History of the Automotive Industry and Ford Motor Company The automotive industry started in 1893 when Charles and Frank Duryea designed and built the first gasoline-engine-propelled motor vehicle. This invention opened the doors to the automotive industry. During the next 30 years, many people tried to enter the industry, but only a few were successful. The Early Years During the early years, every car was built entirely by hand. This process was not only very slow, but it was very expensive. This is the primary reason so many early innovators went out of busine