Automobiles are vehicles used for transporting passengers or cargo. Cars are powered by internal combustion engines fueled most often by gasoline (petrol). An automobile has four wheels and can be driven by a human operator using pedals to control the motion of the vehicle and a steering system to guide it. Automobiles are a vital part of many people’s lives, and they help move the economy and improve people’s quality of life. They are used for work, school, shopping, and entertainment. They also provide freedom to travel where you want, when you want. The development of the automobile is a major milestone in the history of modern technology.
The first cars were steam-powered, and there were a variety of them in use during the first half of the 19th century. Emile Levassor and Armand Peugeot of France built vehicles with engines that were based on the designs of German inventor Nikolaus Otto. Otto had patented his design in 1878, and by the end of the year Levassor and Peugeot were producing automobiles with them.
Karl Benz of Germany built his first three-wheeled automobile, the Patentwagen, in 1885. It was a prototype for his later four-wheeled motor car. The automobile revolutionized the way people live in the United States and other countries. As the price of automobiles dropped and roads were developed, people drove their cars away from city centers to live in suburban areas. In many cases, these families bought their own houses surrounded by yards with green grass and trees. In other cases, cities and towns merged into larger suburbs.
Today, there are more than 73 million automobiles in use worldwide. Most are manufactured in industrial plants in the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, China, and Europe. Several other nations are in the process of developing their own automobile industries.
Despite the enormous success of the automobile, it still faces challenges. Automobile accidents cause serious injuries and death. Some of these are caused by human error, such as when a driver turns or brakes too fast, or when a tire loses traction during braking or turning. Others are caused by mechanical problems, such as when a wheel or axle breaks. The most dangerous type of automobile accident is when a car collides with an object or pedestrian.
The most significant reductions in deaths and injuries from automobile accidents have come from safety improvements. Seat belts, which are required in some countries to be worn by all occupants, have dramatically reduced deaths and injuries. Airbags, which are deployed when the sensors detect that a collision is about to occur, have also been extremely effective. Structural changes, such as side-impact protection bars in the doors, have further reduced deaths and injuries.
A robust automotive industry is critical to a strong American economy. The manufacturing of automobiles supports a total of 9.7 million direct, indirect, and induced jobs in the country. This equates to nearly 5 percent of the private-sector workforce in America.