Automobiles are a major industry that provides jobs and services to the entire economy. There are more than 590 million cars in use worldwide. They are made up of a number of parts and components such as chassis, bodywork, engine, transmission, electrical equipment and service devices. These are designed to make the vehicle run and perform as required. The automobile is a versatile mode of transportation that has many advantages to it. It allows you to get to work on time, and gives you the flexibility to go shopping when you need to. It also allows you to visit friends and family with ease. It is also a good way to travel long distances.
The first true automobile was built by Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot of France in 1769. This three-wheeled car was powered by steam. Steam cars were heavy and moved very slowly.
Henry Ford was a businessman and an engineer. He realized that by using an assembly line, he could produce more cars at less cost and make them affordable for the average person. He invented the Model T and revolutionized the automotive industry. This allowed more people to drive and boosted the economy. It also brought urban amenities such as hospitals, schools and restaurants to rural America. The automobile ended rural isolation and helped create the modern suburban lifestyle.
By the 1970s, the automobile was the dominant form of transportation in the United States. It accounted for a large percentage of the nation’s GDP. The automobile industry generated dozens of spin-off industries that provided millions of jobs. It was responsible for the development of highway construction, which became one of the largest items of government expenditure. It stimulated participation in outdoor recreation and led to the growth of tourism-related industries, including gas stations and roadside restaurants.
Engineers and scientists continue to work on improving the design, performance and safety of automobiles. New technology has been introduced, such as the electronic fuel injection system and computer controls. The automobile also has been made more environmentally friendly by reducing the amount of gasoline used and by developing cars that run on other fuel sources such as electric power.
Automobiles are a big consumer of energy and they contribute to air pollution and global climate change. They can cause problems when too many of them are driving in the same area at the same time. Traffic congestion can slow them down, and the emissions from the cars are thought to contribute to the greenhouse effect. There are other forms of transportation that can be used instead of the automobile, such as passenger trains and buses.
The era of the annually restyled, gas-guzzling American road cruiser ended in the early 1990s with the imposition of federal standards for safety and energy consumption; with escalating oil prices following the oil shocks of 1973 and 1979; and with the introduction of European compact cars such as the Volkswagen “bug” and the Japanese fuel-efficient, functionally designed and well-built small car.