The automobile industry is one of the world’s largest industries. Its manufacturing, sales and repair services affect the lives of billions of people. It is the backbone of a new consumer-goods economy, providing one in six jobs. It is also the biggest buyer of petroleum and steel, and a major consumer of ancillary products. It is responsible for significant changes in American society, especially since the 1920s.
Automobiles are wheeled passenger vehicles designed to run primarily on roads and carry one to seven people. They are driven by an internal combustion engine that uses gasoline, diesel fuel or kerosene. They can be driven by a single or multiple drivers. Automobiles are manufactured by an extensive network of companies worldwide.
An automobile can travel over many kinds of terrain, including city streets, rural highways and mountainous areas. Its speed depends on the design, size and weight of the vehicle, and its ability to maintain traction in various weather conditions.
The development of the automobile has been a long process. The first automobiles were powered by steam, electric power or a crank-and-rod system. A steam-powered vehicle was capable of moving at high speeds, but it required a lengthy time to start and limited its range. Electric cars were much faster, but they had a very short driving range and needed to be recharged frequently.
In 1885 Gottlieb Daimler fitted a four-stroke liquid-fueled engine to a horse carriage and called it a motor car, although it had several other innovations. In the late 19th century, Emile Levassor and Armand Peugeot of France developed a series of vehicles with Daimler engines. These were the first automobiles in mass production. Henry Ford introduced mass production techniques in the 1920s, enabling the development of cheaper automobile models. These were marketed as “move-up” cars by allowing consumers to purchase more expensive models as their incomes increased.
Most of the world’s automobiles are driven by internal combustion engines, which burn gasoline, diesel fuel or kerosene. The explosion in the cylinder propels the piston down and drives the wheels of the car, creating kinetic energy. This energy is transferred to the car’s axles by gears.
Automobiles have made people’s lives easier. They have provided a way to get around more quickly and conveniently than before, and they allow us to spend more leisure time with our families. However, they can cause pollution when too many are used in a small area. Traffic congestion can make them slow or even stop, and the vehicles may be damaged in accidents. Some cities have public transportation systems such as buses, trains (steam-powered, diesel-powered or monorail), trams and subways, which are better alternatives to the automobile in most cases. In addition, they help reduce the use of fossil fuels. This reduces global warming and energy consumption. It also helps reduce dependence on foreign oil. In the United States, the average commute takes only about 30 minutes, thanks to automobiles. This is a big improvement over the hours spent traveling by bus or train.