automotive industry History, Overview, Definition, Developments, & Facts

Ford and Lio Ho Group have a joint venture called Ford Lio Ho, Ford owns 70% and Lio Ho Group owns 30%. Ford and Navistar International have a joint venture called Blue Diamond Truck. Navistar International and JAC has a joint venture called Anhui Jianghuai Navistar. Changan Automobile and JMCG have a joint venture called Jiangling Motor Holding. The OICA counts over 50 countries which assemble, manufacture or disseminate automobiles. Of that figure, only 14 countries currently possess the capability to design original production automobiles from the ground up.

After 1945, the U.S. produced about 75 percent of world’s auto production. In 1980, the U.S. was overtaken by Japan and then became world leader again in 1994. In 2006, Japan narrowly passed the U.S. in production and held this rank until 2009, when China took the top spot with 13.8 million units. …