The Crittenden Automotive Library

1926 Activity of Automobile Industry Sets New Records

1926 Activity of Automobile Industry Sets New Records

The Independent (St. Petersburg, Florida)
31 July 1926

The automobile industry has just passed through a record-breaking half year, as figures on the production of passenger machines, illustrated in the accompanying chart, reveal. In only one month during the first six months was production less than during the corresponding period of 1925, while the total half-year output was 11.8 per cent greater than the output of the first half of 1925 and 17.5 per cent above 1924. Indeed, almost as many cars were produced during the first half of 1926 as during the entire 12 months of 1922. As a consequence of this tremendous activity, earnings of the principal producers have been exceptionally good thus far in the year and were probably greater than during the first half of any other year in the industry's history.

The outlook for the last six months of 1926, however, is not suffiently bright to warrant expectations of further new records for this year. New records are possible, but in view of the fact that the recent trend of production has been downward rather steadily, they do not seem probable, although later events may cause a reversal in the trend of manufacturing. In any event, the recent easing in the industry's activity has been moderate and orderly and has given no cause for fearing a drastic curtailment in the immediate future.