A significant consequence of Henry Ford’s innovative assembly line and standardized production techniques was a dramatic decrease in the cost of automobiles. This stemmed from increased efficiency and faster production rates, allowing economies of scale to be realized. For instance, the Model T, benefiting from these advancements, became significantly more affordable over its production run.
This affordability opened up car ownership to a much broader segment of the population, transforming the automobile from a luxury item into a common household possession. This increased accessibility had profound societal impacts, fostering suburban growth, expanding personal mobility, and stimulating related industries like road construction and tourism. The ripple effects of this increased affordability fundamentally reshaped the 20th-century landscape.
