Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-29
AMERICAN CARS GAIN
POPULARITY ABROAD
Exports of Automobiles Increase,
While Imports Show
Decline.
Canada Still Largest Customer But
Gains in Other Countries
Are Rapid.

The United States continues to increase
its export and decrease its imports of au-
tomobiles. Returns of foreign trade COM
piled by the bureau of foreign and do
nestle commerce show an increase of
1863 in the number of automobiles export
ed and a decrease of fifty-nine In the
January. 1914, when compared with Jan
uary, 1913 The number of complete
automobiles exported increased from
2.15T in January. 1913. to 1886 in January
Of the current year: while the number
imported fell during the same period from
II to r.
The average valuation per car of the
automobiles imported is considerably
higher than that of the automobiles ex-
ported. Those imported during January
We're valued at about S3,4OO each. and
those exported at about $500 each. This
average import price of $3,40O is eX-
elusive of transportation charges and du-
ties collected. the ad valorem rate of
duty assessed on cars valued at less
than 5000 each being 80 per cent and on
all other cars 40 per cent.
Exports Worth Millions.
The increasing Importance of the au-
d
is apparent from the fact that the ex-
ports Of automobiles from six leading
manufacturing countries now aggregate
$1i9.0O0,00O in value, an increase of s1O,-
100000 over those of 1912 and s7O,O 600, 600
over those of 1905, In this growing trade
the United States occupies a prominent
place and it is believed sales In numerous
parts of the world have resulted direct
~ from the trade-promotion service
maintained by the bureau of fore en- and
domestic commerce which. through the
Daily Consular and Trade Reports, is
constantly bringing to the notice of
American manufacturers foreign trade
opportunities with respect to automobiles
and other lines of goods.
While France still leads the world in
expectation of automobiles. the United
States has made the most rapid gain.
Exact comparisons are not practicable
owing to differences of classification es-
tablished by the various countries. So
far as ascertainable from the official &C
counts of the countries named exports
OF automobiles, including chassis. but
emitting tires, increased in the case of
France. from % million dollars in 1908
to A million in 1918: Germany, from 3
to 20 million; the United Kingdom from
o W II LlllloT, Italy, from or to 612 mil
lion; Belgium. from 2 to million, and the
United States, including shipments to
Hawaii and Porto Rico. from millions
to 35 million dollars.
The record Of automobile expectations
from the United States began in July,
1901. In the six months from July 1 to
December 81 of that year the total value
OF expectations of automobiles was $367,-
81; in the calendar year 1902. slightly
more than $1,00O.OOO. and since that time
has steadily increased until in 1918 the
total had reached So, 100000. exclusive
OF tires and engines in sufficient guam
high-record sum of SAL 600, 900 Meantime
imports of automobiles. which gradually
increased from approximately 100000 in
1902 to 100000 in 1906, now show a
downward trend, the total having receded
to 900 in 1903 and s., 600, 600 in 1913,
with proportionately much greater de-