Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-12-07
AMERICAN CARS
INVADE RUSSIA
Secretary Of the Embassy at
ST. Petersburg Tells of
European Conditions.

Frederick A. Sterling, second secre-
..,,. If the American embassy, st. Pc
.,..1nrg Russia, writing on the condi-
.,r or the automobile market there
saws re believes there is a golden OPP
,,,r,nn.rv for the sale of American
b,,irr cars in the Kingdom of the Bear,
Giving brief sketch of the history
.r -1a automobile industry in Russia,
he says:
prior to 1905 there were few auto
mobiles in Russia and small interest
was taken in automobiling Like all
.9a, n.rerE however, automobiles of
German make first appeared, owing to
.nr proximity of the German market
and the facilities for transportation
overland and via the Baltic sea,
I'm 1906 the first American ear APP
ael.ed in Russia. More than $50 of
them we're sold. Inasmuch, however,
as 10 American companies had an or
gauiZation in Russia, there were no
spare parts to be had and no represen-
tative of the factory who could advise
tine purchaser how to handle or repair
his car.
The first automobile exposition took
place in st. Petersburg in 1908. All the
machines, with the exception OF Ford
were French and German built This
was the first time the Russian public
had an opportunity to examine any
kind Of automobile, for St. Petersburg
at that time had not more than 200
cas-, all told, Of which, perhaps, only
five or six could be seen in the streets
dming the day, and then only during
the summer months. TaXicabs were
quite unknown Notwithstanding the
fac, the city had more than / 900 horse
cabs.
In 1909 the first taXicab service in
Russia was established by the represen-
tatiye Of the Ford Motor Company and
Ford cars were the first taxicabs in
Russia, 1t was difficult to secure
trained chauffeurs for this service But
the enterprise succeeded in putting on
the streets of st, Petersburg rs taxi
cabs. At the present time there are
more than 500 taxicabs in service
General interest gradually began to
assume more definite expression. as
SHOWN in the trials and shows that
commenced to be given. In 1910 the
imperial Automobile club organized
trial races between ST. Petersburg,
Moscow and Kief, in which close to As
automobiles of European make and one
Ford Was entered. The American car
Went through the trial entirely salts
factory Since then many tests have
oeeh held in practically all of which
Ford cars have been entered, and in all
"i them this car has won the applause
of the Russian public.
In MAY 1919, the Imperial Automo-
ol' club will hold another exhibition
]" H. Petersburg. AT the same time
" is proposed by the American repre-
sentative of the Ford Motor Company,
VINO mas made a study of the possibility
OF introducing American cars in Rus
S.a' TO hold an Independent exhibition.
ne proposes to secure a large exhibit
Ioh building, where there will be space
lof ABOUT 100 cars. accessories and ap-
PI@hces of American make.
mus 1t may be truly said that pub
'e interest in automobiles has awak-
."so IN Russia. When it is remem-
'eIed that al present st. Petersburg,
city OF 100000 inhabitants, has only
''''' automobiles, Moscow even fewer
w. proportion to population and the
""oIe russian empire, with its u.s.
,'''000 people, no more than 5000. or
'sSS lsIan one of the smaller cities in
U.e United States, it can easily be seen
wat field for the sale of automobiles
On" country offers.
especially is there a favorable or
I'' luhIty for the American manufac-
.''er II this product is properly repre-
>7nlea. He should be successful for the
moving reasons: First, the Ameri-
van car of today is in construction as
7'''' IT not better, than that of Euro
d." make second. for the same DOW
'7' car it is lower in price; thirds. be-
Russia.
mere Is growing tendency among
"' RUSSIANS to understand these adj
,''''ages' as shown by the large sale
..l'S year of the Ford, and the situation
''e@ehts golden opportunity"