Automobiles are a staple of the modern world. There are more than 1.3 billion cars in operation worldwide, a majority of them in the United States. The automobile has revolutionized the way we live, work and play by providing mobility and freedom of movement for individuals and families. In addition, the automobile has helped to develop new industries and services based around it. Historically, an automobile has been defined as a wheeled motor vehicle designed for passenger transport. It is usually powered by an internal combustion engine and has four wheels. It is often used as a means of ground transportation but can also be utilized on water or air.
The car is the most common mode of personal transportation in the developed world and has profoundly changed the lives of millions of people. Automobiles have also had a significant impact on the economy, culture and society of the countries in which they are used. In fact, the automobile was an integral part of America’s industrialization and growth in the 1920s and remains a vital component of a consumer goods-oriented society today.
Automobile technology has grown rapidly. It was primarily driven by the hundreds of small manufacturers that competed to be the first to introduce the next big thing. Many innovations were made, including electric ignition and the electric self-starter (invented by Charles Kettering for Cadillac in 1910-1911), independent suspension and four-wheel brakes.
In addition, automotive design and manufacturing methods have evolved as companies like Ford, GM and Chrysler implemented the assembly line and introduced more affordable models to middle-class Americans. The technical building blocks of the modern car go back several hundred years. Steam, electric power and gasoline engines were all tried before automobiles became a mass industry.
As the automobile grew in popularity, it spurred the development of roads and highways. It created jobs and supported a host of related industries, such as steel, oil and petroleum production, and rubber and other raw materials. It fueled leisure activities and brought new services to consumers such as restaurants and hotels. But it has also brought problems, such as environmental pollution and traffic congestion.
For many people, especially those living in rural areas, the automobile is their lifeline to the outside world and an important factor in maintaining a good quality of life. Without access to public transportation, life can become very difficult, even impossible. In cities with good public transportation systems, owning a car may not make much sense, but in sparsely populated areas, the automobile is still the best mode of transport available.
