The first automobiles were produced in the late 19th century but the automobile industry became a significant employer and an economic force only after the Second World War, when national economies began to be rebuilt. With the end of the war, the industrial production and manpower that had fuelled the war effort were deployed to rebuild infrastructures and provide people with the consumer goods that were not available economy experienced a sharp downturn in 2001, which lasted well into 2003 when some signs of acceleration were experienced, especially in the US economy.

Мне кажется, здесь какая-то несогласованность. Может, конечно, я что-то не так поняла. Мой перевод:
В конце войны промышленное производство и рабочая сила, обеспечивающая работу для нужд фронта, были переброшены на восстановление инфраструктуры и обеспечение населения потребительскими товарами, которые не были доступны, экономика переживала сильный спад в 2001 году, продлившийся до 2003 года, когда наметилось ускорение роста экономики, особенно экономики США

With the end of the war, the industrial production and manpower that had fuelled the war effort were deployed to rebuild infrastructures and provide people with the consumer goods that were not available.

(...)

... economy experienced a sharp downturn in 2001, which lasted well into 2003 when some signs of acceleration were experienced, especially in the US economy.

economy experienced
экономика пережила/испытала