Machine-History.Com

This article from The Maine Motorist 1924 includes a list of all 48 states, D.C., and the amount of automobiles registered in 1922 verses 1923.

During 1923 Maine registered 106,847 automobiles and trucks, an increase of 16.5 per cent over 1922 when the registrations amount to 91,710. If this ratio is maintained it will mean that approximately 125,000 automo­biles and trucks will be listed with the Secretary of State during the present year.

While Maine's increase appears to be large, it is, nevertheless, extreme­ly small, and site is, in reality, eighth from the bottom of the list in the Na­tion, and is actually at the foot as re­gards the New England States. The states with-it had a lower percentage in gain in registrations (during 1923 were South Dakota. 5.2: Iowa, 8.1: Colorado. 8.3; North Dakota, 10.3: Nebraska. 11.2: Kansas, 14.8; and Idaho, 15.3.  The majority of these states are in the Middle West and just why they should drop off is some-what of a question. It is possible; however, that it may be due to the fact that they are reaching the point of saturation or, in other words, they have always stood well at the top of the list in the number of automobiles per capita, and, therefore, the number of persons able to buy new cars each year is rapidly becoming smaller.

This theory is, however, somewhat nullified by the fact that Arkansas, in this district showed the largest per­centage of gain in the country, 44.3 per cent. West Virginia was second, with 43.7 percent and Alabama third with 40.6.

It is interesting to note that the fourth greatest gain was by the New England state of Rhode Island, which records a 40 per cent increase. Of the other New England States, Connecticut is second with a gain of 28; percent: Massachusetts third with 25.2; New Hampshire fourth with 23.2 Vermont fifth with 22.5; and Maine last with 16.5. Just why states like New Hampshire and Vermont should show a greater gain Hula Maine is an-other interesting question for discusion.

The total registration of automobiles and trucks in the United States in 1923 was 15,221,183. This is an increase of 2,939,738 or 23.9 per rent over 1922 when the total was 12,281,445.  Nearly 90 percent of all of the world's motor vehicles are in the United States.

The year 1923 was a record breaker in the automotive industry, every state in the Union registering a gain in number (of cars in use. New cars produced totaled 4,114,000, an increase of 50 percent over 1922, the previous record year.  Four states now have more than one million cars.  New York is the leader, with 1,514,090: California is second, with 1,085,940: Ohio third, with 1,074,000; and Pennsylvania fourth, with 1,064,625.

It is interesting to note that there is now one motor vehicle for every seven persons in the United States, compared with one for every 70, 10 years ago. California has the most cars per capita, one for every 3.2 in-habitants. Were this average to be maintained throughout the country, it would mean almost 33 million automobiles in use.

The production of cars and trucks in 1923 was 4,014.000. Subtracting the increase in registration last year of 2,939,738, the result, 1,074,262 represents the approximate number of cars discarded during 1923. This would seem to indicate, therefore, that the average life of a car is seven years.

 
The State registration for 1922 and 1923, together with percentage of gain over 1922, are as follows:

         State       1923      1922     %Increase

• Alabama      126,642          90,052            40.6
•  Arizona       48,303           38,034             27.0
• Arkansas     125,000          86,614            44.3
• California    1,085,949      842,663            28.8
• Colorado     389.500       175,000                8.3
• Connecticut 191,647           149,659           28.0
• Delaware      29,977            24,560             22.1
• D.C.          105,680             85,425            23.7
• Florida       160,000            120,000           33.3
• Georgia      173,844            144,504           20.3
•  Idaho         62,030          53,807                  15.3
• Illinois          969,234           786,190            23.3
• Indiana            587,342           470,530          24.9
•  Iowa         540,120            499,446             8.1
•  Kansas         375,571         327,194            14.8
• Kentucky      197,151            153,500          28.4
• Louisiana       138,500           102,284           35.4
• Maine              106,847              91,710       16.5
• Maryland           208,934            162,570       28.5
• Massachusetts       483,150           385,840     25.2
• Michigan          728,327               578,980       25.8
• Minnesota         448,688             383,000         17.1
• Mississippi           104,350          75,470            38.2
• Missouri             475,028            388,699           22.2
• Montana              73,817              62,648            17.8
• Nebraska             285,488               256,651     11.2
• Nevada             15,700                12,847          22.8
• New Hampshire 59,840 48,576 23.2
• New Jersey 423,001 341,626 23.8
• New Mexico 32,000 25,473 25.6
• New York 1,214,090 1,002,293 21.1
• North Carolina 247,308 182,067 35.8
• North Dakota 109,244 99.100 10.3
• Ohio 1,074,000 859,000 25.0
• Oklahoma 318.000 250,444 26.7
• Oregon 166,323 134,566 23.6
• Penn. 1,064.625 829,737 28.3
• Rhode Island 93,124 66,500 40.0
• South Carolina 128,656 95,978 34.0
•  South Dakota 131,720 125,238 5.2
• Tennessee 175,000 135,745 28.9
• Texas 689,136 526,569 30.9
• Utah 66,000 49,156 34.3
• Vermont 53,623 43,881 22.2
• Virginia 222,237 169,000 31.5
• Washington 262,180 217,111 20.7
• West Virginia 216,000 112,752 43.7
• Wisconsin 452,717 388,044 16.7
• Wyoming 39,550 30,709 28.8
• Total 15,221,183 12.281.445 23.9

source: February-March 1924 The Maine Motorist