It is a common misconception that Henry Ford developed the assembly line process, based on Eli Whitney's interchangeable parts concept. However, Ransom Olds, the founder of the now extinct auto brand Oldsmobile, was the first person to adopt the assembly line process. The Ford motor company did develop the famous Model T, which is viewed as the first affordable American automobile. The average assembly line worker of the era could afford a Model T on just four months' pay. The assembly line production method was so successful that by 1930, nearly 250 companies who had not adopted this process went out of business. As smaller companies began to go bankrupt, they were swallowed up by larger companies. The Ford motor company purchased the Lincoln brand, and General Motors ended up with Chevrolet, Buick, and Oldsmobile, to name a few. I think that these initial expansions of large companies lead to the development of the oligopoly we have today. Although cars that are made throughout the world can be purchased in the US, the largest remaining American companies are GM, Ford, and Chrysler, who also market their respective sub-brands.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automobile
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buick
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Motor_Company
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors
And for your entertainment, I leave you with this clip. This is one of my favorite segments from BBC's Top Gear- currently the most watched show in the world. In this episode, the guys attempt to modify cars into "boats" and attempt to sail across a reservoir. Enjoy!
