Automobiles are motor vehicles that primarily carry people. Generally, automobiles have four wheels, seat one to eight passengers, and run on gasoline or other fossil fuels. Invented by Karl Benz and others in the late 19th century, they have transformed our society and culture. They are the primary mode of transportation for most Americans. In addition, they provide the means to get to work and other activities, and allow individuals to travel longer distances than ever before. The car also spawned new industries and services, including gas stations, hotels, restaurants, and roadside attractions. It also required the construction of roads and highways, which are now among the largest items of government spending.
The Automobile opened up a world that had never before been accessible to most people. It allowed people to live where they wanted, instead of having to rely on other people or public transportation systems. People could travel further distances, which increased job possibilities and allowed people to visit friends and relatives more frequently. People could take more vacations, which increased their quality of life. During the 1910s and 1920s, the automobile enabled women to start careers outside the home. This societal change gave women more personal freedom, as well as the ability to vote and speak out about social issues. Women even drove around with “votes for women” banners on their cars.
Automobiles helped to develop cities, which grew into industrial centers with high-rise buildings and urban conveniences such as hospitals, schools, and shopping. It also ended rural isolation, and allowed suburban living and industry to expand into areas far from main urban areas. The automobile was an important part of the Great Depression, during which it provided a source of employment for many Americans. It also led to the development of the consumer economy and a new form of government, with laws and regulations on products such as seatbelts, safety features, and speed limits.
It was also an important part of World War II, during which automobile production and innovation slowed to a crawl as manufacturers focused on producing for the war effort. Postwar, the issue became less about nonfunctional styling and more about concerns about the environment, such as air pollution and a draining of world oil reserves, and economic aspects, such as rising gasoline prices.
The automobile is a very complex technical system consisting of thousands of parts that have specific design functions. Most of these are made from a combination of materials such as steel, aluminum, and plastics. Some of these components are manufactured in a factory setting using mass production methods and some are produced by hand. In either case, the resulting automotive assembly is a highly integrated system of interrelated and complementary subsystems that work together to create a functional vehicle. The modern automobile is a highly sophisticated technical system with advanced computer controls, high-strength steels and alloys, and high-performance plastics. It is designed to meet the needs of a wide range of consumers in diverse geographic and cultural environments.