Over the past two decades, the geography of the North American auto industry has changed dramatically. Far from the days when Detroit’s ‘Big Three’ dominated the auto scene, auto manufacturing in the United States now includes both foreign and domestic brands, as well as automobile assembly plants in 14 states and Mexico.
Given the expansive nature of today’s auto industry, rail is an essential cog in the automotive wheel. “Efficiency-wise, in terms of long-haul movements, you can’t beat what railroads bring to the table,” said David Schwietert, executive vice president of federal and government relations and public policy at the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.