Rubber is a wonder material that you can find in everything from wetsuits to wiper blades, computer mice and specialist medical devices. Rubber suspension is also original equipment on most cars.
When you consider the number of vehicles on the road in Australia and around the globe, you start to get a picture of the immense role that rubber plays!
Here are a few facts and figures on vehicle numbers and rubber suspension.
So how many vehicles are there?
It’s hard to get a precise figure, but in 2016, it was estimated that there were 1.32 billion cars and trucks in the world. This number has grown from 670 million in 1996 and 342 million in 1976 – and it’s ever expanding.
For years, the USA has been car-central. The USA had 271 million vehicles in 2016, a rate of 1.2 people per vehicle. However, China is growing fast. Although it’s rate of 7.1 people per vehicle is behind the USA, its number of vehicles in operation grew 12.8% to 194 million in 2016.
And how about in Australia? According to the ABS, there were 19.5 million registered vehicles as of January 2019. Given our population is around 25 million, that’s a staggering number… and potentially an awful lot of rubber!
Rubber suspension through the ages
Rubber has been standard for suspension for close to 70 years. The first mass-produced car, the Ford Model T released in 1927, used spring suspension. However, Chrysler took things in a different direction.
Chrysler’s first chief engineer was Frederick Zeder, a legendary figure in the auto industry. Among several innovations – including curved windshields, hydraulic brakes, air filters and oil filters – Zeder is credited by fellow industry legend Lee Iacocca as the first to mount engines on a rubber base in an effort to absorb vibration.
The first patents for rubber suspension appeared in Switzerland 1942, and the first US patent emerged in 1958.
Rubber for Australian roads
Transgold has one of the biggest ranges of auto parts in the country, so we’re well stocked for rubber suspension, and a whole range of other components including air and fuel filters, wiper blades and engine mounts.
With quality components for 31 major makes and over 80% of vehicle models, we have rubber for Australian roads well and truly covered!
