THE WORLD'S CARS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 92, 19 April 1930, Page 23

THE WORLD'S CARS

EVER GROWING USE " AN AMERICAN CENSUS Tie world use of automobiles lias inys creased to nearly thirty-five millions. v' The "total in operation on Ist January, 1930, was 34,879,323 cars, trucks, and fcnses, and 2,565,889 motor-cycles. One »ew vehicle was added during the year for. each ten in use, thc-increase being 3,027,533, or almost 10 per cent. This information is taken from the 1930 world "motor census, which, compiled . and published by "The American Automobile" (overseas edition), is'complete •for mo^e' than J25 countries. ( s" Striking increases in automobile useage were made in all parts of the •world through 1929. Some' countries, including Argentina, New - Zealand, South Africa, Chile, and parts of V-■ Europe and the Far East, enjoyed the - • most prosperous motor sales of their --• history. The "number of automobiles' v- -in -countries other than the United States increased by almost a million to the Tecord total of 8,314,664 cars, trucks, and buses. Sis years ago the United States had nearly seven automobiles for each one in use in all other countries. So rapid, however, has been the enlargement of motor use elsewhere that the 1930 ratio has been decreased to approximately three to one. Motor utilisation in all countries has - increased more than fourfold since 1922. Four countries now have more than a million automobiles each. These, are the United States, Great Britain, France, and Canada. ,In fifth place is Germany, with 609,030. Australia is sixth with 570,000 cars, trucks, buses, followed by Argentina with 358, 1--655 automobiles. Italy is eighth, with 230 509 motor vehicles. Eight other countries have more than 100,000 automobiles each—Brazil, Spain, New Zealand, India, Sweden, the Union of South Africa, Belgium, and Denmark. The latter country, during 1929, passed the 100,000 mark, and so close to that total are Holland and Japan that they may be expected to equal or exceed the figpre early this, year. . ' • ■ Among the smaller territories seldom thought of as being motor centres .are Ethiopa, with 568 automobiles; Fi]i Islands, with 1088; Mauritius, with 3300; Turkestan, with 74; Cook Islands, with 114; and Martinique, with IGoO. 1 The United States, of course, remains the leading country. The per capita ownership is the highest of any^nation. But places like-New Zealand, Canada, South Africa', and .Australia are pressin" close -behind,..;" New Zealand and Canada- have : one . automobile to each ■ seven inhabitants, as compared with about' one 'to-each five in the United States. In several sections of-.Equa-. torial. Africa there is a car or truck to each Sj'of the white population, trucks ■being used extensively in these areas for produce haulage. They are driven ■by natives, but owned by. European commercial interests, plantations, and mines. Heavy increases in truck-buying were made in nearly ' every territory last year. ~~ Because of high taxation, pr other factors', private ownership of passenger cars is limited in places, and motor transport is supplied by buses. Striking advances have, been made in the opening of inter-village bus and truck services in many parts, particularly the Far East, South-eastern Europe, and throughout Latin America. Improvement of highways and the opening of new roads are noteworthy aids to the increased use of motor vehicles. • - : . "-,'•..'■' Complete detailed statements as to the reproduction of motor-vehicles are lacking from all parts of Europe, but it is estimated that 585,985 cars and'trucks were manufactured last: year.*: "' Great Britain was the leading; producer with 232,000 ears and trucks, • followed ■by France with 175,000, Germany, 7,500; Italy, 67,900; and Czeeho-Slovakia, 15,600. Other European ''producers ■ were: Austria, 9300; Belgium, ,7700; Denmark, 120; Hungary, 670;. Spain, 400; Sweden, 1850; Switzerand, 1275; Russia, 2000, arid miscellaneous 1000. These do not include automobiles assembled in these countries \gr America.