German automotive industry development process
Germany is the birthplace of modern cars and the country with the longest history of producing cars. Since the invention of the first car by Karl-Bentz in 1886, the German automotive industry has gone through more than 120 years of development. The development of the German automobile industry, like other countries in the world, has gone through four stages of “invention experiment”, “continuous improvement”, “rapid development” and “high-tech wide application”. And the development of each stage has always been closely linked to major events in the political, economic, social and cultural fields of Germany.
The experimental phase of the invention of the car (1886-1910)
During this period, due to the invention of the internal combustion engine and the birth of the automobile, the German automobile factories emerged at that time, and some other manufacturers also turned to automobile production. In 1901, there were only 12 automobile factories in Germany, with 1,773 employees and an annual output of 884 vehicles. By 1908, the number of German automobile factories had reached 53, with 12,400 employees and an annual output of 5,547 cars. Before the First World War, the German automobile industry had basically formed an independent industrial sector with more than 50,000 automobile manufacturing workers and an annual output of 20,000 vehicles, which is second only to the United States.
The continuous improvement of automotive technology (1911-1940)
When the German automobile industry broke out in the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, it had basically formed an independent industrial sector with an annual output of 20,000. Despite this, Europe has been in the era of steam engine rule. In the seven years from 1923 to 1929, it was called the "golden 1920s" of the German automobile industry. During this period, the automobile industry developed rapidly and modern automobile technology continued to improve.
Rapid development of the automotive industry (1941-1960)
After the outbreak of World War II, Germany was quickly involved in a full-scale war. Throughout World War II, the German automobile industry became part of the military industry and served the war. By the end of World War II, most of the car factories were hit hard and almost ruined. So it was not until the 1950s that the German automotive industry really entered a period of rapid development.
Wide application of automotive technology (1961 - end of 20th century)
Since the 1960s, the automobile industry in the Federal Republic of Germany has continued to grow at a relatively high speed. After competition, there are more than 100 automobile manufacturers to only 10, and the output has been continuously improved. Many modern technologies are widely used in the automotive industry, and automobile production has entered a mature stage. After the reunification of the two Germans, the German automobile industry is constantly undergoing adjustment and restructuring. With the acceleration of the European integration process, the German automotive industry has entered a new stage of development.