Automobiles are four-wheeled vehicles designed for transporting people over roads. They are powered by internal combustion engines using a volatile fuel and come in many different shapes and sizes to meet specific consumer needs and preferences. The automobile has become a complex technical system with several subsystems designed to perform specific functions such as safety, comfort, and energy efficiency.
Automobile production began in the late 1800s in France and Germany, but American manufacturers came to dominate the industry in the 1920s. Henry Ford innovated mass-production techniques that became standard, and Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler emerged as the “Big Three” auto companies. During World War II, manufacturers funneled their resources into military production, but after the war automobile production in Europe and Japan soared to meet growing demand.
OPENS THE WORLD: When you own an automobile, it opens up your travel possibilities and gives you more freedom to choose where you want to live in relation to work, social activities, and family. Without a car, it can be difficult to travel long distances to work or visit friends. With a car, however, you can go anywhere in a matter of minutes.
TRANSPORTS PEOPLE AND GOODS: Besides transportation of people, automobiles also carry goods like food and clothing. They are also used for delivering packages and mail. Automobiles are available in a wide range of sizes, from small cars to minivans, which can accommodate seven or more passengers. They are made from a variety of materials, including steel and aluminum. They also come with a variety of options and accessories, such as power windows, power locks, air conditioning, and heated seats.
THE AUTOMOBILES OF TODAY: There are more than 590 million passenger cars worldwide, with about 140 million in the United States alone. The automobile is now the dominant mode of transportation, resulting in the growth of ancillary industries such as gasoline and oil stations, rubber, and plastics, and providing employment for many people. The automobile is now the most common way to get around, even in large cities, where public transport systems have been largely eliminated.
The modern automobile is a technological marvel, with an array of innovations, such as the self-starter, closed all-steel body, hydraulic brakes, and syncromesh transmission. It is also one of the most advanced consumer goods in history, with a myriad of features that allow owners to customize their vehicles to match their tastes and lifestyles.
The automobile is a force for change that has helped transform America into a culture of consumerism and an international powerhouse in the fields of technology, commerce, and culture. It has brought changes in society and government, and is now morphing into new forces that are transforming the American way of life. This period has been called the Automobile Age and is blending into an Electronic Age. The Automobile Age will be remembered as a time when Americans went from being homesteaders to becoming true mobile consumers. The American automobile has influenced many aspects of the culture, such as movies, music, and architecture.
