Automobiles are vehicles that are powered by an internal combustion engine and use a volatile fuel to move. They are primarily used for the transport of people rather than goods. Modern automobiles have four wheels and usually seat one to seven people. Automobiles are manufactured by many countries in the world and are the most common mode of transport for people. They have a variety of uses, including commuting to work and other places, running errands, visiting friends or family, going on vacation, and racing. They are also a symbol of status and power, which is why they are often modified with custom paint jobs and extras.
The automobile revolutionized transportation in the twentieth century by allowing people to go to and from work, shop for food and supplies, travel to work or school, and visit friends and family. Cars have become a fixture of modern life, and they are now an important part of the global economy. In fact, the United States produces more cars than any other country.
In the early twentieth century, automobile manufacturing accelerated to meet demand. Companies like Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz in Germany and Ransom Olds in the U.S. began making cars independently from each other. However, it was the Ford Motor Company that outpaced its competitors in reconciling advanced design with moderate price. The 1901 Mercedes, designed by Wilhelm Maybach for Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft, was credited with being the first modern automobile; it was an elegant and fast machine that weighed only fourteen pounds per horsepower.
By the end of the 1930s, market saturation combined with technological stagnation to slow automobile production and innovation. This was compounded by the fact that automakers were busy producing cars for World War II. Postwar issues included consumer concerns over the nonfunctional styling of American cars and their supposedly “gas guzzling” designs; rising questions about environmental pollution and oil consumption; and the growing penetration of foreign cars into the U.S. market, particularly the German Volkswagen Beetle and Japanese fuel-efficient, functionally designed and well-built small cars.
A modern automobile has a complex system of structural and mechanical parts. The main components include the body, which houses passenger and storage space; the chassis, or steel frame; the engine, which is powered by a gasoline, diesel, gas (balloon) or electric motor; and the drivetrain, which includes the wheels and transmission. In addition, there are numerous subsystems such as the steering and braking systems, electrical equipment and service devices.
The automotive industry is an essential component of the economy in most industrialized nations, and is a major contributor to jobs, trade and wealth. There are more than a hundred million cars worldwide, and they are the most widely used means of transportation. The car has several advantages over other forms of transport, especially trains and buses, which are slower, less reliable and less comfortable. In addition, cars offer the freedom to travel wherever and whenever you want, as long as you can afford it.