About AUTOMOTIVE

The last 100 years has seen the rise of the automobile as our primary mode of transport. The technology is constantly evolving and there are no signs of decline in the industry. Automotive engineering is the combination of mechanical engineering, vehicle dynamics, drivetrain engineering and engine design to form a subject that deals with all aspects of vehicle design.

Automotive engineers study such subjects as aerodynamics, vehicle ride and handling, power generation, crashworthiness and even management, looking at every component in modern vehicle construction. The entire automotive drivetrain, including the suspension, transmission, brakes, tyres and engine, can be modelled and simulated on computer making development of new components/ vehicles a quick and relatively inexpensive process.

The use of computers does not stop there. In the last 20 years, due to the decrease in size and cost of microprocessors and sensing devices, there have been major advances in various aspects of automotive control, from Traction Control Systems (TCS) and Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS) to Active Suspension systems and Power Steering all of which have improved the safety and performance of todays vehicles.
The continued development of Engine Control Units (ECU's) has led to a reduction in exhaust gases and to more efficient operation of the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE). There is also a growing interest in the environmental impact of the automobile with research centring on electric (EV), hybrid electric (HEV, powered by both an ICE and electric motor) and Fuel Cells Vehicles (FCV) as a means by which to reduce greenhouse gases and fuel consumption.

With these new concepts emerging in an already large discipline, automotive engineering is an ever expanding field. As we move into the 21st century, the automobile, in all its forms, will continue to develop, performance, safety and fuel economy will continue to improve and exhaust emissions will continue to reduce. Automotive engineers are at the forefront of this development.

History of Honda

Sōichirō Honda (本田 宗一郎, Honda Sōichirō, November 17, 1906 – August 5, 1991) was a Japanese engineer and industrialist, and founder of Honda Motor Co., Ltd.. Soichiro was born in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan.
Honda spent his early childhood helping his father, Gihei, a blacksmith, with his bicycle repair business. At the time his mother, Mika, was a weaver. At 15, without any formal education, Honda arrived in Tokyo to look for work. He obtained an apprenticeship at a garage in 1922, and after some vacillation over his employment, he stayed for six years, working as a car mechanic before returning home to start his own auto repair business in 1928 at the age of 22.
In 1937 Honda began producing piston rings for small engines which lead to manufacturing small engines to be used in motorcycles, and then in 1948 he started producing complete motorcycles as president of the Honda Motor Company. Honda turned the company into a billion-dollar multinational that produced the best-selling motorcycles in the world. Honda's excellent engineering and clever marketing resulted in Honda motorcycles out-selling Triumph and Harley-Davidson in their respective home markets. In 1959 Honda Motorcycles opened its first dealership in the United States.

Honda remained president until his retirement in 1973, stayed on as director, and was appointed "supreme adviser" in 1983. His legendary status was such that People magazine placed him on their "25 Most Intriguing People of the Year" list for 1980, dubbing him "the Japanese Henry Ford." In retirement Honda busied himself with work connected with the Honda Foundation. He died in 1991 from liver failure.

History of toyota

In 1933, Toyoda Automatic Loom Works created a new division devoted to the production of automobiles under the direction of the founder's son, Kiichiro Toyoda. Kiichiro Toyoda had traveled to Europe and the United States in 1929 to investigate automobile production and had begun researching gasoline-powered engines in 1930. Toyoda Automatic Loom Works was encouraged to develop automobile production by the Japanese government, which needed domestic vehicle production partly due to the worldwide money shortage and partly due to the war with China. In 1934, the division produced its first Type A Engine, which was used in the first Model A1 passenger car in May 1935 and the G1 truck in August 1935. Production of the Model AA passenger car started in 1936. Early vehicles bear a striking resemblance to the Dodge Power Wagon and Chevrolet, with some parts actually interchanging with their American originals.
Although the Toyota Group is best known today for its cars, it is still in the textile business and still makes automatic looms, which are now computerized, and electric.
During the Pacific War (World War II) the company was dedicated to truck production for the Imperial Japanese Army. Because of severe shortages in Japan, military trucks were kept as simple as possible. For example, the trucks had only one headlight on the center of the hood. The war ended shortly before a scheduled Allied bombing run on the Toyota factories in Aichi.
After the war, commercial passenger car production started in 1947 with the model SA. In 1950, a separate sales company, Toyota Motor Sales Co., was established (which lasted until July 1982). In April 1956, the Toyopet dealer chain was established. The following year, the Crown became the first Japanese car to be exported to the United States and Toyota's American and Brazilian divisions, Toyota Motor Sales Inc. and Toyota do Brasil S.A., were also established.
Toyota began to expand in the 1960s with a new research and development facility, a presence in Thailand was established, the 10 millionth model was produced, a Deming Prize and partnerships with Hino Motors and Daihatsu were also established. The first Toyota built outside Japan was in April 1963, at Port Melbourne in Australia.[21] By the end of the decade, Toyota had established a worldwide presence, as the company had exported its one-millionth unit.