The automobile is a wheeled vehicle designed for transportation of passengers on a regular basis. Most definitions specify that automobiles are typically four-wheeled vehicles, powered by an internal combustion engine and usually fueled with a volatile fuel. Many automobiles are also equipped with a wide variety of convenience, safety and entertainment features that are designed to enhance passenger comfort. The automotive industry is a multibillion-dollar global enterprise. Its products are produced in dozens of countries and sold worldwide. In addition, many countries are involved in the development and production of automotive components. The automobile has changed the world in many ways, and modern life would seem inconceivable without it.
The first automobiles were steam-powered, but they progressively evolved into the gasoline-powered motorcar of today. The modern motorcar was perfected in Germany and France toward the end of the nineteenth century by Gottlieb Daimler, Karl Benz, Nicolaus Otto, and Emile Levassor. The 1901 Mercedes incorporated the most advanced design, but it was still considerably heavier and less powerful than Ransom E Olds’ horse-drawn, one-cylinder, three-horsepower 1904 Model T runabout.
Henry Ford revolutionized automobile manufacturing with his use of assembly lines, allowing him to produce cars at a price that made them affordable to middle-class Americans. The United States’ vast land area ensured a large buyer market and the absence of tariff barriers encouraged sales over a broad geographic region. Cheap raw materials and skilled labor also made American factories competitive with European ones.
Automobiles are now the most common type of road vehicle. They are used to carry people and cargo over long distances for work and play. They are primarily used for transportation, but they can also serve as a status symbol or a form of art. They can be powered by gasoline, diesel fuel or electricity. Most have a transmission that converts the power of the engine to the driving wheels.
The design of an automobile depends to a great extent on its intended purpose. Vehicles that are intended for off-road use need durable, simple systems with high resistance to severe overloads and operating conditions. The design should provide for clear visibility through well-placed glass areas to increase safety. On the other hand, vehicles that are intended for limited-access roads need a more comfortable interior and optimized high-speed handling characteristics.
Many different kinds of automobiles are available on the market, from economical subcompacts to luxurious sports models. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, but all of them are designed to transport people safely and comfortably. An automobile is a source of great pleasure when it is properly maintained and driven with care. It allows its owner to be spontaneous, to escape from the bustle of urban living and to visit rural areas. It can also be a burden when it is misused or driven recklessly. Automobiles are a major cause of air pollution, and the number of cars on the world’s streets contributes to climate change. Those living in urban areas often have access to public transportation such as buses (steam-powered, diesel-powered or electric), trams and trains.