Imagine an automobile industry that was struggling badly, was short on help, raw materials, and was not even close to making their production goals. No, we are not talking about 2020, we’re talking about the late 1940s! Yes, just after the war the American automobile industry was in a trouble period of its history. After transitioning to making war materials, the job of going back to making cars was not exactly easy, nor was it smooth, nor was it quick. History seems to tell us that we won the war and everything, like a light switch being flipped, went back to “normal” in America. In fact, there was a steep recession in 1945 and again in 1948 as the economy spasmed its way from wartime to fully peacetime.
When you watch this film pay attention to what the overriding message is and who is delivering it. ABC made this and aired it on its own network, likely as a way to ingratiate themselves with these companies who spent a load of money advertising their cars on the burgeoning medium of television. That makes good sense to us for sure.
The heads of the car companies speak in varying ways to varying audiences. They are all “on message” and basically they are telling people that they are working hard to get their industry back together.
History’s small bumps in the road are always fascinating to us. This was one that the automotive industry handled deftly and exploded after it was cleared. The intensity of how the executives attacked the problem is one of the reasons for that success. They KNEW the money was out there but they also knew they had to deliver on their end to get it.
Interesting stuff.
Most people do not realize how important the auto industry is to a country. I personally have worked in the steel industry and automotive production most of my life. The capital investment in these companies is vital to the economy of the country and the livelihood of its citizens. Every imported vehicle that enters the nation from another land is thousands of hours of labor that not benefiting our economy.
Hence, here we are today everyone worshiping their cell phone and social media.
Keep spreading the good word Brian.