Automobiles are vehicles with four wheels that are powered by an internal combustion engine, which uses gasoline, diesel, or kerosene to turn the wheels and move forward. These machines are a main source of transportation for people and goods throughout the world. An automobile can be a luxurious cruiser, a family station wagon, or a sleek sports car. Many people use their cars to get to work, school, or shopping centers. Others use them to travel to family or friends in other cities. People who own automobiles can avoid the costs of fares and the inconveniences of having to wait for buses and trains. An automobile is also a symbol of independence and freedom.
The automotive industry is one of the largest consumers of steel, aluminum, and petroleum. It is a vital employer in most countries. In the United States, it provides a quarter of all jobs and contributes trillions of dollars to the economy.
The origins of the automobile go back several hundred years. Christiaan Huygens invented a type of gunpowder-powered internal combustion engine in the seventeenth century that could propel a cart or carriage at high speeds. By the end of the nineteenth century, a few steam- and electricity-powered automobiles were being produced. These vehicles, however, had a limited range and required lengthy stops to recharge.
Karl Benz is credited with creating the first practical gasoline-powered car in 1885. Other inventors and engineers followed with their own designs. The automobile was originally only for the wealthy, who customized their vehicles. In the early 1900s, American businessman Henry Ford revolutionized the automobile industry by using assembly lines to produce cars at a lower cost so that more people could afford them. The automobile became the backbone of a new consumer-goods society in the United States and around the world.
In the United States, automobiles stimulated participation in outdoor recreation and fueled the growth of tourism-related industries such as service stations and motels. They ended rural isolation and brought urban amenities, including better schools and medical care, to the countryside. They promoted suburban development and contributed to the growth of the modern city with its surrounding industrial and residential neighborhoods. They paved the way for the construction of highways, one of the largest items of government expenditure, which peaked with the 1956 completion of the Interstate Highway Act.
In recent decades, automobile manufacturers have offered hundreds of models to meet the needs and tastes of different consumers. With safety, emission of pollutants, and energy consumption all becoming major concerns, manufacturers are focusing on the production of functionally designed, well-built small cars that can achieve good fuel economy. This is changing the way that we drive and will hopefully reduce the number of cars that are sold each year.