A Drama of the American Workplace
With a New Afterword

An enlightening peek at the inner workings of a large corporation trying to reinvent itself. . . . It's rare to find an auto book that explains the process of creating a car with so much color and detail."—Business Week (a Best Business Book of 1997)

Faced with the task of redesigning the Taurus, America's best-selling car and the flagship of its fleet, Ford Motor Company assembled 700 designers, engineers, planners, and bean-counters under a tough manager who set out to retake engineering and manufacturing ground lost to the Japanese. On their shoulders rested the reputation and the profits of Ford, not to mention an investment of close to 3 billion dollars.

This biting, insightful account by a seasoned journalist follows the 1996 Taurus from its conception as a clay model in Detroit to its birth in an Atlanta assembly plant to its public debut in a New Jersey dealership. Mary Walton, who was given unprecedented access to the Taurus team, chronicles brilliantly the clashes between designers and engineers, marketers and accountants, product guys and manufacturing guys to create a revealing portrait of the tension, the passions, and the pride that fuel the race to #1.

"An engrossing drama . . . with fascinating insights into every aspect of the car's creation. . . . Walton does an admirable job of making the redesign of a car into a compelling human-interest story."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"An engrossing, satisfying read."—Doron Levin, Philadelphia Inquirer (a Best Book of 1997)

"Vivid and informative. . . . Consistently entertaining because it is engagingly written, this is the rare business book that is a page turner."—Keith Bradsher, New York Times Book Review

Since the mass production of Henry Ford's Model T, car enthusiasts have been redesigning, rebuilding, and reengineering their vehicles for increased speed and technical efficiency. They purchase aftermarket parts, reconstruct engines, and enhance body designs, all in an effort to personalize and improve their vehicles. Why do these car enthusiasts modify their cars and where do they get their aftermarket parts? Here, David N. Lucsko provides the first scholarly history of America's hot rod business.

Lucsko examines the evolution of performance tuning through the lens of the $34-billion speed equipment industry that supports it. As early as 1910, dozens of small shops across the United States designed, manufactured, and sold add-on parts to consumers eager to employ new technologies as they tinkered with their cars. Operating for much of the twentieth century in the shadow of the Big Three automobile manufacturers -- General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler -- these businesses grew at an impressive rate, supplying young and old hot rodders with thousands of performance-boosting gadgets.

Lucsko offers a rich and heretofore untold account of the culture and technology of the high-performance automotive aftermarket in the United States, offering a fresh perspective on the history of the automobile in America.

Competition, Power and Industrial Flexibility assesses the varying ways in which automobile assemblers in several countries of East and Southeast Asia, Europe and the Americas have sought to enhance their efficiency and flexibility in response to heightened global competition during the 1980s and early 1990s. It then explores the implications of such managerial strategies for workers and trade unions, and the responses of unions in seeking to preserve or enhance worker welfare and voice under industrial restructuring.

Competition, Power and Industrial Flexibility assesses the varying ways in which automobile assemblers in several countries of East and Southeast Asia, Europe and the Americas have sought to enhance their efficiency and flexibility in response to heightened global competition during the 1980s and early 1990s. It then explores the implications of such managerial strategies for workers and trade unions, and the responses of unions in seeking to preserve or enhance worker welfare and voice under industrial restructuring.

This study focuses on a single Korean "chaebol", the business conglomerate which dominates the Korean economy. Hyundai, the largest chaebol, is examined in the context of Korean history, ancient and modern, and the Confucian value system that permeates all Korean life.

This book bring together the basic documents needed for reaching an informed judgment on the central ethical question in the Pinto case: did Ford Motor Company act ethically in designing the Pinto fuel system and in deciding not to upgrade the integrity of that system until 1978? The five parts of this book cover the case, cost-benefit analysis, whistle blowing, product liability, and government regulations.

This study is about the struggle for survival among the assembler and components firms which constitute the European automobile industry. The book describes and explains the competitive, structural, organizational and technological changes being made and outlines the spatial and economic effects of these changes. The empirical core of the book is a study of the number of technology fields in automobile components. These sections draw on up-to-date research carried out by the authors in Europe, through which they evaluate the extent to which lean production techniques have permeated the assemblers and components industry.

Japanese carmaker Honda has pioneered a new breed of multinational enterprise - true manufacturing at the global scale. Honda has been a leader in confounding predictions that Japan's carmakers would and could never transfer their success abroad, and that a wholesale 'Japanization' of the west would be provoked if they did. The book covers manufacture, research and development, sourcing of components, human resources and labour relations, collaboration with western firms, political controversy, and the role of concepts and ideas, in Japan, North America, and Europe.

In 1926, the Carriage Builders' National Association met for the last time, signaling the automobile's final triumph over the horse-drawn carriage. Only a decade earlier, carriages and wagons were still a common sight on every Main Street in America. In the previous century, carriage-building had been one of the largest and most dynamic industries in the country. In this sweeping study of a forgotten trade, Thomas A. Kinney extends our understanding of nineteenth-century American industrialization far beyond the steel mill and railroad. The legendary Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company in 1880 produced a hundred wagons a day--one every six minutes. Across the country, smaller factories fashioned vast quantities of buggies, farm wagons, and luxury carriages. Today, if we think of carriage and wagon at all, we assume it merely foreshadowed the automobile industry. Yet., the carriage industry epitomized a batch-work approach to production that flourished for decades. Contradicting the model of industrial development in which hand tools, small firms, and individual craftsmanship simply gave way to mechanized factories, the carriage industry successfully employed small-scale business and manufacturing practices throughout its history.

"The Carriage Trade" traces the rise and fall of this heterogeneous industry, from the pre-industrial shop system to the coming of the automobile, using as case studies Studebaker, the New York-based luxury carriage-maker Brewsters, and dozens of smallerfirms from around the country. Kinney also explores the experiences of the carriage and wagon worker over the life of the industry. Deeply researched and strikingly original, this study contributes a vivid chapter to the story of America's industrial revolution.

"The Zero Carbon Car" examines the hundreds of ways in which car manufacturers are trying to reduce our carbon footprint, and the adaptation of the automotive industry to changing technology in a world where environmental issues are becoming ever more prevalent. The book's in-depth research into green car technology shows that manufacturers make concerted efforts, but sometimes also defeat the gains of their innovation.
Topics covered include:
What is meant by the terms "global warming"and "green," and how these can be defined
An account of the long history of green automotive technology
Alternative fuels, including diesel and hydrogen
Developments in environmentally friendly engine technology
Electric cars
Environmental issues in material usage and car body manufacture.

The transport industry has an important role to play in addressing climate change and the environmental challenges facing governments, businesses and individuals. Achieving net zero emissions by 2050 will require this sector, which is a large contributor of emissions, to innovate, adapt and drive positive change. New technologies including batteries and alternative fuels will all be significant, as will developing different approaches and outlooks. The Road to Zero Emissions is the comprehensive guide for those in the transport industry to understanding what can and is being done to tackle climate change. Through examining established companies and new entrants in the automotive space, readers are provided with examples of the importance of infrastructure, business innovation and financing for the future. In addition to this, the role of governments in establishing policies, such as zero-emission zones, is also discussed. Progressing towards zero emissions requires immediate change and this book will start you on the journey.

Since the doi moi reforms in 1986, Vietnam has experienced a dramatic socioeconomic transformation. Lim examines the role of the state and its interaction with market forces in bringing this change about. Taking the motorcycle and banking industries as case studies, this book explores the dynamics between the state and transnational corporations in shaping the manufacturing and service sectors, respectively. Vietnam, as one of Southeast Asia's quintessential latecomer economies with little prior experience of dealing with transnational corporations, has nevertheless been quite successful in maintaining some control over the impact of foreign direct investment. Yet, the learning outcomes remain highly uneven. In addition, Lim argues that Vietnamese advancement in both industries mirrors only partially the more generalized patterns of state-led development in East Asia's earlier batch of latecomer economies. Vietnam's case thus presents practical lessons on how to succeed in crafting and utilizing policy instruments to achieve domestic economic and technological upgrading. This book will be of great interest to scholars of political economy and industrial policy in East Asia, as well as to scholars and policy professionals analyzing approaches to development strategy more broadly.

This collection includes evaluations of and responses to the contributions made by Henry Ford and the ways in which his influence helped shape the understanding of management practices.
Henry Ford was an eccentric, and occasionally enlightened, thinker and remains a controversial figure today. He developed F.W. Taylor's ideas of scientific management (the subject of another four volume collection in this series), turning them into a whole 'system of production'. Ford's system was characterized by highly efficient, high volume and vertically integrated production, with high wages and low prices. His methods helped make the motor car the defining product of the twentieth century and also ensured his own iconic status.

One of the most acute books about management and how companies work in practice that I have read in a long time. If anyone wants to know exactly how the U.S. auto industry got into trouble, here is your guide. John Gapper, FINANCIAL TIMES When Bob Lutz got into the auto business in the early 1960s, CEOs knew that if you captured the public s imagination with innovative car design and top-quality craftsmanship, the money would follow. The car guys held sway, and GM dominated with bold, creative leadership and iconic brands like Cadillac, Buick, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, GMC, and Chevrolet. But then GM s leadership began to put its faith in numbers and spreadsheets. Determined to eliminate the waste and personality worship of the bygone creative leaders, management got too smart for its own good. With the bean counters firmly in charge, carmakers, and much of American industry, lost their single-minded focus on product excellence and their competitive advantage. Decline soon followed. In 2001, General Motors hired Lutz out of retirement with a mandate to save the company by making great cars again. As vice chairman, he launched a war against the penny-pinching number crunchers who ran the company by the bottom line and reinstated a focus on creativity, design, and cars and trucks that would satisfy GM s customers. Lutz s commonsense lessons, combined with a generous helping of fascinating anecdotes, will inspire readers in any industry."

This is a comprehensive look at automobile manufacturing during its heyday in Cleveland and the remainder of Ohio, and illustrates what it took to succeed in an industry that was in the process of inventing itself. Over 550 early Cleveland and Ohio automobile manufacturers are given recognition, and the field is covered from A to Z: Abbott to Zent. Not surprisingly, there are familiar names such as Jordan, Baker, Peerless, and White of Cleveland, and well-known Ohio marques like Packard, Stutz, Crosley and Willys. Also noted are vehicles with such charming and unexpected names as the Auto-Bug, Darling, and Ben-Hur. These, and numerous other lesser-known automotive ventures, are all given attention, even though many of them never got beyond the concept stage. This is truly a researcher's source book. Substantial attention is also paid to the various ancillary industries, services and organizations which nurtured, evolved with, and in many cases endured after Cleveland's automotive industry. Liberally illustrated with over 100 historical images and conveniently presented in a dual-alphabetical arrangement which treats Cleveland and the remainder of Ohio separately, this is an eminently readable history of an important part of America's automobile heritage.

This volume contains articles from leading analysts and researchers on sustainable transportation, who provide critical reflections on how automobile-related climate policies have evolved up to now in Europe and around the world, in view of the widely recognized need to substantially curb global emissions of greenhouse gases in the coming decades. Authors describe the policies which have been most effective, outline their economic and social implications, present success stories while critically reviewing less successful examples, and suggest strategies to decarbonize passenger transportation on a global scale.

In the past few years, interest in plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) has grown. Advances in battery and other technologies, new federal standards for carbon-dioxide emissions and fuel economy, state zero-emission-vehicle requirements, and the current administration's goal of putting millions of alternative-fuel vehicles on the road have all highlighted PEVs as a transportation alternative. Consumers are also beginning to recognize the advantages of PEVs over conventional vehicles, such as lower operating costs, smoother operation, and better acceleration; the ability to fuel up at home; and zero tailpipe emissions when the vehicle operates solely on its battery. There are, however, barriers to PEV deployment, including the vehicle cost, the short all-electric driving range, the long battery charging time, uncertainties about battery life, the few choices of vehicle models, and the need for a charging infrastructure to support PEVs. What should industry do to improve the performance of PEVs and make them more attractive to consumers? At the request of Congress, Overcoming Barriers to Deployment of Plug-in Electric Vehicles identifies barriers to the introduction of electric vehicles and recommends ways to mitigate these barriers. This report examines the characteristics and capabilities of electric vehicle technologies, such as cost, performance, range, safety, and durability, and assesses how these factors might create barriers to widespread deployment. Overcoming Barriers to Deployment of Plug-in Electric Vehicles provides an overview of the current status of PEVs and makes recommendations to spur the industry and increase the attractiveness of this promising technology for consumers. Through consideration of consumer behaviors, tax incentives, business models, incentive programs, and infrastructure needs, this book studies the state of the industry and makes recommendations to further its development and acceptance.

This book examines China, the world's largest auto market since 2008 and the story of how Chinese auto-makers developed is the story of the Chinese economy in microcosm. It focuses on China's systemically important automobile sector, this book reveals how local institutions have moderated structural changes at national and global levels, and consequently generated significant organizational diversity in the production sphere.This book begins with the intriguing observation that individual Chinese car makers have been evolving in different directions despite a shared context; what factors led to these diverse choices and positioning? It is the central aim of this book to explain the variety of institutional forms used by Chinese car manufacturers in navigating the market transition and answering the challenges posed by globalization.

Everyone knows that Toyota has had an amazing twenty-five- year run, rising from a humble Japanese start-up to a thriving global giant. But "how" did it pass Ford and GM to become the world's largest auto manufacturer? And how does it continue to thrive while so many competitors are struggling and failing?
Journalist David Magee dug deeply into Toyota's past and present, interviewing senior executives who rarely talk to the press, along with many other sources. The powerful lessons that he distills, especially about corporate culture, are valuable for managers in all industries.

This is the story of the Clydesdale Motor Truck Company, which existed in Clyde, Ohio, from 1917 until 1939. As veterans of the auto industry, Clydesdale engineers worked closely with London General Omnibus Company engineers to develop what they described as the ""perfect"" truck chassis. Shipped from Clyde, Ohio, Clydesdale trucks became internationally famous during World War I, and earned the distinctive title, ""Liberty Truck of Europe."" Following the war, Clydesdale trucks were centre stage in many national motor truck shows and motor truck tours, as trucks gained popularity among American farmers and business owners. The Clydesdale truck's patented ""Driver Under the Hood"" engine governor, which allowed for speed increases, as well as decreases-essentially modern cruise control technology-wowed drivers and industry leaders alike. In the 1930's, the Clydesdale Motor Truck Company became one of the first major manufacturers of diesel engine trucks, and developed what they described as ""the first completely diesel"" truck chassis. The story of the Clydesdale Motor Truck Company provides a window into the early truck manufacturing industry and international trucking landscape, just as it was giving rise to the modern industry we recognise today.

Originally published in 1997 and now re-issued with some updated material, this chronology lists the major events in the history of the automobile. The automobile cannot be understood without knowing about its pre-history, including technologies such as railroads, carriages and trolley cars. Material on these is included to the extent that they represented preludes to the modern car culture. The volume also includes material about the technology, design and production of cars and their manufacturers. The ancillary fields of oil production and refining and road building are also covered. Focussed mainly, but not exclusively on the USA this chronology discusses the car and its role in social, geographical and political change.

This comprehensive text/reference presents an in-depth review of the state of the art of automotive connectivity and cybersecurity with regard to trends, technologies, innovations, and applications. The text describes the challenges of the global automotive market, clearly showing where the multitude of innovative activities fit within the overall effort of cutting-edge automotive innovations, and provides an ideal framework for understanding the complexity of automotive connectivity and cybersecurity. Topics and features: discusses the automotive market, automotive research and development, and automotive electrical/electronic and software technology; examines connected cars and autonomous vehicles, and methodological approaches to cybersecurity to avoid cyber-attacks against vehicles; provides an overview on the automotive industry that introduces the trends driving the automotive industry towards smart mobility and autonomous driving; reviews automotive research and development, offering background on the complexity involved in developing new vehicle models; describes the technologies essential for the evolution of connected cars, such as cyber-physical systems and the Internet of Things; presents case studies on Car2Go and car sharing, car hailing and ridesharing, connected parking, and advanced driver assistance systems; includes review questions and exercises at the end of each chapter. The insights offered by this practical guide will be of great value to graduate students, academic researchers and professionals in industry seeking to learn about the advanced methodologies in automotive connectivity and cybersecurity.