Automobiles are road vehicles that are designed for carrying passengers. They usually have four wheels and are powered by an internal combustion engine. They are used to transport people over long distances. They can be driven by one person or multiple people. There are many different types of automobiles, but all of them have certain characteristics in common. They are built to be safe for passengers and drivers, they can seat between one and eight people, and they have an engine that makes them move.

The term “automobile” derives from the Greek word for “self-moving”. Automobiles have engines that use fuel to produce energy and turn the wheels of the vehicle. Some automobiles have electric motors, but most are gasoline-powered. Gasoline, also called petrol in some countries, is the most common type of fuel for automobiles. Other common fuels include diesel, kerosene and propane. Automobiles can be built to be quiet or noisy, and they can have different styles of bodywork.

Having your own automobile is a great convenience for anyone who has to travel long distances to work or school. It can save you money on taxis and bus fares. Having your own car can also allow you to avoid traffic jams by leaving earlier or later than everyone else. It can also allow you to take alternate routes if there is construction or an accident that is causing a traffic jam.

Automobiles have a number of systems that help them run smoothly. They have brakes that make them stop quickly in emergencies, and they have tires that can grip the road to keep the car from skidding. They also have air conditioning, heaters, and radios to keep the passengers comfortable. Some modern cars also have traction control and electronic stability controls to improve safety.

The first modern automobiles were developed in the 1800s, but they did not become widely available until 1908. In the beginning, most automobile companies were small shops that produced only a few handmade cars. Most of them abandoned the business soon after they started. Some, such as Opel in Germany and Morris in Britain, were makers of bicycles; others, like William Durant’s General Motors, had previously been builders of horse-drawn vehicles.

In the early 1900s, Ford revolutionized automobile production by using an assembly line. He hired workers to do only one job, and parts for the cars passed through a conveyor belt. The assembly line allowed the company to produce cars at a much lower cost than its competitors could. By the 1920s, Ford, GM and Chrysler had become the largest automobile producers in the world. Other manufacturers, such as Renault and Volkswagen, became major producers in Europe and Japan. The automobile has a huge impact on the world, and its history is fascinating to learn about. It can be dangerous, though, when the driver isn’t careful. In the United States, there are more than 300,000 people killed or injured in crashes involving automobiles each year.