For more than a century, the American automobile industry shaped the nation’s economy and culture, This course traces the ascent of US automakers—from pioneering innovators at the turn of the 20th century to global industrial powerhouses—and examines the forces that contributed to their long, complex decline. Each session blends historical narrative with analysis of business strategy, labor relations, technology, and global competition, and highlights some of the key people in the industry.

Moderator: Jim Rauf, BA physics, Thomas More College; BME, mechanical engineering, Univ. of Detroit. Retired from GE Aviation where he was a manager and principal engineer in the Commercial Engines Product Support Group.