The automobile, or motor car, is a wheeled vehicle powered by an internal-combustion engine. The most common fuel is gasoline (or “gas” in American English). The automobile has a driver’s seat and usually seats two or three people. It is a common mode of transportation, but is also used to haul cargo. The term may refer to any passenger vehicle, but is most often applied to a sedan (four-door car) or station wagon, a convertible, or an SUV. Cars that are devoted primarily to carrying cargo are generally called trucks, vans, or buses.
It is a matter of dispute over who invented the automobile, but most historians agree that Karl Benz, a German engineer, developed his first prototype in 1885/1886. Other inventors produced automobiles during the late 1800s, but it was Henry Ford who revolutionized automotive manufacturing with the assembly line. This allowed him to reduce the cost of his Model T and make it affordable to middle-class families. This led to the automobile gaining widespread popularity.
During the 20th century, the automobile radically changed the way that people live and work. It accelerated urbanization and the growth of suburbia. It gave rise to leisure activities and brought services like motels, hotels, and service stations to towns and cities. But the automobile also increased traffic congestion and harmed the environment through pollution from exhaust. And it led to new government requirements such as safety features, highway rules, and drivers’ licenses.