Automotive

Midas Corporate Office

Midas began in 1956 as the Muffler Installation Dealers Associated Serivce or MIDAS for short. The company was founded by Nate Sherman with the first location in Macon, Georgia.

By 1966, there were 426 Midas locations.

In 1972, Midas International was purchased by IC Industries. The company was renamed to the Whitman Corporation.

In 1979, in addition to mufflers, the company begins to offer brake services.

By 1980, there were 1350 Midas locations worldwide.

In 1986, the 2000th location was opened.

In 1998, Whitman spun Midas off as its own company and is listed on the NYSE.

In 2001, the company purchases 98 franchise locations in an attempt to improve profits.

In 2012, the company is purchased by the TBC Corporation and taken private.

Today, there are over 2500 Midas locations worldwide.

Midas

Midas began in 1956 as the Muffler Installation Dealers Associated Serivce or MIDAS for short. The company was founded by Nate Sherman with the first location in Macon, Georgia.

By 1966, there were 426 Midas locations.

In 1972, Midas International was purchased by IC Industries. The company was renamed to the Whitman Corporation.

History

In 1979, in addition to mufflers, the company begins to offer brake services.

By 1980, there were 1350 Midas locations worldwide.

In 1986, the 2000th location was opened.

In 1998, Whitman spun Midas off as its own company and is listed on the NYSE.

In 2001, the company purchases 98 franchise locations in an attempt to improve profits.

In 2012, the company is purchased by the TBC Corporation and taken private.

Today, there are over 2500 Midas locations worldwide.

Budget Rent a Car Corporate Office

Budget Rent A Car was founded in Los Angeles, California in 1958 by Morris Mirkin. The original fleet consisted of 10 vehicles. The company got the name budget by undercutting competitors rates.

In 1960, the company headquarters moved to Chicago, Illinois and the company began to expand through franchising.

In 1986, the company was purchased in a leveraged buyout by Gibbons, Green and van Amerongen. The company went public in 1987.

In 1997, Budget was purchased by Team Rental Group, its largest franchisee and the stock was listed on the NYSE. The company was renamed to Budget Group.

In 2002, the company was purchased by the Cendant Corporation, who owned Avis. In 2006, the company separated into four division and Budget became the Avis Budget Group. The company is publicly traded on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol: CAR.

A Forbes article in March 2018 states that Budget has seen a steady decline in profits over the past decade.

Today, there are over 3,000 Budget Rent A Car locations in 120 countries worldwide.

Budget Rent-A-Car

Budget Rent A Car was founded in Los Angeles, California in 1958 by Morris Mirkin. The original fleet consisted of 10 vehicles. The company got the name budget by undercutting competitors rates.

In 1960, the company headquarters moved to Chicago, Illinois and the company began to expand through franchising.

History

In 1986, the company was purchased in a leveraged buyout by Gibbons, Green and van Amerongen. The company went public in 1987.

In 1997, Budget was purchased by Team Rental Group, its largest franchisee and the stock was listed on the NYSE. The company was renamed to Budget Group.

A Forbes article in March 2018 states that Budget has seen a steady decline in profits over the past decade.

Today, there are over 3,000 Budget Rent A Car locations in 120 countries worldwide.

Enterprise Corporate Office

Enterprise Rent-A-Car was founded in 1957 by Jack Taylor as Executive Leasing Company. The company began in St. Louis, MO with 7 vehicles. Taylor later renamed it to Enterprise, after the USS Enterprise that he had served on during WWII.

By 1962, the company had 17 vehicles and expands into the rental car market.

In 1969, the company name is changed to Enterprise Leasing Company.

By 1989, there were over 50,000 cars in service. The company name again changes to Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

In 1993, the company expands to Canada with an office in Windsor. They expand to Europe the following year.

Their slogan “We’ll pick you up!” debuted in 1994. It is still used today.

In 1995, the company opens its first airport location.

In 1996, Enterprise becomes the largest rental car company in the US.

In 2002, the company opens its 5,000th rental location.

In 2007, the company acquires Vanguard Automotive Group.

In 2008, the company launches WeCar, a college campus carsharing program. The program was a success and was rebranded in 2013 as Enterprise CarShare. As of 2012 the company had 100 carsharing programs in 30 states and Canada. Carshare features electric cars and hybrid cars, such as the Chevy Volt.

In December of 2015, Uber teamed up with Enterprise, who agreed to rent vehicles to Uber drivers for a standard flat fee each week. This is a pilot program which began in Denver. If successful, the companies hope to expand this program to all 50 states.

The company had annual revenue in 2015 of $18.1 billion and more than 83,000 full-time employees.

In late February of 2018, the company announced that it would no longer offer discounts to NRA members and was pulling support for the company starting in March of the same year.

A survey conducted by J.D. Power and published in November of 2018 stated that Enterprise ranked highest in customer satisfaction among car rental companies.

Today, Enterprise is the largest car rental company in the world, with more than 5,400 locations and 419 airport locations around the world.

Enterprise

History

By 1962, the company had 17 vehicles and expands into the rental car market.

In 1969, the company name is changed to Enterprise Leasing Company.

By 1989, there were over 50,000 cars in service. The company name again changes to Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

In 1993, the company expands to Canada with an office in Windsor. They expand to Europe the following year.

Their slogan “We’ll pick you up!” debuted in 1994. It is still used today.

In 1995, the company opens its first airport location.

In 1996, Enterprise becomes the largest rental car company in the US.

In 2002, the company opens its 5,000th rental location.

In 2007, the company acquires Vanguard Automotive Group.

The company had annual revenue in 2015 of $18.1 billion and more than 83,000 full-time employees.

In late February of 2018, the company announced that it would no longer offer discounts to NRA members and was pulling support for the company starting in March of the same year.

A survey conducted by J.D. Power and published in November of 2018 stated that Enterprise ranked highest in customer satisfaction among car rental companies.

Today, Enterprise is the largest car rental company in the world, with more than 5,400 locations and 419 airport locations around the world.

Goodyear Corporate Office

Goodyear was founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling in Akron, Ohio where the headquarters remain today. The company is named after Charles Goodyear, who invented vulcanized rubber. They originally produced carriage and bicycle tires.

In 1901, the company provided Ford with racing tires. By 1908, all Model T’s feature Goodyear tires.

In 1925, the first Goodyear blimp is launched.

By 1926, Goodyear is the largest rubber company in the world.

In 1927, the company goes public.

In 1944, the company opens a subsidiary called Goodyear-Oxo in Mexico.

In 1986, the company completed a huge buyback on common stock after a hostile takeover attempt was launched by James Goldsmith.

Today, Goodyear is one of the largest tire manufacturers in the world. Besides automobiles, they also manufacture tires for trucks (light & commercial), race cars, airplanes and farm equipment.

Goodyear

In 1901, the company provided Ford with racing tires. By 1908, all Model T’s feature Goodyear tires.

In 1925, the first Goodyear blimp is launched.

History

By 1926, Goodyear is the largest rubber company in the world.

In 1927, the company goes public.

In 1944, the company opens a subsidiary called Goodyear-Oxo in Mexico.

In 1986, the company completed a huge buyback on common stock after a hostile takeover attempt was launched by James Goldsmith.

Today, Goodyear is one of the largest tire manufacturers in the world. Besides automobiles, they also manufacture tires for trucks (light & commercial), race cars, airplanes and farm equipment.

Ford Motor Company Corporate Office

The Ford Motor Company was founded in 1903 by Henry Ford with money from 12 investors. The company produced a few cars per day at their Mack Avenue factory in Detroit, Michigan.

In 1908, Ford introduced the Model T. This was the first vehicle to feature a removable cylinder head on the engine.

In 1922, the company purchases the Lincoln Motor Company.

In 1930, the Model A was introduced. This was the first vehicle with a safety glass windshield.

In 1941, the company begins producing Jeeps for the US military. Consumer car production does not resume until 1945.

In 1956, the company goes public.

In 1987, the company acquires the majority of shares in Aston Martin.

In 1989, Ford acquires Jaguar. The company would sell Jaguar and Land Rover in 2008.

In 1990, the company introduces the Explorer.

In 1992, the company buys 50% of Mazda.

Today, Ford is the 2nd largest US carmaker and 5th largest in the world.

The electric scooter company, Spin, owned by Ford, was introduced outside the US in February 2020, first in Germany, with the UK being the next target.

In order to curb the spread of the coronavirus, Ford announced that it was suspending all unnecessary company travel as of March 3, 2020.

Ford Motor Company still maintains headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan.

Ford

The Ford Motor Company was founded in 1903 by Henry Ford with money from 12 investors. The company produced a few cars per day at their Mack Avenue factory in Detroit, Michigan.

In 1908, Ford introduced the Model T. This was the first vehicle to feature a removable cylinder head on the engine.

History

In 1922, the company purchases the Lincoln Motor Company.

In 1930, the Model A was introduced. This was the first vehicle with a safety glass windshield.

In 1941, the company begins producing Jeeps for the US military. Consumer car production does not resume until 1945.

In 1956, the company goes public.

In 1987, the company acquires the majority of shares in Aston Martin.

In 1989, Ford acquires Jaguar. The company would sell Jaguar and Land Rover in 2008.

In 1990, the company introduces the Explorer.

In 1992, the company buys 50% of Mazda.

Today, Ford is the 2nd largest US carmaker and 5th largest in the world.

The electric scooter company, Spin, owned by Ford, was introduced outside the US in February 2020, first in Germany, with the UK being the next target.

In order to curb the spread of the coronavirus, Ford announced that it was suspending all unnecessary company travel as of March 3, 2020.

Ford Motor Company still maintains headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan.