April i, 1905.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



229 



THE ENORMOUS AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY. 



THE records of the import and export trade in automo- 

 biles of the principal countries concerned possess a 

 certain interest for the rubber trade, as supplying the 

 most trustworthy statistics of the extent and growth 

 of the automobile interest. And this interest, as everybody 

 knows, cannot exist without the use of rubber in tires. The 

 automobile export trade of France alone— nearly $14,000,000 

 last year — means an enormous production, to say nothing of 

 the machines made for home use. Great Britain is still a large 

 importer, the figures for last year exceeding $12,000,000. The 

 number of cars involved cannot be learned, but the values sta- 

 ted prove that a great number of tires has been called for. Be- 

 sides, these are initial costs, and once an automobile has been 

 placed in commission, a steady demand sets in for tires for re- 

 placement. 



The United States are importing somewhat more cars year 

 by year, mainly of high priced goods, but the increase is more 

 than offset by the growing exports from this country. The 

 statistics of motor cycles are also of interest, as these also cre- 

 ate an important demand for tires. 



Accurate figures relating to the world's total production of 

 automobiles are not available, but the estimates for France of 

 the Chambre Syndicate de I'Automobile of that country are of 

 interest. The number of cars made and their value (in Ameri- 

 can money) during seven years has been : 



Year. Number. Value. Year. Number. \'aluc. 



i8q8 1,850 $1,602,000 igo2 16,500 19,107,000 



18913 1.900 1,833,500 1903 19,500 26.248,000 



1900 5,000 5.307,500 1904 (est'd) 22, coo 34,000,000 



1901 8.800 10,229,000 



The number of automobiles in France registered and taxed 

 in 1903 was 19,868, and it was expected that by the end of last 

 year it would reach nearly 30,000. In 1903, in addition to au- 

 tomobiles, there were registered 19.816 motorcycles and 1,310,- 

 223 bicycles. 



The number of automobiles made in the United States last 

 year has been estimated by careful observers at about 27,000 

 and a larger production has been planned for this year. The 

 number of cars now in use in the country it is impossible to 

 say, but many thousands made before 1904 must still be service- 

 able. Doubtless the United States census of manufactures 

 for 1905. now being organized at Washington, will result in 

 some definite and trustworthy figures on this subject. 



GERMANY. 

 Official statement of values of imports and exports of au- 

 tomobiles for three years : 



IMroRTS. 



1902. 1903. 1904. 



Personal vehicles >1/3, 554,000 .1/5,077,000 yl/7, 537,000 



Other motor wagons 148,000 196,000 208,000 



Total j1/3, 702,000 .1/5,273,000 vl/7.745,oco 



Total, U. S. money... $881,076 $1,254,974 $1,844,310 



EXPORTS. 



1902. 1903. 1904. 



Personal vehicles /J/4, 741,000 /I/5,288,ooo y1/ii,777,ooo 



Other motor wagons .. . 608,000 907,000 1,392,000 



Total .1/5,349,000 A/6, 195, coo /I/13, 169,000 



Total, U. S. money. 11,273,062 $1,474,410 $3,134,222 



Details of weights of German imports of automobiles are 

 given, showing that in 1901 France furnished 61 per cent, of 

 such imports ; in 1902, 73 per cent. ; in 1903, 71 per cent. ; and 



in 1904,72^ percent., these figures not applying to commercial 

 wagons. Of the German automobile exports for 1904, France 

 took 33 per cent.; Great Britain, 23 per cent.; Austria-Hun- 

 gary, 17 percent.; Belgium, 7 per cent., and the rest scatter- 

 ing. 



UNITED STATES. 

 A Washington report on " Exports Declared for the United 

 States. During the Fiscal Vear Ended June 30, 1904," embraces 

 the following details regarding automobiles exported from 

 French ports to this country, for comparison with which the 

 corresponding figures for the preceding year are given : 



I9O2OJ. lyOj<»4. 



Paris (automobiles and parts) $1,097,725 $1,662,346 



Dijon 2,092 117 



Havre 4>33'' 



Marseilles 5558 2.413 



Rheims 6623 



Total $t, 116,334 $1,664,876 



[Note. — Figures for the last year also include: Havre, .American automobile 

 returned. 5787. .4w,4't'r.?, tires, $56,^. Marseilles, tire protectors, $1393] 



The same report contains also the following details of de- 

 clared values of automobiles exported from other ports to the 

 United States during 1903 04: Aix la Chapelle, $1683; Mann- 

 heim, $8175; Turin (including parts), $50,911; Southampton, 

 §2500 ; total, $63,269. Total, last year, $25,407.36. 



The imports of automobiles and parts from all countries into 

 the United States for the past two years have been as follows : 



FISCAL YEAR F.NDED JU.NE 30. 1903. 



Number. \'alue. Duty. 



Automobiles 317 $ 963.998 $433,799 



Parts 45.003 20,251 



Total $i,o09,oot $454,050 



Average import duty of vehicles $3,040.68 



Average value, with duty added 4,377-91 



FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1904. 



Number. \'alue. Duty. 



Automobiles 423 $1,294,160 $582,372 



Parts 152,143 68464 



Total $1,446,303 $650,836 



Average import value of vehicles $3059. 19 



Average value, with duty added 4431.20 



Average rate of duty 45 per cent. 



[In the " Parts " metal is the material of chief value.] 



Exports of automobiles and parts from the United States 

 have been, in value, as follows : 



1901 (July-December) $ 367,371 



1902 (twelve months) 1,069,792 



1903 (twelve months) 1,643,029 



1904 (twelve months) 1,997,510 



FRANCE. 

 The value of exports of automobiles from France during four 

 years past, as officially reported, has been as follows, in con- 

 nection with which are given equivalent values in United States 

 money : 



1901. 1902. 1903. r->04. 



Francs 15,782,000 30,251,000 50,892,000 71,302,000 



U. S. money $3,045,926 $5,838,443 $9,822,156 $13,761,286 



These figures are not based upon selling prices, but result 

 from the French government's official appraisal of motor vehi- 

 cles in bulk at 10 francs per kilogram [=a little less than 90 

 cents per pound]. It has been asserted, in former years, that 

 the actual export values were considerably higher than shown 

 in the official returns. 



