January 2
January 2
News breaks of rare Bugatti “garage find”
On January 2, 2009, media outlets report that a rare unrestored 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante Coupe has been found in the garage of a British doctor. A month later,…
A Year In History: 2009
This Year in History:
2009
Discover what happened in this year with HISTORY’s summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.
January 15
January 15
Pilot Sully Sullenberger performs “Miracle on the Hudson”
On January 15, 2009, a potential disaster turns into a heroic display of skill and composure when Captain Chesley Burnett Sullenberger III safely lands the plane he was piloting on…
January 18
January 18
GM auctions off historic cars
January 18, 2009, marks the final day of a week‑long auction in which auto giant General Motors (GM) sells off historic cars from its Heritage Collection. GM sold around 200…
January 20
January 20
Barack Obama is inaugurated
On a freezing day in Washington, D.C., Barack Hussein Obama is sworn in as the 44th U.S. president. The son of a Black father from Kenya and a white mother…
January 21
January 21
Toyota officially passes GM as planet’s biggest car maker
After more than seven decades as the world’s largest automaker, General Motors (GM) officially loses the title on January 21, 2009, when it announces worldwide sales of 8.36 million cars…
January 22
January 22
“Gran Torino” opens Down Under
On this day in 2009, “Gran Torino,” a movie named for the 1972 Ford muscle car, opens in Australia and New Zealand. The critically acclaimed film, which starred Clint Eastwood…
January 28
January 28
“Shuttin’ Detroit Down” debuts
The economic health of Detroit has long been linked to the auto industry. Nicknamed the “Motor City,” Detroit was the world’s fastest‑growing city between 1900 and 1930, according to an…
February 6
February 6
Honda Insight debuts as Prius competitor
On this day in 2009, the Honda Insight, billed as “the world’s first affordable hybrid,” goes on sale in Japan. Honda took some 18,000 orders for the car within the…
March 3
March 3
Super‑luxurious Maybach Zeppelin goes on sale
On this day in 2009, the uber‑luxurious Maybach Zeppelin sedan goes on sale, with a starting price of $523,870 for the Maybach 57 Zeppelin and $610,580 for the Maybach 62…
March 11
March 11
Toyota sells 1 millionth hybrid in U.S.
The Toyota Motor Company announces on March 11, 2009 that it has sold more than 1 million gas‑electric hybrid vehicles in the U.S. under its six Toyota and Lexus brands.…
March 29
March 29
White House ousts GM chief
On March 29, 2009, Rick Wagoner, the chairman and chief executive of troubled auto giant General Motors (GM), resigns at the request of the Obama administration. During Wagoner’s more than…
March 30
March 30
President Obama announces auto industry shakeup
On March 30, 2009, President Barack Obama issues an ultimatum to struggling American automakers General Motors (GM) and Chrysler: In order to receive additional bailout loans from the government, he…
April 3
April 3
“Fast & Furious” is top opening‑day car movie
In addition to the “Fast and the Furious” franchise, street racing has been depicted in such popular movies as “American Graffiti” (1973) and “Grease” (1978). The 1976 movie “Cannonball,” starring…
April 8
April 8
Somali pirates hijack Maersk Alabama ship
On April 8, 2009, the MV Maersk Alabama is hijacked off the coast of Somalia. The high‑profile incident drew worldwide attention to the problem of piracy, commonly believed to be…
April 9
April 9
Honda wins World Green Car award
On this day in 2009, the Honda FCX Clarity, a four‑door sedan billed as the planet’s first hydrogen‑powered fuel‑cell vehicle intended for mass production, wins the World Green Car award…
April 13
April 13
Former MLB All‑star Mark “The Bird” Fidrych dies in truck accident
On April 13, 2009, former Major League Baseball all‑star pitcher Mark “The Bird” Fidrych is found dead at the age of 54 following an accident at his Massachusetts farm involving…
April 18
April 18
Fifty‑year‑old Mark Martin wins NASCAR race
On this day in 2009, driver Mark Martin wins the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at the Phoenix International Speedway in Avondale, Arizona, and becomes the first 50‑year‑old to claim victory…
April 26
April 26
Chrysler and autoworkers’ union agree to a deal
On this day in 2009, Chrysler and the United Auto Workers (UAW) union reach a tentative deal that meets government requirements for the struggling auto manufacturer to receive more federal…
April 27
April 27
GM announces plans to phase out Pontiac
On April 27, 2009, the struggling American auto giant General Motors (GM) says it plans to discontinue production of its more than 80‑year‑old Pontiac brand. Pontiac’s origins date back to…
May 15
May 15
GE finally initiates cleanup of polluted Hudson River
After decades of environmental damage and legal wrangling, General Electric finally begins its government‑mandated efforts to clean the Hudson River on May 15, 2009. One of America’s largest and most…
