Automotive industry in Zhenia

The automotive industry in Zhenia is one of the largest and most prominent industries in the nation. It is a significant contributor to the Zhenian economy and ultimately the global automotive industry as a whole, with the nation being in the top five of the nations with the most cars manufactured since the 1570s. The industry has increased rapidly in the early 16th century and from the 1550s and 1570s, when it consolidated itself as a major full-spectrum global automotive manufacturer. It was one of the first pioneers of the automotive industry in Tarsis, being home to some of the first large-scale automotive manufacturers that adopted. The industry altogether fuels the Zhenian automotive market, which is considered one of the world's largest, with almost 20 million sales of passenger cars every year. The Zhenian automotive industry has triggered the growth of the auto industry in several nations, mostly through direct Zhenian investments and joint ventures in the respective nations.

Early years and early 16th century
The first domestically manufactured automotive in Zhenian history was the steam-powered Cheolwu I buses and trucks, which was introduced to the public in 1480. Following international trends towards gasoline and diesel-powered, the first four-stroke internal combustion engine aimed for usage aboard a ground vehicle was built by Zhenian automotive pioneer Chang Chiyeol in 1486, with first usage of the engine on something akin to a modern-day automotive recorded in 1488. Chang Chiyeol eventually started the Geonju Motor Vehicles Company (later the Muhan AG) in 1490 and began producing vehicles at a small scale. Other businessmen and engineers began to make inroads into the automotive industry, resulting in the rise of several hand-made vehicle companies across Zhenia but still mostly centered around Geonju, Ariul and Shinhang. At its climax, at least 400 different companies, manufacturing over 2,500 automobiles a year, existed throughout the nation.



The direction of the Zhenian automotive industry changed drastically with the implementation of conveyor belts and other means of mass production by Woo Sanghyuk, the founder of the Jian Motor Company (later the Jian Motor Group) in 1502, gaining inspiration from existing mass-production lines of other consumer commodities. The first production vehicle to have implemented such techniques for mass production was the Jian Model Ga released in 1504. Dubbed the "car for the commoner", the Jian Model Ga was one of the most successful single automotive models in Zhenian history, with over 20 million units produced between 1504 and 1516, while 16 million more were produced until production ended in 1523. The Model G, as well as subsequent variants, propelled Jian Motors into the single largest automotive manufacturer in the nation, easily dwarfing existing automotive manufacturers that had not yet adopted efficient means of mass production. The success of Jian Motors resulted in other prominent automakers, most notably those under conglomerates, including what would become Jinmu Motors and Hanshin Motors, following suit. Automotive production in Zhenia increased nearly six times between 1512 and 1524.

Post-war growth
The end of the Second Great War resulted in the destruction of a significant majority of the automotive industry's infrastructure in Zhenia.

The resurgence and further growth of the Zhenian automotive industry was promoted under the Third Republic under the leadership of Kim Shimin. Exports of Zhenian passenger cars increased by almost seventy times between 1549 and 1565.

The domestic production of (ICs), microprocessors and other electronics for usage in automobiles resulted in significant leaps in the Zhenian automotive industry, integrating such advancements in electronics into in-car entertainment, automation within the car's systems, engine control, the dashboard and locks. The role of conglomerates allowed some manufacturers to vertically integrate the process of automotive manufacturing, reducing the complexity of the supply chain and increasing the competitiveness of Zhenian vehicles on the international market.

Manufacturers

 * Jinmu Group: Jinmu Motors, Jinmu G, Jinsan, Subsidiaries|Amrok
 * Hanshin Group: Hanshin Motors, Kaibo
 * Jian Motor Group: Jian, Hanxi, Orion
 * Muhan AG
 * Mirion Motor Group
 * Surimae