Automobiles are self-propelled vehicles that travel on roads. Most modern automobiles use a fuel to power an internal combustion engine that drives the wheels. Cars are often fueled by gasoline, but other types of fuel, such as natural gas and diesel, are also used. Automobiles can carry both passengers and cargo, making them versatile forms of transportation. Having a car gives individuals the freedom to take spontaneous trips and to travel to places that public transportation may not reach.
The automotive industry is one of the largest and most diversified in the world. It is a key contributor to the global economy and is responsible for providing jobs in many sectors, including manufacturing, distribution, and service. The United States is the world’s largest car producer and exporter, and the country is home to a large number of major auto-related companies. The United States has more than 206 million registered cars, and most households own one or more of them. The country’s roadways are filled with automobiles traveling more than three trillion miles each year.
The scientific and technical building blocks of the modern automobile go back several hundred years. In the late 1600s, Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens developed a type of engine sparked by gunpowder that he called a “horseless carriage.” The first steam-powered automobile was built by Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot in 1769. Other manufacturers produced steam-powered cars during the 1890s and early 1900s, but they were heavy and only able to go at low speeds. Manufacturers began to experiment with other fuel sources, and the 1901 Mercedes Benz Motorenwagen is considered to be the first modern automobile in its basic design. Its thirty-five horsepower engine weighed only fourteen pounds per horsepower, and it achieved a top speed of fifty-three miles an hour.
With the introduction of mass production techniques, such as the assembly line, U.S. automotive manufacturer Henry Ford revolutionized the automobile industry in the 1910s. His methods reduced the price of his Model T so that middle-class families could afford it. Other manufacturers soon followed suit and the car became the dominant form of personal transport in most countries.
In the late 1950s, European compact cars such as the Volkswagen Beetle caused a sensation in the United States. As a result, the automobile industry began producing compact cars of their own. Eventually, the American market was saturated with hundreds of different makes and models of cars.
Most automobiles use gasoline, which is a fossil fuel that is obtained from oil. As the United States grew more dependent on imported oil, the cost of gasoline increased and long lines at gas stations formed. The high prices and shortage of petroleum forced the automakers to develop automobiles that did not use as much gasoline. In addition, the oil-producing nations began to cut back on shipments of oil. As a result, the demand for alternative fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel has grown. Some companies have even started manufacturing cars that run on electricity.