An automobile is a machine for traveling on land, driven by the power of its own internal combustion of petroleum (gasoline) or electricity. It usually has four wheels, is designed to carry passengers, and equipped with control devices and service devices. The word “automobile” comes from the Greek words for self and move, meaning a vehicle that moves itself without any outside force. This is a very broad definition, and many different kinds of vehicles fit this description. Automobiles are an important part of society; the growth of America as an industrial powerhouse, for example, depended on the development of auto production and the automobile.
There are more than 1.4 billion automobiles in operation worldwide, and they travel over three trillion miles (5 trillion kilometers) each year. Most of these are passenger cars. Other types include trucks, buses, trams and trains.
Until the 19th century, most automobiles were powered by steam or electric power. Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot of France built a steam-powered automobile in 1769, but it was heavy and moved slowly. Other manufacturers made steam-driven cars in the late 1890s and early 1900s, but they did not have a large market share because they were expensive to operate and required a lot of time to start up.
Gasoline-powered automobiles began to appear in the 1920s, and by 1928 the industry had consolidated into a few major producers. During this period, automobiles became easier to operate and more comfortable. Steel bodies replaced wooden ones, and heaters were added. Many features were also introduced that make the modern car safer and more useful, such as electrical ignition and the electric self-starter (both developed by Charles Kettering for the Cadillac Motor Company in 1910-1911), power steering and brakes, and independent suspension.
Automobiles have become very popular, and there are hundreds of different models on the market. Some of them have been designed for specific purposes, such as sports cars and racing cars. Other kinds have been designed to meet a wide range of needs, including family cars and vans. There are also luxury cars, which are expensive and designed to be comfortable.
Specialized automobiles are designed for different purposes, such as crane cars at construction sites, road rollers in highway construction and fork-lift cars at ports. There are even emergency automobiles, such as fire engines and ambulances. With the advent of automobiles, people can travel great distances with relative ease, which opens up the world to more work opportunities and social possibilities. They can also visit distant friends and relatives more easily, and they can choose where to live without being limited by commuting times or the availability of public transportation. However, automobiles can also increase pollution, which is a concern in some places where air quality is poor. Automobiles can also create traffic jams if too many people use them at the same time, and they are not always safe to drive. This is why many cities have public transportation, such as buses, passenger trains and trams, to help people get where they want to go.
