Henry Leland -- the father of the mass-produced, U.S. luxury car -- forms Cadillac Automobile Co. on Aug. 22, 1902, with a group of investors who had previously tried but failed to start a carmaker with Henry Ford.

Henry Ford, combining his love for invention, industry and agriculture, introduces what was billed as the first plastic automobile -- dubbed the "Soybean Car" -- on Aug. 13, 1941.

Alejandro de Tomaso, a former Argentine race car driver, acquires bankrupt Maserati from French automaker Citroen on Aug. 8, 1975, just months after the the famed Italian maker of exotic race and sports cars had declared bankruptcy.

Honda, Subaru, Hyundai, Kia and the VW brand were helped by demand for new and redesigned light trucks, while cars drove Toyota to a small gain. Nissan, Mazda and Mitsubishi posted lower sales.

Horatio Nelson Jackson, a physician, and Sewall Crocker, a bicycle racer, arrive in New York on July 26, 1903, completing the first continental crossing by car. The journey took 64 days and was prompted by a bet to determine whether a car could successfully navigate the U.S., coast to coast.

The Crosley Car Owners Club, formed in early 1952 and considered one of the first U.S. support groups for owners and enthusiasts of American-built automobiles, holds its first national gathering in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, on July 18, 1954, just two years after the maker of small cars went out of business.

Buckminster Fuller, an architect, engineer and philosopher, produces the first of three three-wheeled, multi-directional Dymaxion cars in Bridgeport, Conn., on July 12, 1933 -- his 38th birthday.

Lee Iacocca's towering public face, corporate pitches, bold leadership and straight-talking voice for the American auto industry's triumphs and challenges dominated the national media in the '80s and early '90s.

A natural huckster and fierce competitor with Italian roots and a penchant for cigars, vinyl car roofs and Greek-temple grilles, Iacocca defined the role of the imperial American executive -- first as president of Ford, then as CEO and chairman at Chrysler -- for much of the last quarter of the 20th century.

June U.S. sales at Hyundai and Fiat Chrysler rose, while Ford, Honda, Nissan, GM and Toyota fell as the industry recorded its sixth straight monthly decline. Still, the SAAR topped 17 million again.

The 2020 Chrysler Voyager is targeted at budget-conscious families and fleet customers. It replaces the Pacifica L and LX models and will be offered in three trim lines: L, LX and LXi.

Mazda captures the checkered flag to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 23, 1991, beating favored cars from Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar and becoming the first Asian automaker to win the legendary and oldest sports car endurance race.

Henry Ford and a group of investors formally launch Ford Motor Co., Ford's third attempt to create an automaker, in Detroit on June 16, 1903.