Source: Detroit Public Library, Item number EB01a026.
Early in the 20th century, the American industrialist Henry Ford massively applied the assembly line principle to produce the first affordable car, the Ford Model T. The first car assembly line appeared in Highland Park, Michigan, in 1913. This marked the beginning of the automobile era. The Model T was produced between 1913 and 1927. Through mass production and competition from other manufacturers, the price of a Model T dropped from $575 to $290, making it affordable to the middle class.