1907 – Franklin Opens A New York Branch
On September 1, 1907, the Franklin Automobile Company expanded into New York City with a centrally located branch at Broadway, Amsterdam Avenue and 73rd Street and a dedicated repair shop at 211 W. 87th Street. The company went so far as to guarantee the rents for the new premises, a sign that Franklin’s management saw the city as a critical market for its air-cooled, lightweight cars. Placing a repair shop nearby emphasized after-sales service at a time when reliability and roadside support were major buying considerations, and the New York branch served as a metropolitan foothold for Franklin’s distinctive engineering approach.
1933 – Toyoda Loom Works Launches an Automobile Division
Kiichiro Toyoda took a decisive step on September 1, 1933 when Toyoda Automatic Loom Works formally established an Automobile Division to begin work on prototype engines and vehicles. The move shifted part of a successful textile‑machinery firm into automotive engineering, setting up an internal program to design and test engines and chassis under the company roof. That division was the institutional seed that, in time, evolved into Toyota Motor Company; the 1933 foundation date marks the moment when Toyoda’s interest in mechanized transport became an organized, company-level commitment to producing cars.
1941 – DeSoto Introduces Hidden Headlights
On September 1, 1941, DeSoto introduced its 1942 lineup with one of the most distinctive front-end treatments of the prewar era: concealed headlights. Marketed as “Air Foil” lights, the headlamps sat behind doors integrated into the fenders and were revealed when the driver activated them. Cord had used hidden headlights several years earlier, but its system required separate hand cranks inside the car. DeSoto brought the idea to a much broader market with a far easier arrangement, advertising the lights with the memorable slogan, “Out of sight, except at night.” The feature lasted only one model year. America’s entry into World War II brought civilian automobile production to a halt in early 1942, and when DeSoto production resumed after the war, the hidden headlights were gone.
1989 – Lexus Goes on Sale in America
Toyota officially launched Lexus in the United States on September 1, 1989, giving established luxury brands a formidable new competitor almost overnight. The centerpiece was the LS 400, a rear-wheel-drive flagship sedan powered by a smooth 4.0-liter V8 producing 250 horsepower. It was joined by the smaller, V6-powered ES 250. Toyota had spent six years developing the new luxury division, engineering the LS specifically to compete with cars from Mercedes-Benz and BMW while emphasizing refinement, reliability and an unusually high level of dealer service. About 65 Lexus dealerships were ready for the launch, with more planned before the end of the year. The gamble paid off quickly: within only a few years, Lexus had become one of the leading luxury brands in the American market.
1997 – Dual Front Airbags Become Mandatory in New Passenger Cars
A major change in American automotive safety took full effect on September 1, 1997, when all new passenger cars manufactured for the U.S. market were required to have airbags for both the driver and front passenger. Airbags were already common by then, and federal rules had phased them into most new cars during the preceding years, but this date ended the transition for passenger cars. The requirement grew out of legislation passed in 1991 and effectively eliminated automatic seat belts as an alternative way for manufacturers to meet federal passive-restraint standards. Light trucks, SUVs and minivans followed a year later. The mandate helped turn the dual-airbag dashboard from an upscale safety feature into standard equipment and marked an important step toward the much more sophisticated multi-airbag systems found in modern vehicles.
