1966 – Subaru Begins Sales of the 1000
In 1966, Subaru officially began sales of the Subaru 1000, one of the company’s most important early production vehicles. Powered by a 977cc flat-four engine producing approximately 54 horsepower, the Subaru 1000 helped establish several engineering characteristics that would later define the brand, including front-wheel drive and horizontally opposed “boxer” engines. While modest by modern standards, the Subaru 1000 represented a major step forward for the company as it expanded beyond small utility vehicles into passenger car production.
1968 – British Leyland Is Formed
In 1968, British Leyland Motor Corporation was formed following the merger of Leyland Motor Corporation and British Motor Holdings. The merger created one of the largest automotive groups in the world at the time, bringing together legendary British brands including Austin, Morris, MG, Jaguar, Rover, Triumph, and Mini under a single corporate umbrella.
While British Leyland initially appeared poised to dominate the British automotive industry, the company later became infamous for labor disputes, quality control problems, financial instability, and internal competition between its many brands. Still, British Leyland played a major role in shaping Britain’s automotive landscape during the 1970s and helped produce some of the era’s most recognizable vehicles.
1969 – The Last Chevrolet Corvair Is Built
In 1969, Chevrolet built the final Chevrolet Corvair, ending production of one of the most controversial American cars ever made. Introduced in 1960, the rear-engine Corvair featured an air-cooled flat-six engine and European-inspired engineering unlike anything else produced by Detroit at the time.
The Corvair became the subject of intense scrutiny after consumer advocate Ralph Nader criticized the car’s handling characteristics in his 1965 book Unsafe at Any Speed. Though later studies would challenge many of the claims surrounding the Corvair’s safety, the damage to the car’s reputation had already been done. Today, the Corvair remains both a cult classic and a symbol of one of the most important safety debates in automotive history.
2015 – Toyota and Mazda Announce Partnership
In 2015, Toyota and Mazda announced a long-term partnership focused on developing “appealing cars that meet the diverse needs and tastes of customers all over the world.” That collaboration eventually led to the creation of Mazda Toyota Manufacturing in Huntsville, Alabama.
Construction on the massive production facility began in 2018, and today the plant builds hundreds of thousands of vehicles annually for both automakers. The facility currently produces models including the Toyota Corolla Cross and Mazda CX-50, representing one of the most significant modern manufacturing partnerships in the automotive industry.
