History of the Automotive Industry in Michigan
Beginning in the early 1900s, Michigan has been a hub of activity for the Automotive Industry. Both Ford and Buick were founded in Michigan in1903. Perhaps the most notable advancement for the Automotive industry occurred in 1913 at Ford's Highland Park factory, the moving assembly line. Assembly lines enabled workers to remain in place while placing parts on a vehicle as it went by. This process greatly increased the rate at which vehicles could be produced, evidenced by the fact that by 1918 half of all American cars were a Ford Model T.
Buicks first production car. http://www.gm.com/company/corp_info/history/corp_hist_images/1906_B3701-0044.jpg
During World War 2, the mass production abilities of Michigan's Auto Industry were turned full force towards the war effort. Automotive plants began turning out Jeeps, tanks, planes and guns by the thousands to support the war effort, a clear demonstration of the flexibility of the Auto Industry in crisis.
A WW2 bomber being built at a Ford factory in MI. http://www.hfmgv.org/exhibits/hf/bomber.jpg