Arizona republican., 1922-05-14
(By Harlow Hyde in Indianapolis

star.
Again the automotive industry has
upset the predictions of even its
friends. The first quarter manufac-
turing business, in all parts of the
country has beaten the expectations
of every recognized authority. March
as per surveys made in Detroit, To-
ledo. Indianapolis and other manu-
featuring eenterS shows production
and factory sales increased far be-
yond expectations. The editor of
Motor World says that March prob
ably was the best month in the auto
motive industry since August, 1870
Exact figures are not yet at hand
for all the industry, but everything
points to an astonishing production
and sales. Further than that, there
is practically no loading up of deal
ers or forcing of shipments upon
them. The industry left off that sort
of thing in the fall of 1920
At the close of last year when the
production figures for the entire
country were in, the critics predicted
that the 1922 sale of passenger motor
cars would probably fall short of
1921. Trucks were expected to take
a new lease of life and to rise to
new production figures and sales
throughout the year. Passenger cars,
however, We're expected not to ex
ceed the records set up in 1921.
Has Arrived
The truck business that was ex-
pected has arrived. Sales of trucks
of all classes and particularly of
light types have made astonishing
new records compared to last year.
Tractors, too, have come to life again
and sent cheer to the hearts of the
makers. he-dealers and the farmers
who have bought them at the new
prices.
The really astonishing thing, how
ever, of the Industrial and sales re-
yival has been the exceeding large
number of passenger motor cars
that have already been sold. Some
idea of the size of this business may
be glimpsed from the fact that dur
ing February there were nearly 10000
carload shipments of automobiles
from the plants of the makers. But
four months during the last year and
a half show larger carload shipments.
The March carload figures, partially
compiled as this is written. seem
bound to go 25 per cent beyond the
February records.
The great aid given employment
by the vigorous revival of the whole
automotive industry has been given
! in government reports. This field
! has been one of the outstanding
| leaders in new employment. Twenty
six per cent increase was the most
| recent gain as sent out by federal
authorities Just what this means
| in some cases may be gained from
some figures compiled in Indian
apolis last week. There are several
| parts makers in this city who are
now forced to work night shifts,
! April in one such shop is assured TO
| be the biggest month in the history
| of this maker, and his production
/ during boom times was very large
! indeed. Even in February and March,
| he was making more goods than at
| any time last year, and was on an
! even keel with the largest output OF
| the factory's history. Another parts
/ maker Of the city was running nearly
every night, but as his factory does
/ some work in other lines this is not
entirely an automotive record. In
| the last four or five weeks. he has
| had a surprising amount of new
! business.
Although the first great records of
/ the year In motor car manufacturing
went to Detroit and to the big guam
tity producers land Indiana has such
/ a piant) the revival did not hit In
dianapolis quite as early. Now, how
/ ever, practically every car plant is
/ turning out more cars than it did
| during the early months last year
/ One or two are finding their April
/ business quite up to the best month
| of 1921. In some of the plants there
is a shortness of cars for immediate
! delivery. Some prospects will have
| to wait a few days or weeks longer
than they expected for the car or
dered during March. Sounds almost
unbelievable does it not? 1t is a
fact, however. Twenty to so and
even 100 per cent increase over Feb
ruarv and March of last year is the
/ production and shipment story of the
Indianapolis automobile plants. The