Car wash industry pioneer Leo Rousseau has been inducted into the Car Wash Hall of Fame by the International Carwash Association® (ICA). He received the honor posthumously in recognition of his place in history as the father of the first automated car wash machine, the ‘Minit Man.’ The award was presented today by ICA Board President Gary Dennis at The Car Wash Show™ 2014 in Chicago.
Rousseau developed the Minit-Man system, a five-step car washing production process that took the industry by storm after World War II. Prior to this, car washes, known as “automobile laundromats,” consisted of men washing the cars by hand as it was moved from station to station. The Minit-Man system revolutionized the industry by providing a chain conveyor, side brushes, a top brush, vacuums and blowers for $16,000.
“Given that the car wash industry is celebrating 100 Years of Car Washing in 2014, we thought it was fitting to recognize one of the industry founders,” said Eric Wulf, CEO of the International Carwash Association. “His invention literally spawned an industry.”
The 2014 Hall of Fame Award was presented in conjunction with The Car Wash Show 2014, the largest car wash event in the world, taking place March 31 to April 2, 2014, at McCormick Place. Cynthia Watson, granddaughter of Leo Rousseau, accepted the award on his behalf.
