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Automotive Industry

The automotive industry, one of the most important industries in the world, has left its mark not only on the economy but also on the world cultures. The automotive industry is involved in the design, development, manufacture, marketing, and sale of motor vehicles.

More than 73 million motor vehicles, such as cars and commercial vehicles were produced worldwide in 2007 with a total of 71.9 million of new automobiles sold: 22.9 million in Europe, 21.4 million in Asia-Pacific and 19.4 million in USA and Canada. While markets in North America and Japan have stagnated, those in South America and Asia have grown, with the most rapid growth coming from Russia, Brazil and China.

The Automotive Industry produces automobiles and other gasoline-powered vehicles, like buses, trucks, aeroplanes, and motorcycles, but also electricity-powered vehicles, such as trains. Not only does it provide jobs for millions of people worldwide, but the revenues generated reach well over billions of dollars, providing the necessary base for a wide range of other service and related industries.

The invention of automobiles revolutionized transportation in the early 20th century, and the way people lived and commuted for pleasure or business was forever changed. Goods could be taken farther and faster, and new market areas were now opened to facilitate business and commerce.

Overall costs of production were brought to a minimum with methods such as mass production, meaning that several products were made at once, mass marketing- products were sold nationally not only locally), and last but not least, globalization of production assembling products with parts manufactured all over the world.

However, in 2008 due to increased oil prices the automotive industry is subject to pressures from higher prices of raw material combined to changes in the buying habits of consumers. Moreover, the industry is at the same time up against external high competition coming from the public transport sector, since consumers are just now starting to evaluate the use of their private vehicle.

In North America, the automobile industry is dominated by the famous Big Three:

General Motors (producer of Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick and Cadillac, etc)
Chrysler (Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge)
Ford Motor Co – (Ford, Lincoln and Volvo)

Unfortunately, the automobile also means related problems, like air pollution, the emission of gases leading to imminent global warming, traffic, not to mention fatalities. Nevertheless, the automotive industry is still an important source of employment and transportation for billion of people all over the world.

Originally automotive art was either advertising or design sketches created within the offices of major automobile manufacturers. However, over the years a cadre of artists has emerged who devote themselves to creating automotive art for the automobile and art enthusiast. This artistic group tends to realism, as this is the preference of the buyer. Automotive art buyers have more enthusiasm for the automobile than for art so they prefer realism, as they want to be able to recognize the vehicle.

Some of these artists have graduated from prestigious art universities while other are self taught. Australian artist, George Vrastaminos, was born in Australia but his parents are Greek. Drawing cars was a childhood past time. In spite of having Muscular Dystrophy he completed courses in drafting and architecture. However, he now devotes his time to painting classic and motorsport cars. He is self-taught and works with a paintbrush and five basic colors. He has worked in Dubai and produced the poster for the Villa d’Este concourse in Europe.

Alexey Stroganov works as a chief designer for both Aeroflot and Siberia in-flight magazines. He studied art at Moscow Pedagogic University and graduated in 1993. Stroganov specializes in classic and hot rod cars. His work has appeared in international and domestic exhibitions.

Lima, Peru is home to Santiago Dancourt although he spent thirty years living in the Caribbean. Born in Lima in 1953, he began his full time art career in 1996. He works on either acrylic over canvas or watercolor paper. His primary subject matter is Formula One and Latino American drivers.

Marizio Corbi is from Sermoneta, Italy. He was born in 1960 and developed an early interest in cars and drawing. In the start of the eighties, Marizio began entering design competitions and was employed by an aeronautic firm. However, his real love was cars so in 1987, after contacting the major Italian design firms, Corbi began working with Bertone. At the same time he started illustrating classic cars using markers. He has exhibited his works in Milano, Turin, and Genova, Italy; Curitiba, Brazil; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and in Mexico City.

Saleel Pathare is a computer engineer based in India. However, in the late 80’s he began painting and sketching cars. He works on both art paper and canvas with acrylics. His specialty is motorsport cars.

Although Olaf Robrecht was born in Germany, he has lived in Canada for the past eight years. He had already begun his own art studio and been employed by prestigious companies before he received his degrees in art and design, and illustration. In 1995 he was employed on the editorial team of an international art magazine and in 2003 he was promoted to editorial director. During the late 90’s Olaf worked primarily on the computer and his work gained international recognition. Then in 2005 he started working with acrylics on canvas. Most of his paintings are commissioned by car owners around the world. All of these internationally known artists are involved in pioneering a field that, prior to the 80’s did not exist, but is now becoming important in art.