An automobile is a motor vehicle that runs mostly on roads, has four wheels and seats one to eight people. Often it is powered by an internal combustion engine using gasoline. Automobiles are complicated machines, and their systems work together to power the car, control it and make it comfortable for passengers. The body of the car is usually made from steel, although some cars are also made of fiberglass or other strong plastics. Today there are many different types of cars, from the small two-door coupes to the taller minivans. Some cars are designed to be very fast, while others are built to be fuel efficient and safe.
The automobile revolutionized the world in a way that is hard to imagine without it. It enabled a vast majority of the population to travel long distances, and opened up the world for commerce, recreation and exploration. In addition, it created millions of jobs in the industry itself and even more at gas stations, restaurants and hotels that serve automobile travelers. The automobile is arguably the most important invention of the 20th century.
In the early 1900s automobile design was driven by innovation and competitiveness among European manufacturers. The 1901 Mercedes was the first truly modern motorcar, with a lightweight chassis, aerodynamic body and powerful, highly efficient engine. Its performance and sophistication were a dramatic contrast to Ransom E. Olds’ one-cylinder, three-horsepower, tiller-steered, curved-dash Oldsmobile of 1904.
The American economy and geography created a much greater demand for automotive transportation than in Europe. The lack of tariff barriers encouraged sales over a vast area and cheap raw materials and labor promoted mechanization. Inventors such as Henry Ford pioneered modern mass production techniques that reduced the price of his Model T runabout to below the average annual wage in America and made it affordable for middle-class families.
Postwar automobile development slowed due to market saturation and technological stagnation, as well as the huge profits that automakers made on their gas-guzzling “road cruisers.” Problems also arose over environmental pollution and dwindling world oil reserves. Engineering was subordinated to the questionable aesthetics of nonfunctional styling and quality deteriorated to the point that by the mid-1960s American-made cars had an average of twenty-four defects per unit.
Almost every country in the world now has an extensive network of highways that connect cities and towns and allow people to easily travel long distances. In addition, there are thousands of miles of local roads and streets that provide access to rural communities, businesses and natural attractions. The automobile has become the dominant mode of transport in most countries, and is responsible for a large part of the global economy. However, it is also associated with a number of problems, including the deaths of millions of people in traffic accidents and the pollution of air and water. In order to minimize these problems, governments regulate road usage and set speed limits. Also, safety features such as airbags and seat belts are required in most countries.