Automobiles are self-propelled vehicles used for travel. They usually run primarily on roads, have seating for one to eight people and four wheels. They are powered by an engine that may use gasoline or a special fuel, or they can be powered by electrical energy stored in batteries. In the United States, automobiles are the most widely used mode of personal transportation. They are the lifeblood of a vast number of ancillary industries such as steel, petroleum and rubber and provide jobs for millions of Americans. The automobile has revolutionized society and culture, spawning new industries and promoting new leisure activities such as recreational sports and fast food restaurants.

The automobile was first invented in the late 1800s and then perfected in Germany and France by engineers such as Karl Benz. In America, Henry Ford revolutionized manufacturing, enabling mass production and making the automobile affordable for middle class families. Throughout the twentieth century, the automobile dominated American industry and politics, becoming the backbone of a consumer goods-oriented society. It ranked first in the value of products produced, provided one out of six jobs and was the biggest customer of many ancillary industrial industries. It was also a major source of air pollution and drained dwindling world oil reserves.

COVER LONG DISTANCES

With a car, you can drive to far away places without the need for a bus, train or plane. This is especially useful when you are going to visit family and friends who live a long distance from your home. It can save you time and money because it allows you to go on trips, buy things at the mall or simply get around town with ease.

FLEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULES

Owning an automobile lets you have the freedom to choose your own schedule. If you have a car, you can drive to meetings, take clients out to lunch or visit your children at school whenever you want, regardless of whether other people are available to do so. You can even make quick trips across town in just a few minutes.

HIGH SPEED

With the advent of automobiles with improved engines and transmissions, drivers can go much faster than they could have previously with old cars. As a result, driving an automobile can be quite enjoyable. If you like speed and adventure, then this is definitely a mode of transportation for you.

LOWER FUEL CONSUMPTION

In the postwar period, engineering was subordinated to questionable aesthetics and nonfunctional styling in the pursuit of higher unit profits. As a result, America’s once-stellar reputation for producing high-quality, functionally designed, well-built automobiles was gradually eroded, and the market was penetrated by German and Japanese manufacturers with low-cost, fuel-efficient models.

The automotive industry is undergoing unprecedented change. Technology is evolving at a dizzying pace, and the automobiles of the future will probably be more environmentally friendly and less expensive to own and operate than those of today. These changes are sure to affect the way people use automobiles and the ancillary industries that support them.