The history of Detroit is forever linked in our minds as the automotive capital of the world – the birthplace of the car. We live in a driving city, a place where I take my car a mile down the street to get a coffee or pick up something quick to eat. We drive everywhere here in Detroit, in part due to the lack of public transportation, but also due to the pride we all feel for the industry and heritage.
I come from a non-automotive family. My parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents all worked in other industries (notably because we’re all from Ohio originally) so I didn’t grow up surrounded by car talk, unions, or brand new vehicles every other year. Since I’ve been living and working in the Detroit are for over ten years, I’ve absorbed and become accustomed to the lingo and pride that others feel for the industry. I’ve worked on projects from the maintenance of brake lines to the features of a new crossover to repairing a suspension system. Due to the fact that I work with these training courses in foreign languages, I can’t walk you through the use of an infotainment system, but I have gotten to know the basics.
I don’t know anyone living here who hasn’t visited some car museum or another- there are multiple options for the aficionado. I’ve been lucky enough to tour the museums for “The Big Three” – The Henry Ford, The Walter P Chrysler museum, and the Renaissance Center for GM. (For those who don’t know, “The Big Three” refers to the original three automotive manufacturers in the USA – Ford, Chrysler, and GM). These museums contain the best examples of our automotive history, starting with an original Model T to the new Hellcat released this year.
The history of the automobile in Detroit can be traced back to the beginning of the 1900’s and a thriving machine tool and carriage industry. The city was ripe for Henry Ford to build a plant and introduce the world to the assembly line – a revolutionary invention that has shaped the way we work. The Model T was released to the public starting in 1908 and was famous for being the first vehicle that an average man could afford – the car was no longer a luxury item only available to the wealthy. General Motors quickly followed, opening their doors in 1908 and Chrysler was founded in 1925. The city grew, not only around these three prestigious automotive manufacturers, but also to the numerous OEMs and supporting businesses that supplied all of the auxiliary services necessary to run a multinational business.
Many of those original businesses are still here today, although they have had to morph and adapt over the years to the demands of the evolving market and competition. Back in the late 2000’s, when the economic crisis hit, Detroit and its automotive industry took the brunt of the WORD. Many long-standing businesses had to close their doors, unable to react to the downturn in business they had relied upon as automatic for so long. Those companies who remain have adapted and evolved to expand their services and reach to other industries, diversifying their market base and creating new opportunities otherwise unthought of.
The pride of those who work in this industry is apparent even to the visitor. Our street names, buildings, and even restaurants are all aware and mindful of where the city has come from and where it is headed. There are few people in Detroit who are unaffected by the industry, either directly or indirectly. Each of us who live in the area keep this in the back of our minds, and are the first to defend the city and the industry to neighsayers. I’m happy to live in such a historic, industrious city – this has shaped a community that I am proud to be a part of.