Automobiles are vehicles that run on internal combustion engines to drive the wheels. They may be powered by steam, electric power, or gasoline, and there are many different styles of automobiles. Whether they are luxury sports cars, classic convertibles, or family sedans, the automobile has become an integral part of everyday life in many countries around the world. Some of the major changes brought about by the automobile include increased personal freedom and economic growth. It also stimulated the development of ancillary industries that provided jobs, such as petroleum and steel. Today, it is estimated that more than 1.4 billion passenger automobiles are in operation worldwide. The United States alone drives about three trillion miles (about five trillion kilometers) per year.
In the early days of the automobile, the choice was between a steam car or an electric-powered vehicle. Both types had their advantages and disadvantages. The steam car could reach high speeds, but it was difficult to start, and the battery-powered electric car had a limited range. It was not until Emile Levassor and Armand Peugeot of France began to produce vehicles with Daimler engines that the automobile took on a more familiar form. Then, in 1908 Henry Ford introduced the assembly line and made the gas-powered Model T affordable to middle-class Americans.
Since then, the automobile has transformed the nation and the world. It has created a new class of business that specializes in automobile manufacturing, as well as numerous jobs for people who provide parts and services. It has also stimulated the growth of outdoor recreation, and led to the construction of roads that have made travel between cities much faster and easier than ever before. It has ended rural isolation, and brought urban amenities, such as better schools and medical care, to rural America.
The American automotive industry has been a pioneer in the development of industrial production, using the assembly line and marketing methods to quickly increase production. It has also been a major consumer of other industrial products, such as oil and steel.
Automobiles can be a source of pollution when too many of them are used in a small area, and the combined pollution from all the cars on the world’s roadways is partly to blame for global climate change. Several ways are available to reduce the number of automobiles, including making them more fuel-efficient and increasing use of public transportation systems such as buses, trains (steam, diesel-powered, or monorail), trams, and subways. However, the automobile remains one of the most important inventions in human history. Besides giving people more freedom, it has opened up new areas for commerce and recreation, and created millions of jobs. It has changed our lifestyles in many ways, and most of us would find modern living inconceivable without it. The automobile is a symbol of the American way of life, from its sleek design in the 1950s to its artful mid-century modern style. It has helped make the world a smaller place to live and enjoy, while providing people with more opportunities to get involved in their communities and society as a whole.