the expense of the pedestrians; while still new construction of this transportation platform led to further hindrances in forms of fragmentation of people (Melosi, n.d). Following this line of argument, it can be noted that as a form of technological advancement, the automobile sector did not facilitate the creation of contemporary traffic challenges any more than the use of carriages within the 19th century; notwithstanding, it the continual use of the motor vehicles and the development of their social spaces that resulted to a problem (Smith, 1968). Even with the intensive efforts to develop highways in order to ease the level of traffic congestion did not deter rather fostered even more auto usage. The continual usage of the automobile resulted to a distinctive set of negative effects like increased pollution, gasoline and gas consumption as well as potential safety challenges (Melosi, n.d). The level of congestion has prompted different designers to come up with effective rail designs as technical solutions to current challenges. New Car Models will Result to Even more Pollution In the modern era, the manufacturing process has been devised fairly enough to accommodate cost effective strategies like the Just-In-Time as well as other imminent computer technologies (Melosi, n.d). As a result, there has been increased level of advanced motorisation, which has made sure to allow even more people to afford them. With the ability to afford new cars, there is a possibility of increased pollution while the government agencies will be compelled to utilise substantial amounts of land to construct road networks while at the same time promote over-consumption of oil resource (Davidson, 2012). Even with the advent of flying and electric cars would still result to the aforementioned challenges. Provisions made for automobiles into the traffic is perceived to be a never-ending challenge that is fostered by the mere fact that all motorised vehicles tend to cover an extensive street area per each individual as opposed to common carriers. Parking Challenges It is established that even automobile that were not in motion resulted to imminent challenges in comparison to what other forms of transportation faced. It is argued that the advancement of a technology meant to provide people with a chance to greater levels of flexibility in fulfilling their transportation needs remained unused and parked for 90% of its all lifetime (Melosi, n.d). The spaces that are used for purposes of accommodating unused automobiles are indeed enormous. Few people owning cars consume multiple amounts of land as parking spaces, which prevent efficient use of this rather limited resource (Excell, 2005). Significantly, the inner-city traffic is deemed to be a major cause of parking issues given that in the course of the 20th century, the level of parking spaces reduced drastically especially within the downtown street area by a figure of not less than a third of all available land space (Melosi, n.d). Moreover, as the number of automobiles increased significantly, the level of parking spaces that could curb it could rather accommodate a smaller percentage of the total parking necessities for the entire cities. Currently, intensive efforts are underway to ensure that the reduction of curb parking while at the same time promote off-street parking in order to relieve the level of congestion in US and Australian-based cities altogether. To some extent, parking is deemed to be a form of hidden cost that is incurred by the governmental agencies as a result of automobile use (Melosi, n.d). Large American cities like Chicago have continued to float bonds in order to develop and thus, avail enough off-street extensive parking spaces. Filling Stations and Other Forms of Automobile Services The advent of the automobile resulted to economic growth especially because it fostered increased levels of revenue growth that resulted from establishment of filling stations where gasoline and gas could be purchased (Melosi, n.d). In effect, as the automobile sales improved so did the demand for fuel and its immediate products, which later result to a systematic model of distribution. Major USA and Australian-based oil companies made stringent efforts to secure their respective gas and gasoline dealers; a phenomenon that was made possible by intensive technical advancements towards automated gasoline pumps (Melosi, n.d). Sooner than later, gas pumps were being installed at the new stations and across the countryside in order to accommodate loyal customers. Even though there was extensive expansion of filling stations to include curb-side pumping stations, they were later replaced by drive-in points as they created immense levels of traffic (Ellison & Glaeser, 1997). Liberation & Containment Outcomes of Automobile Invention The advent of the car technology resulted to improvement of transportation services up from the use of old carriages and walking. In fact, prior to this invention people used to walk to work, which resulted to minimal production. However, with the launching of the automobile, people could now commute easily between different sections of the country hence visit relatives and friends that lived in these different sections (Melosi, n.d). Automobiles helped to minimise the amount taken to traverse the different sections of the country hence prompted intensive travels. On the contrary, it led to automobiles and sprawls. Research indicates that the establishment of motor vehicles postulated a voracious appetite for the limited and scarce land resource. As the demand for more motor vehicles increased so did the need for road network expansion (Melosi, n.d). Road expansion called for fragmentation of land so that communities that previously lived together were now dividend into different fragments. Cars became the forces behind diffusion as it helped to alter the scale as well as the pre-existing forms of suburbanisation well before the World War II (Rainbow Push Automotive Project, 2012). The technology facilitated greater dispersion of the people in a much random manner as more homes were now highly dependent on roads to access social and other forms of amenities(Melosi, n.d). With the increase in the car roaming the city streets resulted to intensive levels of pollution especially CO2 emissions. Prior to innovation of lead petrol, cars used to produce a high level of toxic emissions that further caused uproar in relation to urban development (Kimberley, 2003). Conclusion To sum up the discussion above, it can be noted that the advent of car technology brought with it convenience and constraints in cities across the USA and Australia at large. To a larger extent, cars allowed easier transportation, employment opportunities and creation of social relationships. On the contrary, it led to significant level of pollution, caused dispersion amongst populations that previously stayed together. It also created neighbourhoods that were now highly dependent on road networks to access the different amenities that were, prior to this development, easily accessible. Thus, cars can be seen to be the major cause of urban sprawl as well as a cause of over-exploration of limited land resource as well as emission of carbon toxics to the environment. References Bradley, D et al. (2005). Automotive industry analysis. Principles of Management Engineers. Retrieved on November 9, 2015 from http://www.srl.gatech.edu/Members/bbradley/me6753.industryanalysis.teamA.pdf Davis, M. (2012). “How the US automobile industry has changed”, Investopedia.Com. Retrieved on November 9, 2015 from http://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/12/auto-industry.asp Davidson, A. (2012). “The Dinged-Up, Broken Down, Fender Bended Economic Recovery Plan.” The New York Times, Retrieved on November 9, 2015 from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/05/magazine/the-dinged-up-broken-down-fender-bended-economic-recovery-plan.html?pagewanted=1 Ellison, G & Glaeser, EL. (1997). “Geographic Concentration in U.S. Manufacturing Industries: A Dartboard Approach,” Journal of Political Economy 105, 889-927. Excell, M. (2005). Keep it clean. Metalworking Production, 149(4), 5 Kimberley, W. (2003). From ethanol to methanol. Automotive Engineer, 28(6), 3. Li-Chen, C. (2009). Vehicle Industry, Taiwan Industrial Outlook (pp. 1-16). Melosi, MV. (n.d). “Automobile in American life and society: The automobile shapes of the city”. Retrieved on November 9, 2015 from http://www.autolife.umd.umich.edu/Environment/E_Casestudy/E_casestudy.htm Rainbow Push Automotive Project. (2012). The economic impact of the automotive industry on urban communities. Retrieved on November 9, 2015 from http://rainbow.3cdn.net/fc1ba746c98c38894e_1jm6ihf19.pdf Smith, P H. (1968). Wheels within Wheels, New York: Funk and Wagnalls. Read More

Job opportunities increased as more workers were needed for the purpose of assembly lines for which they were developed in different sections of these cities. In essence, other unplanned economic essence was perceived as a substantial number of people purchased and operated motor vehicles as an essential form of transportation and commerce at large. Another important facet that resulted from the boom of car manufacturing within these cities could be related to the different dreams proposed by both governmental and non-governmental agencies (Davis, 2012).

The development of the car industry resulted to increased level of mobility as millions of people sought to find better lifestyles in developing and evolving suburbs that had just sprawled beyond the metropolitan limits of these two cities. Due to the growth in the industry in relation to revenues, the workers could now access affordable finances to purchase houses while at the same offered cars as forms of compensation packages; a feature that helped achieve the American Dream and Melbourne lifestyle (Davis, 2012).

In truth, the rapid impact of the automobile industry fostered development in other areas of the city like in the transportation sector. For instance, in Detroit, America; the trucking industry flourished especially in the course of the Interstate Highway period (Davis, 2012). The era allowed intensive transportation of goods by trucks with the immediate creation of the “piggy-back” system that enabled transportation of trucks by rail network to specific locations where they would then be offloaded and sent to their respective destinations through roads.

In the course of the later 1930s, United Auto Workers Union was established that resulted in the provision of union members within the sector with increase in wages and other competitive packages like pension schemes and medical cover (Davis, 2012). As a result of a more imminent health cover system that was created by the industry, more facilities like health centres and insurance firms thrived as revenues increased with time. Urban Environments Transformation (Social, Economic & Environmental) The automobile industry across the globe has helped reshape a nation’s landscape level in a manner that has made it virtually unrecognisable from the unpaved model that existed in the previous century (Melosi, n.d). In both America and Australia, the transformation of the car-manufacturing cities by the launching of motorised vehicles was indeed a 20th century prowess, which developed as a result of the impacts of transportation technological advancements that occurred before; like the developments of both the railroad.

The automobile technological development resulted in the direct emergence of a private-based transit model at the expense of the public transportation model, which helped people within these industrial cities to settle over a significant level of area (Melosi, n.d). However, for others the technology was perceived to be the direct cause of an undermined urban physical integrity and a creation of an unending sprawl while still sabotaging necessary aspects as a positive sense of community living.

Some of the important urban transformation that can be attributed to the developments of the automobile industry is discussed as follows; A Change from Walking to Automobile Cities Urban growth in both the US and Australia has resulted to immense transformation especially since automobiles have played a critical role in transforming a walking city to an automobile one within a short span. In the course of the walking phase, many of the cities constituted a population that walked to their place of employment while the location of the wealthy dwelling places were positioned within the city centres (Melosi, n.d). Popular mode of transportation were basically carriages and steam locomotives that helped the population traverse other places but were deemed to be noisy and expensive to integrate into the already existing urban landscape as a technique of inner-city model of transportation (Melosi, n.d).

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