U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for February 10

WASHINGTON--Feb. 10, 2014: Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

DETROIT GOES TO WAR

Profile America — Monday, February 10th. For well over a century, Americans have been smitten with motor vehicles, and new models have long been a point of interest. Our appetite for cars was put on a crash diet this date in 1942 when the manufacturing of private vehicles was shut down for the duration of World War II. The auto companies instead were retooled to build tanks and planes and — of course — jeeps for the GIs. Sedans, trucks and ambulances were also made for military use. Production for civilian-use cars and trucks surged back to over 4 million units in 1946. Lately, America's 278 automobile and light-duty motor vehicle manufacturing establishments employ over 120,000 workers, and sell about 12 million passenger vehicles and trucks yearly. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at Census.

Sources: Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1976, p. 716 ASM 2011 eCN 2007 NAICS 33611 Wholesale Retail Trade t. 1060