Automobiles are a major force in society today, but they can be expensive and pollute the environment. The automobile industry provides jobs for many people and is one of the chief consumers of steel and petroleum products.
An automobile is a self-propelled vehicle used for transporting passengers and sometimes cargo. It consists of four to eight tires and is powered by an internal combustion engine. Automobiles have become the backbone of a new consumer goods-oriented society. Modern life is inconceivable without access to a car. The branches of engineering that deal with the manufacture and operation of vehicles are called automotive engineering.
Karl Benz invented the first modern automobile in 1886 and began selling it in Germany. The 1901 Mercedes was considered a superior model, but its design was too advanced to be affordable for the common man. It was the American, Henry Ford, who put the automobile within reach of the middle class. His production methods, which included using assembly lines, allowed him to sell cars cheaply.
Most automobiles burn fuel to make their internal combustion engines run, and they transfer that power to the wheels through a transmission. The most common fuel is gasoline (also known as petroleum or gas), but there are also cars that run on electricity and natural gas.
Many cities have public transportation systems such as buses, trains and trams that can get people to their destinations more quickly than automobiles in traffic jams. It is a good idea to consider these options when buying an automobile.