Automobile Industry in the Confederacy

Telleursville, as on the other major cities of Neu Engollon, one would find that autos were quickly overtaking other forms of transportation, such as bikes and horses in the first couple decades of the 20th century. In fact, by 1920, horses and buggies were banned from using the streets of Burgunden, Telleursville, Albertsville and Schwartzgarten, except for special dispensation for farmers bringing produce to market. Panoli, Torino and Ciavno would soon follow that lead, and by 1925, no major city in the Confederacy would allow transportation by horse or other similar animal transport. Automobiles and trucks were now firmly entrenched into the fabric of life in the Confederacy. Steedcraft Mastiffs, Rottweilers, and Canterburys from Sarlsvert, Thoroughbreds from Shalum, as well as Renaults from neighboring Terre des Gaules. These were the transport of the well-to-do and industry mavens of the day.

There were 3 major Neu Engollon car companies - Sbartig, Rindersped, and Oteg, at the dawn of the third decade of the twentieth century. Oteg was the bastard step child compared to the other two, but they would leave their mark in their own way.

The Oteg Spaniel was a small, ugly, cheap car made for the working classes. The design rights were purchased from Steedcraft of Sarlsvert. It was the first non-luxury car made in Neu Engollon, with the first model debuting in 1918.

By 1920, Spaniels were popular enough that they were being exported across Madurin to Gaul, the Austrak Republik, Roman Free States and other parts of Teremara. There were few Steedcraft Spaniels sold in Sarlsvert, most likely due to its aesthetically displeasing appearance and the fact that Steedcraft was making better cars for relatively the same value. Rindersped and Sbartig, who were known for higher end luxury cars, tried to put out their own working class models to try to capture some of the market back, but it was too little too late. Rindersped had the Razen, and Sbartig introduced the Novtak. Neither of the other Neu Engollian companies were willing to dedicate enough factory space and lines to put out the volume they would have needed to compete, as it was not expected to be a lasting trend. They never wised up.

Outside of Neu Engollon, the Spaniel was especially popular in Gaul, where it competed with Renault's higher end and more expensive models for drivers. Eventually, Renault would win out in that battle, but for a time, Oteg was the top selling auto manufacturer in Terre des Gaules. The Diamond Star Model One trucks were also becoming increasingly common across Madurin, with few regional competitors making equivalent vehicles that could handle such work loads and not be towed by animals. Train was still the favored way to ship goods about from the ports to the interiors, and it would be some time before doing so by air seemed practical.

Oteg, Sbartig, and Rindersped are still in business and the main domestic car companies, but they have lost a lot of market share to Aurora Confederacy's Diamond Star for economical sedans, trucks and SUVs. Much of the commercial truck fleet and industrial vehicles in the Confederacy are also Diamond Star, but manufactured domestically at the large plant in Vusurlac.