Automobiles are vehicles that use an internal combustion engine to drive on the road. The first automobiles were steam or electrically powered, but gas-powered cars soon became the standard. They have been a vital part of modern life and allow us to take trips that were once impossible. The most common type of automobile is a passenger car. Other types include trucks, vans and special automobiles such as emergency vehicles.
The automobile is one of the most important inventions of the 20th century. It allowed people to travel more freely and to visit family and friends. It also spawned new industries and created many jobs. It is difficult to imagine what modern life would be like without the automobile.
Karl Benz, a German engineer, invented the automobile in 1885. He was followed by other engineers who designed different kinds of cars. But it was American businessman Henry Ford who made the automobile affordable for middle-class families. He revolutionized the way cars were made by developing the assembly line. This allowed him to turn out cars quickly and make them cheaper.
In the early 1900s there was a movement to give women the vote. The automobile helped this movement because it gave women the freedom to travel to voting locations and other places where they had not previously been able to go. Women also used their cars to campaign for votes by driving around with “votes for women” banners.
In the 1960s questions started to surface about the environmental impact of automobiles. These included the nonfunctional styling of American made cars and their fuel efficiency which was called “gas guzzling”.