New-York tribune., 1918-03-31
Autos Will Take Lead
In Exports After the W,
U. S. Must Look to Her Laures, Says Official of Co..
Motors-Fifty Million Cars Will Be Needed
By P. S. Steenstrup

By P. S. Steenstrup
General Manager, General Motors Er-
port Company
During 1916, 1000 trucks valued at
$4,000, 900; $4,000 passenger cars val
ued at S40,00O00O, and S22,0O0,0 ,0to
worth of parts We're exported, total Of
100000. During 1917, $4,000 trucks
valued at $42, 100000, 650O0 passenger
cars valued at s4S,OO0,OOO and $27 ,O00,-
600. worth of parts were exported, to-
tai Of Silt, 100000. These exports
ducton of motor cars, which during the
last five seasons were approximately
as follows:
Z 1913 100000 valued at S425000,00
1914 $4,000 valued at 100000, 900
1916 100000 valued at 100000, 900
1916-1, ,5S0,000 valued at 915,0O0,O 900
1911, 100000 valued at 1880, ,O0O,0
With these figures should be com
pared the estimated total European
production of from 100000 to 15O,o 900
cars during 1914, the last normal year
prior to the war {eXact figures are not
available).
The future measure of civilization in
ber of automobiles in that country.
No other agency has been as iniuen-
tial in increasing the knowledge and
wealth of all peoples on earth.
When we consider what the motor
car has already done for this coun-
try we can get an inkling of what the
motor car will do for other countries
in the near future and Of the tre-
mendous future possibilities of the
motor car business in all foreign coun-
tries.
50,O00,00O Cars Required
Should we take a slide rule and cal
culate the number of automobiles re-
quired in the world (per capita) if all
the countries were as we'll supplied
with motor cars as this country we
would find the astonishing figure Of
approximately 5O,OO0,OOO motor cars.
While it probably will take many gen.
erations for some foreign countries to
reach the degree Of civilization of the
United States, that gulf will be bridged
some day, and it will be some bridge,
when it is remembered in the world
outside of America there are to-day
probably fewer than 100000 motor
cars.
In considering the future develop
ment of the motor car business
throughout the world we must not lose
sight Of the fact that during the war
the nations of the world have run into
our debt in an amount greater than
their total debt to us at the outbreak
Of the war. In addition to that the
world has been sending us gold in
enormous quantities in payment for
food and war materials. WhSn the war
is over and the governments come to
discharge their indebtedness to us, be-
ing short Of gold, they will naturally
wish to pay in goods or services. We
must not lose sight of the fact that
under the stimulus Of war demands our
manufacturing facilities and our pro-
duction of all products, whether manu-
factured or raw MATERIAL have reached
a capacity exceeding our ability to con-
sumo. After the war ther we will be
in the position of having a surplus for
expectation and yet finding all the
other countries anxious to ship US
goods in order to thereby discharge
their debts.
We have for the last two years "suf-
fered" from war prosperity rather than
benefited thereby, as our production
has been Of an unnatural kind and not
due to the natural increase Of trade,
but because Of the tremendous require
ments Of the nations at war they had
TO resort to- the use Of our manufacture
ing facilities while their own were un-
available.
Should Look to Laurels
1t is therefore we'll that we should
ponder over the best means Of main
tanning our trade in the overseas coun-
tries after the war, especially in the
lines which were, and will be, manu-
factured in Europe and which Euro
pean countries will be able to export.
Europe owes us a lot OF money; she
owes large amounts to various other
countries not at war. which have been
exporting raw materials of all kinds.
After the war is over, if Great Britain
wishes to pay Argentina for meat in
motor cars she will rot find it easier
to sell her motor cars there than we if
we demand cash in New York. VIII
not like conditions obtain in many
other places throughout the world?
Economists seem to agree that i'm
medately after the war there will be
period of tremendous industrial cx-
pansion, when. in addition to supplying
our own delayed requirements, we will
also be called upon to supply certain
requirements of many European coun-
tries. at least until they can get ready
to take care of themselves. l believe
we must look ahead and beyond that
period and prepare for the time when
TINS artificial demand Will cease and
when we will have to face contrac-
ton OF commercial business in this
country added to the stoppage of the
manufacture Of war supplies.
Then our American manufacturers
w'll finally and definitely wake up to
the importance of export trade and
make belated efforts to rehabiltate do
mestc business contraction By in
creased export business.
Unless our financial institutions,
when that time comes, are in position
to assist us to meet European compe-
tltlOn in fDroju,, Eo1Jc Nv, c,,ol, 1;L.x>1 !