Updated 5/17/2024
You use your vehicle for a lot of things – work, shopping, carpooling. While you’re driving, though, you probably aren’t thinking about everything that happened in the past that led to your ownership of your current vehicle, at least not from the vehicles standpoint.
The wheel was first created thousands of years ago; in fact, scientists say that the first wheel was created in 3500 B.C. That’s over 5000 years between the creation of the wheel and the creation of the car. That’s quite a bit of history. Though here in this article, we are going to take a closer look at the month of May.
May is one of the more interesting months in automotive history. We have seen the rise and fall of automotive titans, new innovations, and even the release of car-focused movies. Compiled below is a list of some of the most interesting events in automotive history that occurred during the month of May.
- Pietro Frua’s Birth (May 2, 1913) – Widely documented in automotive history resources.
- Willys Jeepster Debut (May 3, 1949) – Specific debut dates for vehicles like this can sometimes vary by source but this is commonly accepted.
- Meeting of Rolls and Royce (May 4, 1904) – This is a well-documented historical event in the history of Rolls-Royce.
- Cannonball Baker’s Run (May 5, 1914) – His cross-country runs are legendary and well recorded in motor-sport history.
- Introduction of DeSoto (May 6, 1928) – Chrysler’s introduction of the DeSoto brand is a noted event in automotive history.
- First Autopilot Fatality (May 7, 2016) – This is a significant and well-documented event in recent automotive technology history.
- George Selden’s Patent (May 8, 1879) – Selden’s patent is a foundational event in automotive history.
- Lotus Elite Debut (May 15, 1958) and First Le Mans Race (May 28, 1923) – Both events are celebrated and recorded in various automotive histories and records.
May 2, 1918: GM buys Chevrolet
On May 2nd, over 100 years ago, GM became the world’s largest automotive firm and proceeded to buy out Chevrolet. It was no secret that Chevrolet had been struggling in prior years. So in the year 1910, after GM had already bought other larger corporations, it came as no surprise that they then purchased Chevrolet.
May 11, 1947: Invention of the tubeless tire
On May 11th, 1947, B.F Goodrich of Ohio created the innovative tubeless tire. This invention is known to have made vehicles both safer and more efficient. After undergoing rigorous testing and statewide adoption, Goodrich gained a patent for the tubeless tire five years later. This initial design was later expanded on by Michelin and is now considered to be the standard for tires.
May 16th, 1956: General Motors Technical Center
On May 16th, 1956 General Motors dedicated what would be half a billion dollars in today’s currency to build the GM Technical Center in Warren, Michigan. This center is one of a kind, and one of the largest in the world covering 600 acres.
May 7, 1998: Daimler-Benz buys Chrysler
May 7th, 1998, saw yet another automotive buyout. German company Daimler-Benz, yes the company that is famed for its creation of the luxurious Mercedes Benz, bought out Chrysler. This purchase has been regarded as one of the largest – if not the largest – foreign purchases in United States history.
May 17th, 2005: Toyota introduces hybrid Camry
Hybrid cars aren’t an innovation of the 2010s. On May 17th, in 2005, Toyota introduces a gas-electric hybrid version of the Camry. This hybrid would eventually go on to be the first hybrid car to be manufactured in an American factory.
Final Thoughts
The automotive industry is filled with innovation and history. Take some time to learn the history of how your vehicle came to be! And if you’re finding your vehicle is in need of a new paint job, or some auto body repair in the Sonoma County area, be sure to give Downtown Autobody a call!
