Why Did the Auto Industry Settle in Detroit? Historical Session at SAE 2002 World Congress to Reveal Answer

WARRENDALE, Pa., Jan. 23 -- Why did automakers pick Detroit as the car capital of America? Michael J. Kollins, automotive historian guru who has worked in the industry since 1932, has the answer and will share it with attendees during the SAE 2002 World Congress, March 4 - 7, Cobo Center, Detroit, Michigan, USA.

Kollins' oral-only presentation, ``Why Detroit?'' is part of the annual SAE Congress Historical Session, featuring tidbits about the automotive industry that the average person probably doesn't know, but would find interesting.

``Almost anything you want to know about your favorite old car or truck is archived at the National Automotive History Collection (NAHC), Detroit Public Library,'' says Michael W. R. Davis, retired Ford Motor Company public relations executive. Davis will present ``Duryeas to P/T Cruisers: Inside the World's Largest Public Collection of Automotive Data.''

``Owner's manuals, advertising brochures, technical data, repair manuals, annual reports and photos - it's all there and I will tell the story about how it all came about,'' says Davis, author of ``General Motors: A Photographic History'' (Arcadia Books, 1999) and ``Chrysler Heritage: A Photographic Century'' (Arcadia Books, 2001).

``There's a lot to learn from exploring the past,'' says Anthony J. Yanik, author of ``The E-M-F Company: The Story of Automotive Pioneers Barney Everitt, William Metzger and Walter Flanders.'' Yanik's SAE presentation focuses on the personalities and events that make up his book, telling the story of three automotive pioneers and the impact they had on the auto industry in Detroit prior to World War I.

Everitt, Metzger and Flanders formed their own company in 1908. In three short years, it became Detroit's largest employer. The only company to out-produce it in 1911 was the Ford Motor Company. Although purchased by the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company in 1910, it retained its identity as EMF until 1912.

The historical session will take place at 9 a.m., Tuesday, March 5, Room D0-04C. Kollins, Davis and Yanik, all trustees of the NAHC, will sign copies of their books after their oral-only presentations.

SAE World Congress, the world's largest showcase of automotive engineering technologies, attracts attendees from more than 50 countries. For more details, including registration and special events, visit the SAE 2002 World Congress web site at www.sae.org/congress or call 1-877-SAE-CONG (723-2664); outside the U.S. and Canada, call 1-724-772-4027.