Environmental Challenges Facing The American Auto Industry

Introduction Automobile usage has increased in America and elsewhere in the world. In a research done by Sutherland, J., et al. (2004) “The US has a contributed to 200 million passengers in cars and light truck over the past few years. Further in 1990, studies showed that US cars increased six times faster than human population. The leaders in the automotive industry must adopt some key elements to ensure success in this fast-moving environment. They must invest in knowing their markets, building brands, adapting product strategies and taking long-term view on their goals and objectives. This paper outlines some of the key factors which should be considered. Environmental factors automotive designers and engineers have always said the main threats in the American Automotive industry are the environmental factors such as fuel economy and the clean air regulations. Automotive Emission posed different problems than manufacturing discharges such as coal smoke. Increased fossil-fuel emission has resulted from the million car increase. Irritation smog, which is comprised of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, sulfur oxide and other various chemical mixtures are cited in major cities such as Los Angeles. These auto emissions are also said to cause headaches, visual pollutions, contribute to lung cancers and other respiratory disease. In the end, the engineers have designed cars that are better environmental performers, cost effective and fuel efficient to reduce the environmental

Every day, millions of Americans turn on the engines of their cars and drive to school or work. What these people do not realize is that the vehicles they operate greatly pollute the planet. According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent website post, “Environmental Impacts from Automobiles”,

The American Auto Industry, in the form of vehicles it produces, account for almost one-fifth of emissions in the United States. Subtracting emissions created from production,

Akio Toyoda, the founder of the car company Toyota Incorporated, once said “Automobiles are the pinnacle of human transportation. The percentage of families across the world who own cars have reached new heights in the past decade. Multiple families now have an easier form of transportation than walking or taking an overcrowded bus. For that reason, I am happy with what I do.” Akio Toyoda is right for saying so. The usage of automobiles increases by 150% since the past decade as more consumers look towards faster and cheaper methods of transportation. The increase in usage brings many concerns to well-minded citizens, specifically concerns regarding the environment and the conservation of energy. In order to tackle the problem locally, multiple

Cars have always been a big deal in the United States. Ever since Henry Ford invented his Model T in 1908, the automobile industry in the United Sates has continued to grow (“Henry Ford Changes the World,” 2005). While Ford was not the original inventor the automobile, he created the first automobiles that were affordable, easy to drive and maintain, which made it possible for everyday people to own cars. Ford’s assembly line building technique became the benchmark for all the big auto manufactures of that day (“Henry Ford Changes the World,” 2005). Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler soon became known as the “Big Three” American automobile companies (Foner & Garraty, 1991). While the automobile industry has immensely grown and changed from the early 1900’s to now, it continues to be at the forefront of industries creating environmental concerns worldwide. Issues currently being faced by the American Auto Industry include: having to handle tough global competition by foreign automakers, figuring out how to incorporate new technology to power vehicles (such as electric or ethanol run cars), and having to face new higher government and consumer quality and environmental standards.

The invention of the automobile in the early 20th century has had an adverse affect on our environment. Our society has used technology in order to advance the automobile to make it better and more efficient. The automobile industry knows what sells and they take advantage of that. With this growing technology to advance automobiles also comes flaws. The biggest and most obvious flaw is pollution. Because of pollution, we find ourselves asking the question of whether this technology has helped our society more than it has hurt it.

The American Auto industry has matured over several decades and is one of the best auto industries in the world. However, like any other industry, it is fraught with many environmental challenges that include Political and Regulatory challenges, fierce global competition from other auto manufacturers, rapid advancement of technologies for powering the products in this industry, as well as challenges from stemming from consumer opinions about their products.

The Automobile industry volume of growth has tremendously escalated in the United States. Years ago there were about 700 million vehicles registered in the world back in 1999, within the USA it contributed over 200 million passenger cars and trucks. In the 1990s, the number of vehicles in the United States had tripled six times faster than the human population back from 1969 to a global perspective on the environmental challenges. This is unbelievable, how industry multiplied and monopolized from years ago. All these issues point to the importance environmental concerns as they relate to the automotive industry. Recently the auto industry and its suppliers were addressed the

Since the 1960’s there have been many government acts passed that aim to increase the safety of vehicles, and decrease the environmental effect that they have on the world (Automotive Industry Analysis, pg 1). It is no secret that car’s emissions cause serious environmental issues with their pollution, and as this information has come out, there have been more and more Acts that place limits on automobile companies or force them to research ways to create more environmentally green cars.

With the increase of global competition, the manufacturers of vehicles in the US had been negatively

So far the Toyota Motor Corporation of Japan has surpassed all the American Auto Industry such as Chrysler, Ford and General Motors. Toyota has also topped the world ' most admired Vehicles Industry according to Fortune Magazine. There are various factors that have made the American Auto Industry to face stiff competition. The following are some factors:

The American automotive industry has expanded since uprising in the early 1900s. “Americans dominated the industry in the first half of the twentieth century, although Germany and France perfected the blueprint for the modern automobile. Henry Ford initiated mass production techniques that became standard, with Ford, General motors and Chrysler emerging as the ‘Big Three’ auto companies by the 1920s (Foner & Garraty 1991).” The automotive industry has always been among the leading industries for environmental aspects and hazards around the world, in the United States especially. These issues include; global completion, new technology for powering the product, the effect

The American Auto Industry has flourished ever since it’s uprising in the early 1900s. “Although the blueprint for the modern automobile was perfected in Germany and France in the late 1800s, Americans dominated the industry in the first half of the twentieth century. Henry Ford innovated mass-production techniques that became standard, with Ford, General Motors and Chrysler emerging as the “Big Three” auto companies by the 1920s (Foner & Garraty 1991).” But this industry has always been one of the leading industries for environmental issues and hazards around the world, especially in the United States. Many of the issues in this industry include: global competition, new technology for powering the product, the effects of emission on the environment and the government’s response, as well as consumer opinions about the product.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES FACING AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY IN AMERICA The development of automobile industry in America started in 1896, when Henry Ford built the first American car. With the invention of the automobile and the mass production techniques of Henry Ford, which made the cars affordable, the American economy has been transformed by this key element in its prosperity. Tens of thousands of jobs were created as the industry grew. Workers were required for the assembly lines on which they were constructed. Part by part, Ford 's model Ts became the first most popular, affordable, mass produced cars. The steel industry and machine tool makers also flourished as the automotive industry required ever-increasing supplies and components for the engines, chassis and other metal fixtures of the cars. Beyond these basics, every car needed a battery, head lights, interior upholstery and paint. Entirely new businesses, or subsidiaries of existing business, were created to meet the needs of the automobile industry as it grew incrementally year after year. The automobile industry has a huge impact on the US economy, because its total sales consist of 3.7% of the Nation’s GDP. Great concern for the economy and global warming has caused the automobile industry in America to develop alternative fuel vehicles. Toyota and Honda Japan started a pilot project in 2001 that sees the manufacturing of a hybrid car with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. Global Competition: The U.S.

One child told the class that their car was emitting a lot of smoke. The other children started asking whether it was burning, and why it was having smoke. They mentioned that most car have smoke and wanted to find out why the smoke only comes when the car is on. Exploring the car emissions could lead to learning about pollution, driving rules, and caring for the environment.