Automobiles are a class of four-wheeled vehicles for passenger transportation powered by internal combustion engines fueled by gasoline or other volatile fuel. They are among the most widely manufactured and popular of modern technology, with 1.4 billion cars in operation worldwide. Their design varies considerably according to their intended use. Off-road designs, for example, need rugged systems with high resistance to severe overloads and operating conditions, while automotive products designed to travel at high speeds on limited-access road systems require options for passenger comfort and optimized engine performance.
The invention of the automobile was one of the most revolutionary developments of the 20th century. It allowed people to leave home and go anywhere they wanted without relying on others or waiting for public transportation. It increased personal freedom and stimulated leisure activities such as recreation, tourism, and services like gas stations, restaurants, and motels. It also helped end rural isolation by bringing urban amenities, including schools, hospitals and shopping, to the countryside.
Henry Ford innovated modern mass production methods with his Model T at his Highland Park, Michigan, plant in 1910, and by the time he closed his plant in 1927, the United States had more people driving automobiles than any other nation. The large market encouraged many new firms to enter the industry, and demand grew rapidly as America’s huge land area made long distances accessible over a relatively short period of time.
The era of annually restyled, gasoline-guzzling “road cruisers” ended with government regulations on vehicle safety and emissions; rising oil prices; and the penetration of global markets by Japanese manufacturers of small, functionally designed, fuel-efficient automobiles. It is true that the automobile has a substantial impact on the environment in terms of air pollution, energy consumption, and the draining of dwindling world oil reserves. But it is also true that most of that impact is due to factors that are not under the control of most consumers.