The auto industry contributes over 518 billion dollars to the United States gross domestic product or GDP. The US is also the second largest producer of automobiles in the world. China is the largest producer of autos. It is safe to say that putting your money into the stock of automobile manufacturers is a wise investment. You do have to do your due diligence and research the companies. Here are some of the details to think about when investing in auto manufacturing.

 

Which Auto Manufacturer to Invest In

 

Daimler, Toyota, and Volkswagen are the three top auto corporations. Daimler representing Mercedes and other names. In 2018 the shareholders for Daimler enjoyed a 6.18 euro per share return on their investment. This dividend figure was down from the year before, but any auto company investment is long term. The ups and downs are normal. You have to research for which auto manufacturer you want to invest in. If it is going to be a long term investment, you want to look to the future and see where the companies are going. The big question is about electric cars. It is no secret that gas cars cause a lot of damage to the environment. The electric car is most probably going to be strong in the near future?

 

Gas or Electric, The Future is Near

 

The electric car tried to become popular some years ago but was squashed by Ford. The electric car has its share of problems like charging stations and batteries blowing up, but they are perfecting the electric every day. So when thinking about which car manufacturer to invest in, you might want to invest in the companies that are making or have made electric cars. The auto manufacturers and designers who have dealt with the electric car before will be far ahead of others who have not.

 

Risk in Auto Investing

 

Like every investment, there is a risk. When investing in auto manufacturing corporations there are a few things to think about. Cars are depreciating assets, they are recalled, they cause deaths and so many other issues that can be liabilities. It also costs a lot to manufacture cars. The manufacturing of cars comes first and then the dealers sell them. There is no guarantee that all the cars are going to be sold. So understanding the obstacles that the auto industry is up against not including fierce competition. It is important to do research on the past, present, and future of the car corporation you are interested in investing in. Talking with other investors helps also. They can share their thoughts on the companies. It is good to pick a company that you think makes good desirable cars or a good line of mid size truck styles that truck lovers desire.

 

Investing in auto manufacturing is a stable investment for the most part. We will need cars far into the future. If you invest in the car manufacturing industry just make sure you watch the investment. There are changes that can occur that will drop the profits. It is good to be ahead of the game. Things like the cost of materials, the cost of gas and the economy play major parts in how well auto companies do. The better information you have, the better choices you can make on your investment.

 

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Car trends differ from state to state and even city to city. Many of the most common car trends are representative of the needs of the people in that environment. Things such as climate, location, road conditions, as well as expected milage are all common factors when it comes to what the common car trends are within your area. When it comes to large cities there are other things to consider such as cars that do well within city traffic. The size of the car is another variant that is prominent when picking a car in large city living. All of these things were considered when suggesting this vehicles.

 

4. Toyota Prius

The Toyota Prius is a great car for city living. The major benefit of this car is the fuel efficiency. The Prius supports incredible gas mileage especially with stop and go traffic that is ever present in large cities. The hybrid design of the car allows for this great gas mileage that, depending on the model, can range from 40 miles per gallon all the way to upwards of 50 miles per gallon in the city. Another major benefit of the Prius is its cost. Especially when compared to other hybrids. Finding a Prius used car for sale Seattle, is commonplace due to the Prius being better for the environment when compared to its contemporaries.

 

3. Volkswagen GTI

The Volkswagen GTI is a great compact car. This car is great for city driving due to its size. While it is compact for street parking, and navigating tight city quarters, it also offers lots of space. The back seats when folded down offer more space than many of its competitors. Another huge benefit of this car is its safety rating. The car also offers some nice acceleration as well as tight handling, making it an enjoyable car to drive. The Volkswagen GTI can be a great option for city driving.

 

2. Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V is one of the better options to enjoy both worlds. Although the CR-V is considered an SUV, its length comes in right around 15 feet depending on the model. Which isn’t much bigger than some of the other smaller, compact cars on this list. All the while boasting upwards of double the cargo space. The CR-V is also popular as a family car, which can be beneficial depending on your situation. This is one of the best options for people looking for the SUV size in a large city atmosphere.

 

1. Chevrolet Bolt

The Chevy Bolt is an all electric car variant, and that is the biggest draw for it being on this list. When in bumper to bumper traffic is where the Chevy Bolt really shines. With one of the longer lasting battery charges on the electric vehicle market, you will never need to worry too much about running out of charge with city driving. The price of the Bolt can be hefty, when compared to other options on this list. But with a compact length, saving on gas expenses, and environmental factors included the Chevy Bolt is a great option for large city driving.

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Accidents happen, but car manufacturers have recently went the extra mile to prevent the thing s that cause crashes. Distracted driving, drowsy drivers, and even poor research techniques have contributed to injuries and deaths.

 

Improvements for The Driver

 

The main job of the driver is to keep your eyes on the road. While people are constantly tempted to look at their phone, view their gauges, or mess with the stereo, manufacturers have combated this in many ways. The heads-up display, which comes equipped on many cars, puts the dashboard gauges and navigational directions in the line of sight of the driver. Hands-free technology is also helping to save lives. Distracted driving is responsible for 20% of all car accidents, so many U.S. states have already passed laws forbidding texting and driving. To further help lower this number, cars are coming equipped with Bluetooth technology.

 

Backup Cameras

 

Another important feature that helps all drivers be aware of people and objects that might be hard to see. Statistics indicate backover accidents result in over 15,000 injuries and over 200 deaths per year. As of 2018, all new cars are required backup cameras. While the government made this ruling, it might have come much later if manufacturers hadn’t developed and improved this technology.

 

Adding Blind Spot Sensors

 

This feature scans your blind spot keeps you informed when Blind spots are the ever-present danger to all drivers. It doesn’t even matter if you’re driving in the best SUV, with every safety feature imaginable, and are driving your best, if someone else fails to see you in their blind, an accident can happen.

 

So it’s reassuring to know more and more cars on the road will be equipped with this feature, which should reduce the number of unavoidable car accidents. You should still fine tune your mirror settings, but it’s a great feature for drivers of all ages and ability levels.

 

Collision Avoidance Systems

 

In addition to blind spot sensors, there are many other collision avoidance systems that come equipped on many standard packages. The sensor is either radar, a camera or laser technology to detect an impending crash. In 2016, 40% of US cars model had ( autonomous emergency braking) AEB as an option and by 2022, all U.S. car manufacturers expect to be in every car.

Insurance companies have noted n a drop in the number of claims that correlates with the number of cars with auto-braking systems. Adaptive Cruise Control helps the driver maintain a safe distance behind other vehicles.

 

Adaptive headlights change the field of view to help illuminate the direction you’re driving. It’s another system that belongs in this category since it also has reduced the number of crashes.

 

There is also Lane Departure Warning Systems which give an auditory, visual or vibration signal if the driver drifts into another lane. Lane keeping assist corrects this problem if the driver doesn’t respond from the warn and lane centering helps keep the car centered in difficult driving situations.

 

Crash Test Dummies Of All Sizes

 

Most of the data that car manufacturers had to work with was based on crash dummies that represent the average human being. And while it’s wishful thinking to say everyone weighs the same amount, this still doesn’t account for height and build, differences.

 

Engineers currently utilize crash test dummies of various sizes, shapes and seating configurations.

 

Conclusion

 

These inventions and innovations to the way cars are built have saved countless lives. Many of the features listed were originally luxuries and a few still are, but as they prove to be vital in saving lives, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them to become the standard for all vehicles, thus making the road safer than it has ever been.

 

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Japan has had a huge impact on the American automotive landscape. Not just by the increased ownership of Japanese cars, there are plants in America and lots of Japanese cars have gained popularity in the U.S. due to films such as The Fast and The Furious series. Needless to say, Japan has made taking the automotive industry in America by storm.

Here are three ways Japanese Manufacturers have changed America

 

More Jobs for Americans

Many Americans earn a living in Japanese manufacturing plants. Many of them have been operating in the Southern United States for decades. People who are employed working at these plants are making significantly more than minimum wage become loyal to them. It isn’t a shock that the top 6 best selling cars in the US of 2018 were Japanese.

So not only does this boost the local economy with jobs, but it builds brand authority across a foreign company. manufacturers such as Pontiac, Saturn and Oldsmobile have fallen by the waist side, while Honda, Toyota, and Nissan, to name a few, have flourished in America. Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, and Texas all have plants and Indiana, Ohio and Mississippi have two.

In other words, there are as many Ford plants in America as all of the Japanese plants combined. And GM isn’t too far ahead but is gradually shutting factories and divisions, while more Japanese factories being built.

 

The Impact on American Racing

NASCAR is a surprising example. of the major American companies have always dominated the landscape of racing. until recently that is. Since joining NASCAR Toyota has recently won 2 Cup Series Championships and plenty of races. Meaning their Camry has bested cars such as Chevy’s Impala and Camaro, Ford’s Fusion and Mustang, and Dodge’s Charger, which doesn’t even compete in NASCAR anymore.

There’s an old saying, “Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday” and it definitely true among racing fans. And regardless of whether you watch racing, the teams that win more races can spend more money on advertising, research and development.

But it doesn’t end there since corporations have more faith in their product when beats the competition at the highest levels of racing.

Honda has their hands in Formula 1 as an engine supplier for Red Bull Racing. In Indy Car Racing, they have been the dominating force for many decades and are the reigning manufacturer’s champion, an honor that belonged Chevrolet for the past 6 seasons. This is all the proof some people need when car shopping. It’s no wonder that Toyota and Honda alone own 25% of the American market.

 

Many Americans Own Japanese Cars

But this doesn’t go both ways. While there are millions of Japanese cars on the roads of America, there are not nearly as many American cars being driven in Japan. The previous two topics might explain why so many Japanese cars are seen in America, but not why it’s so rare to see an American riding around in Japan.

The best way to explain this is quality. Americans aren’t mindlessly buying Japan because the internet tells their good cars, it’s the other way around. There are massive databases of reviews online. Most people want the best value on the most reliable car. It just so happens to be the Japanese vehicles such as the Toyota Camry and the Honda CRV.

Japanese manufacturers have changed the way people view Japanese cars by building more plants, dominating racing, and building quality vehicles. And while America plans on building plants in Japan, It’s doubtful that it will instantly change the landscape right away.

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