Automobiles (also called cars) are four-wheeled motor vehicles that are primarily used for passenger transportation and propelled by an internal combustion engine running on a volatile fuel. Modern automobiles are complex technical systems comprising thousands of component parts with specific design functions. These subsystems have evolved from breakthroughs in research into high-strength plastics, new alloys of steel and nonferrous metals and advanced electronic computers.
The automobile revolutionized the way people live and work. It has prompted the development of new roads, highways and freeways and created numerous spin-off industries such as car dealerships, auto mechanics, insurance companies and gas stations. It also brought harm to the environment with its exhaust pollution and its draining of oil reserves. It has spawned new lifestyles as well, such as leisure activities like shopping and amusement parks.
Although the automobile was first perfected in Germany and France toward the end of the nineteenth century, Americans dominated the industry from the 1920s onward. During this period, Ford, General Motors and Chrysler established their positions as the Big Three automakers. Henry Ford innovated production methods to lower the price of his Model T, which allowed the middle class to afford an automobile. This and other technological advances enabled the automobile to become a dominant mode of transportation worldwide.
As the automobile became more prevalent, the demands on it increased as well. More people needed to be transported, and this led to the growth of the service industries that supported it. These included hotels, motels and restaurants. They also impacted urban design with the need for more streets and highways. The automobile brought new social problems, such as traffic congestion and the spread of disease from smog. It also brought legal and safety issues, such as seatbelts and highway rules.
By the 1960s, questions began to surface about the environmental aspect of the automobile; namely, its effect on world oil supplies and its pollution potential. The public also became concerned about the cost of driving an automobile, which sparked the growth of the Japanese car manufacturers who offered functionally designed, well-built cars at a much more affordable price.
The automobile is the primary mode of transportation for many families and has impacted all aspects of society. It is difficult to imagine a life without an automobile in today’s world. Despite its drawbacks, such as traffic jams and the need for parking spaces, it continues to dominate the global transportation industry. The future looks brighter with the advent of hybrid, electrical and autonomous automobiles. As these technologies mature, they may provide a cleaner, safer and less expensive alternative to the traditional internal combustion engine automobiles. These new models will also be more environmentally friendly and will help reduce the world’s dependence on fossil fuels. In the future, the automobile may be powered by renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. In addition, it is likely that more advanced fuel cells will be employed as the primary means of generating power for automobiles.