The Legacy of Transportation and Allston Collision Center

Transportation has been evolving since it was invented. Society started with walking utilizing animals to carry heavy loads, to horse drawn carriages and eventually trains and automobiles. When the first ever automobile was invented in 1886, by Karl Benz, it was viewed as a novelty item or a toy for those who could afford them. At first introduction, automobiles were not practical.  They were limited in stock with no way to mass produce them. They had no roof, a very short range and low speeds ultimately leading to a lack of success for the automotive industry.

By the early 1900’s the industry had completely turned on its head. Even though many individuals believed automobiles to be dangerous, unreliable, and reckless manufacturing these large contraptions completely changed how society viewed transportation and the way of life. Change was unpopular in the masses leading to a slow beginning of the automotive industry. As soon as people realized what vehicles could do for them they were happy to accommodate the change. “The Big Three ” Ford, GM and Chrysler led the way to change. Each began to revolutionize how cars were produced and sold. By 1913 Henry Ford created the first moving assembly line to manufacture vehicles and subsequently the number of vehicles seen on the street doubled. In a short 15 years, Dave Chaet, our 1st generation, will open a business in the auto repair field.

We now have close to 60 major brands spanning across the globe constantly competing with one another to ensure the best safety functions, sleekness, and climate control technology has to offer. Innovation in automotive design and production dramatically altered once automakers realized how technology could aid them in making vehicles more suitable for everyday use. Technology and motor vehicles have always gone hand and hand. Even paint has made a huge leap forward with water-based paint systems.

Thus begins the era of  utilizing connectivity, electrification, diverse mobility and autonomous driving. The vehicles of 2024 are electric with seriously advanced features, such as: adaptive cruise control, music systems, Android Auto, hands-free telephone systems, hands-free semi-automated driving systems, automatic emergency braking systems, blind spot sensors, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. We have seen the powertrain wars between hydrogen, clean fuels, and different EV battery chemistries. Of course, this will only be the tip of the iceberg.

Now there are more electric vehicles, with all the bells and whistles that we currently consider advanced, on the road than ever before. When connected, shared, autonomous and electric vehicles become the norm, the progression will only go up from here and many of us will bear witness to another societal evolution.

We must pause and consider, how Allston Collision Center has been a legacy business since 1928 and what would our founder Dave Chaet think?