The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-14
WAR INFLUENCE
ON AUTO INDUSTRY
Motor Vehicle Exports Repre-
sent Only Ills Per Cent. Of
Total Production.
"WAR ORDERS" ARE SMALL

What influence has the European war
had upon the American automobile In
du.try2 ?" asks the .HorseIess Age In q re-
cent issue Of that automobile trade pub
licatlon. Since the outbreak OF the great
conflict Of nations reports or enormous
war orders obtained by motor car plants
in this country have often been made
and statements from the factories men
toned have In most cases confirmed
these reports. The figures provided by
the Government officials on the quantity
and value OF motor vehicle exports have
also tended to indicate that the business
transacted between the American car
and truck makers and some u the ra-
lions at war has involved millions OF
dollars
These facts have created an impress
sion In some quarters that because OF
the wal and the consequent demand Tor
| motor vehicles for purposes Tar from
those for which they were originally In
| tended, the general motor car industry
10 now enjoying but a temporary and IN
aated period of prosperity.
When tho war ends and the contracts
| for vehicles for service at the battle
fronts. In some cases. II Is said. extend
ing 10 orders for the complete output OF
the plants, are cancelled. a general COL
lapse OF his prosperity bubble Will en-
sue. The $50. 0O0, 900 or more now be.ng
expended by American automobile and
accessory concerns for the expansion OF
their manufacturing facilities VIII he
that much money wasted. These are the
sentiments OF those who have given
thought TO the increased export business
due to the war without seriously consid-
ering the more important fact that pro-
l,,,,Gnp for hpnna rpnsllnntiOn Ia nara
mount In the minds OF American car
manufacturers
But 10 those who have analysed the
statistics on the annual production of
the members Of tho National Automobile
Chamber OF Commerce, representing the
leaders In the automobile field. ana the
Government figures on tho export OF
motor cars. the business done abroad
might we'll be considered insignificant.
Compared with the number OF cars sold
in this country. the foreign business 10
a mere bagatelle.
Even An the war year" the value Of
our exports OF cars and trucks amounted
only TO II IL per cent. OF tho value OF
our entire production. While this per-
centage is over twice that OF 1914. al
lowing for the normal growth Of our ex-
port business an increase or only 9 l-2
per cent. can be laid directly to war or
ders. And these war orders are handled
by 4 comparatively small number OF tho
concerns AFFILIATED with the automobile
industry.
According 70 the statisticians on In
dustr!al affairs. the automobile 70
ranked fourth as an American industry.
with lumber. steel n clothing as the
leaders in respective order. The percen-
tage OF the production Of the steel in
dustry exported 10 estimated at 1879.
which places It's foreign business ahead
OF that of the automobile industry. Gov
ernment figures show that the clothing
industry exports over 10 per cent. OF
It's product. while the lumber industry.
which has shown a marked reduction In
the value OF it's exports during the last
year. exports on an average OF 6.5 per
cent. OF It's production. However, the
values OF the exports OF the lumber.
steel and clothing industries during the
two years Just preceding the breaking
out OF the war show appreciate de-
creases. while the American automobile.
on the other hand gradually gained pres
tige In foreign lands.
Since 1905 the value OF tho American
automobile exports has annually aver
aged more than as per cent. Of the
value of the production of the leading
plants. with the growth OF the industry
the value OF our exports has Increased
correspondingly. In 1905, when the
value OF the production was placed a,
$40. 600. 900. we exported cars to the
while in 1914. when tho n. A. G. G
placed our production at SASS, 600, 600
American cars and trucks to the value