By what year had the majority of American-built automobiles begun to include speedometers as standard equipment?
Answer
1904
Following the pioneering adoption of the device in the 1901 Oldsmobile, the automotive industry saw a rapid transition in how speedometers were viewed. By 1904, the majority of American-built vehicles were factory-equipped with these devices. This quick shift, occurring over just a few years, demonstrates how rapidly the perception of the speedometer evolved from a novelty or luxury item into a necessary tool for the driver, driven by the clear benefits of increased control and the ability to measure performance and comply with the emerging need for speed management.
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