The Auto Industry in America: Pennsylvania

The Auto Industry in America is a Carmoza series highlighting the history of the auto industry in each state and their contributions to the industry as a whole over the years.

PENNSYLVANIA

QUICK FACTS

• Pennsylvania was the second state to join the United States. It became a state on December 12, 1787.
• It has the 6th largest population in the country with 12.6 million residents.
• The Bank of North America in Philadelphia, founded in 1781, became the first nationally chartered bank in the U.S.
• Pennsylvania ranks first in the U.S. in the production of mushrooms and third for Christmas trees.

THE AUTO INDUSTRY IN PENNSYLVANIA

In response to vehicles becoming more reliant on ethanol fuel, Coskata, Inc., opened a plant in Madison, Pennsylvania in 2009 with plans to grow significantly by 2012. As of 2010, the plant produces 50,000 gallons of ethanol per year.

In 1978, Volkswagen opened a plant in Pennsylvania, but the plant closed down in 1988. At this plant in New Stanton, they built Rabbits, Golfs, and Jettas. Volkswagen opening a plant here led the way for Nissan and other Japanese manufacturers to set up assembly plants in the U.S.