Automobiles are a type of vehicle used for transportation. The term automobile means “self-moving” or “automobile”. They are usually four-wheeled vehicles that have their own motors to make them move.
Cars can be made in many different types and sizes, for different people. Some of the most common types include coupes, sports cars, vans and buses.
The modern automobile is a complex technical system consisting of thousands of subsystems with specific design functions that have evolved over time from breakthroughs in existing technology or new technologies such as electronic computers, high-strength plastics and new alloys of steel and nonferrous metals. The major subsystems of an automobile include the body, chassis, engine, drivetrain, control systems and emission control systems.
BACKGROUND: The automobile is one of the most significant inventions of the 20th century. It has revolutionized the way we travel and has connected us with each other in a way that was never possible before. The economics of owning a personal automobile, however, are very complex. They involve a wide range of costs, including fuel, repairs, depreciation, parking fees and tires.
They also contribute to air pollution, if they are used in large numbers. Public transportation such as trains, trams and subways can help reduce traffic congestion and slow down the pace of automobile use.
In some countries, car ownership is a privilege reserved for the wealthy. The automobile was not widely available until Henry Ford pioneered the process of mass production in the United States.
The history of the automobile is a long and complicated one. Early accounts of the invention often credit Karl Benz as the inventor, but other engineers in Germany worked on automobiles at the same time.
A number of other engineers and designers were responsible for the evolution of the automobile and its various styles. For example, German-Austrian inventor Siegfried Marcus built a motorized handcart in 1870. He did not go beyond this stage of development, though he produced about thirty cars between 1886 and 1900.
Historically, the automobile is a product of a complex socioeconomic environment, where the economics of owning and running a vehicle were influenced by social, political and cultural factors. These influences included the availability of roads, land use restrictions and safety laws.
It has also been shaped by changes in the economy and population size over the past several centuries. The automobile industry has grown in recent decades to become a global enterprise, dominated by American firms.
Some of the most significant innovations have been in safety, including specialised child restraint systems and the addition of airbags. Other innovations include structural changes such as side-impact protection bars in doors and side panels to mitigate the impact of collisions with other vehicles or pedestrians.
The automobile has also changed society by providing a means of transport to people who could not otherwise afford it. It has also freed up people’s time and allowed them to spend more time with their families, friends and hobbies.