While Henry Ford did not invent the automobile, his invention of the moving assembly line for the Model T revolutionized manufacturing. By breaking down the production of the car into simple, repetitive steps, Ford reduced the assembly time from 12 hours to just 93 minutes. This massive increase in efficiency allowed the price of the Model T to drop from $825 in 1908 to less than $300 by 1925, making car ownership accessible to the average middle-class family. This invention triggered the 'Automobile Age,' leading to the construction of national highway systems, the growth of suburbs, and a decline in public transit. It also established the 'Fordist' model of high-wage, high-production manufacturing that dominated global industry for much of the 20th century.