Automobiles are one of the most common forms of transport. Today, automobiles are a global industry. Worldwide, 70 million new passenger cars are manufactured each year. They are primarily used for transportation of passengers and goods. Thousands of component parts are required to build an automobile.
Automobiles are usually powered by a gasoline-fueled internal combustion engine. An electric motor is also used. The design and use of an automobile depends on its intended purpose.
Motor vehicles were initially developed as bicycle-like contraptions. Early inventors such as Nicolas Cugnot and Samuel Brown were the first to test industrially applied internal combustion engines. However, adoption of motor vehicles was slow due to several factors.
Gasoline-powered automobiles had a relatively low price and could travel long distances. This made it possible for a middle-class family to own a car.
The automobile industry began to take off in the United States during the early part of the twentieth century. By the 1980s, it had become a worldwide enterprise. During this time, American manufacturing traditions helped lower the cost of automobiles, making them affordable to a wide range of consumers.
In addition to bringing new government requirements and highway rules, the automobile brought safety features, drivers’ licenses, and access to employment and places to live. It was a significant advance in human history.
The first automobiles were built in Germany. Carl Benz patented the Benz-Motorwagen in 1886. He then set up an assembly line to produce the vehicles.