An automobile is a wheeled vehicle that uses an engine to move. It is usually powered by petroleum and it can also be gas or electric. It is a major means of transportation for many people. There are about 1.4 billion cars in operation worldwide. This includes those that are used for personal and commercial purposes. The automobile has revolutionized many aspects of human life. It has opened up new areas of economic growth and helped to increase productivity in many ways. It has allowed people to move around more quickly and easily, and it has made it possible for people to visit distant places. The automobile has also had a positive impact on social life. People can use their automobiles to go shopping, work or school. They can also use them to travel to social events and visit friends or family members.
The scientific and technical building blocks for the modern automobile go back several hundred years. The internal combustion engine, invented by Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens in the late 1600s, gave rise to the modern automobile. Early automobiles were fueled by steam, electricity and gasoline. Steam engines could reach high speeds but had a limited range and were difficult to start. Electric cars were faster but could only be driven short distances, and they needed time to recharge. Gasoline-powered cars were easier to start and had a larger range than other vehicles but they burned more fuel.
During the first decade of the 20th century, more and more Americans could afford to buy an automobile. This was partly due to cheaper raw materials and a much greater population density than in Europe. The automobile became very popular in the United States and spawned many industries that supported it, including a demand for vulcanized rubber and road construction. There were also a number of technological innovations that made cars more efficient and convenient, including self-starters, closed all-steel bodies and heaters.
At the same time, however, it was becoming apparent that a large percentage of the market was already saturated with standardized models. The automakers responded by reducing the number of options available to customers and focusing on selling quality vehicles at reasonable prices. In 1913, Henry Ford began producing cars on an assembly line, where workers remained in one place to do a specific task while the car parts passed by on a conveyor belt. This method of production allowed the manufacturers to produce many cars quickly and cheaply.
As the world’s supply of oil dwindled, some countries stopped shipping as much to other nations. This caused shortages and long lines at gasoline stations. It also made some automobile companies work to develop vehicles that did not consume as much petroleum. Japanese companies were especially successful at this. They also developed a reputation for quality and reliability. In the late 1950s, compact European cars like the Volkswagen Beetle brought a new sense of style and efficiency to the American marketplace.