In the United States

• Materials shortage begin as a result of World War I, even though the US is not yet an active participant
• Industry volume leaps to 895,930 cars and 74,000 trucks
• The usefulness of trucks in the European war boosts their sales at home
• Red Cross chose Buick for its ambulances
• General Tire Incorporated
• Shell operates a shell shaped station at the Exposition.
• U.S. auto industry agrees to cross-license patents
• Daily traffic at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 34th Street-25,580 vehicles & 142,230 pedestrians
• Emily Post motors coast to coast in a widely publicized stunt. Her son drives every kilometer of the way
• Detroit blacksmith August Fruehaf builds the first tractor trailer
• U.S. Post Office threatens to deny rural free delivery to communities with poor roads
• Demountable tires and prism headlights are introduced
• Electric Welding Co. becomes America's leading producer of engine values
• General Motors declares its first dividend, $50 per share
• Queens, New York City, suburban developers are widening the traditional house lot to allow room to park autos
• C.D. Noonan of Paris Illinois advertises a kit to add overhead valves to Fords for street racing
• Gas prices rise to 25 cents per gallon
• Taxi industry begins when automobile owners discover that people will pay for a short automobile ride. Fare is a 'jitney' (a nickel), and cars are soon called jitneys. Drivers are known as 'hackers' or 'hackies' in east, 'cabbies' in the mid-west

US Auto Manufacturers

• On December 10, Ford produces one millionth car
• The Ford Model T is restyled with curved rear fenders and electric headlights; a Couplet and Center-Door Sedan are added
• Cadillac offers tilt beam headlamps. It's new engine ranks as the first successful V-8 built in America, Initially developing 60 horsepower from a 314 cubic inches, it lasts until 1927
• Horace and John Dodge launch their company with an all-steel body car
• Frank Duryea liquidates his car firm, goes into retirement at age of 38.
• Chevrolet introduces the popular 490 model, which sells 100,000 units within two years
• Packard announces a V-12, appropriately called 'Twin Six' in May, as a 1916 model
• Standard size Scripps-Booth cars appear, designed by William B. Stout. The company had formerly built the 'Rocket' cyclecar
• Dodge go on sale, with a 35-bhp four and cone clutch -it's the first mass-produced car with all steel body
• Packard, Winton, Kissel, and Kline autos offer an aisle between the front seats, so passengers can move between front and rear
• The Gadabout cyclecar roadster features a wicker body on a wood frame
• Oldsmobiles are fitted with a standard top and windshield-still extra cost items on most cars
• The Detroit-built Saxxon, priced at $395, is one of the light cars that is gaining in popularity

And From the World

• First military tests of tanks |(developed as land ships by the British Royal Navy)