Automotive industry in Valkea

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1st generation Juhola Elysia (1968 model), one of Astyria's longest running and most popular nameplates.

The automotive industry of Valkea is one of the largest and most prominent in Astyria. Valkea has been a top manufacturer of motor vehicles since the 1960s, and rapidly grew throughout Astyria beginning in the 1970s. The country is best known for its volume passenger cars.

The Valkean automotive industry is home to a host of manufacturers and brands that produce cars, motorcycles, ATVs, construction vehicles, and engines. The most promiment of these manufacturers include Aaltonen, Asikainen, Eloranta-Forscher, Hannula, Hedlund, Sidus, Sorsa, Ukko, Umbra, and Valteo Motor Group.

Valkea-designed cars have won numerous Lorecian Car of the Year and Astyrian Car of the Year awards. The Valkean automotive industry has also produced some of the most popular car nameplates in history, including the Juhola Elysia, Sidus Corvus, and Sorsa Sapphire/CS, each of which have millions of units sold throughout Astyria.

History

Early years

Valkean companies first began to build their own automobiles in the late 1900s and early 1910s. Most of these early domestic vehicles were trucks that were produced for the military or industrial companies, as well as licensed vehicles from partnerships with foreign car companies. During this time, there was no demand for passenger cars domestically. Valkean automotive manufacturers shifted briefly to producing trucks and motorcycles for the Valkean military during the Civil War, but otherwise struggled throughout the 1910s and 1920s to stay afloat.

In 1930, the Vuotola administration embarked on a policy of rapid industrialization of various industries, including the automotive sector, with the goal of providing employment and raising standards of living. In 1933, state-controlled corporation Valteo created the Valteo Motor Car Division with the aim of producing an affordable passenger car. The car debuted in 1936 as the Valteo VA-1. Other companies such as Sorsa, Eloranta, and Lehtonen followed with their own cars shortly after. However, early adoption was limited in the 1930s and 1940s due to a lottery system that placed domestic buyers on a years-long waiting list.

After the conclusion of the 2nd Great Astyrian War, Valkean manufacturers began to export their passenger vehicles to foreign markets. Valkean cars were presented at the < auto show > in 1947 and were exported throughout Lorecia soon after. Many passenger cars continued to imitate designs from other Astyrian countries well into the 1940s and 1950s. The 1950s were a transitional period for the Valkean automotive industry - the Kansallist government oversaw the construction of a national and regional highway network, auto companies invested in new factories across the nation to meet passenger demand, and the average Valkean was able to afford their own vehicles.

In 1954, several militant union workers were locked out at Sorsa's factory in Rintalinna, which caused a general strike across the entire Valkean auto industry. Violent protests took place outside of major factories, causing the Kansallist government to intervene. Over the next few weeks, thousands of workers who participated in the strike were replaced and several union leaders were arrested. Furthermore, the National Auto Workers' Union was dissolved and replaced with the Valkean Auto Workers' Union. The Strikes of 1954 became a pivotal moment in labor relations within Kansallist Valkea - from then on, negotiations between unions and management were conducted with the state playing a mediatory role, with strikes heavily discouraged.

Expansion and growth

Valkean car companies began to expand into more market segments in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Companies competed fiercely for domination in the compact car segment, with brands such as Valteo, Sorsa, Juhola, Sidus, Vatanen, and Hedlund releasing their own models. Valkean car companies were starting to gain recognition abroad - Eloranta went on to win the 24 Hours of Corbieres in 1958, becoming the first Valkean manufacturer to win the prestigious endurance race. However, sales in foreign markets remained limited due to perceptions of poor build quality and copycat styling.

Eloranta debuted the S30 in 1962, which received acclaim for its styling and performance and revolutionized Valkea's image in the automotive landscape. Similar halo cars emerged from rivals in the following years, with the Juhola F2000 debuting in 1966, the Aaltonen A100 in 1967, and the Sorsa Topaz in 1969. The Aaltonen A100 in particular became the first Valkean car to use a Wankel engine.

The 1970s saw phenomenal demand for Valkean automobiles due to rising demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles all around Astyria. Valkean car exports grew exponentially throughout the decade, rising to nearly 2 million vehicles by 1976. Exports to other countries became so successful that import restrictions were imposed to safeguard domestic manufacturers from losing market share to Valkean brands. As a result, Valkean manufacturers built new factories overseas and expanded local production. This, combined with their growing reputation for reliability and low maintenance costs, made Valkean cars very popular throughout the remainder of the 1970s and this trend continued into the 1980s and 1990s.

Valkean manufacturers led the way in innovation and sales throughout the 1980s. They were among the first national automobile industries to introduce integrated circuits and electronic systems to passenger vehicles, along with several safety and quality-of-life features that are in most modern automobiles. In addition, they pioneered new systems and techniques that maximized production output by a significant margin while also minimizing waste throughout the manufacturing process. As a result, Valkean cars continued to enjoy strong sales in most markets, with passenger cars such as the Juhola Elysia, Sidus Corvus, and Sorsa Sapphire leading the way. By the end of the decade, the Valkean auto industry was one of the largest manufacturers of vehicles in Astyria, as well as one of its largest exporters, a position it still holds to this day.

Timeline

  • 1907 - Sorsa is established
  • 1908 - Juhola's first car
  • 1915 - Vasa's first car
  • 1927 - Vatanen's first car
  • 1933 - Valteo creates automotive division; Järvinen Motor Company established
  • 1936 - Eloranta's first car
  • 1940 - Lehtonen's first car
  • 1948 - Sidus is established; Valkean Automobile Manufacturers' Association is founded
  • 1952 - Hedlund's first car (H-1)
  • 1953 - Sidus debuts the Model 100
  • 1967 - Aaltonen Polaris becomes the first mass-produced Valkean car with Wankel rotary engine
  • 1968 - Juhola Elysia is introduced
  • 1982 - Juhola acquires Valteo's automotive division, enters reverse merger to create Valteo Motor Group
  • 1996 - Sidus Columba becomes the first Valkean hybrid car
  • 2008 - Ukko's first car (Virta)
  • 2010 - Sorsa IE becomes first mass-produced Valkean electric car

List of automotive manufacturers

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