Automobile sales figures, survey data, and the results of an automobile testing program entitled, “The Target Car Program”, were used to evaluate the shift toward a universal or “World” car -- a car that would fulfill the transportation needs of the average driver anywhere in the civilized world. The results of the evaluation indicate that a move towards the “World” car began in the United States in the early 1970's as the sales of full-size autos began to decline in favor of the smaller autos that are the standard in other areas of the world.