Few inventions have had a larger impact on the modern world than the automobile. It has allowed people to connect with their communities in ways that were unthinkable before its invention, and it allows them to travel over long distances in a matter of minutes. This has opened up new possibilities for work, family, and social life.
Having your own vehicle allows you to reach places that would otherwise be inaccessible without one, and it also gives you the freedom to choose where you live in relation to your job or other important things in your life. This is particularly true in the United States, where a good portion of the population commutes to work or school each day by car.
The first automobile was built by Karl Benz and patented in Germany on 29 January 1886. Gottlieb Daimler later fitted a four-stroke engine to an existing horse carriage, and from then on automobiles were constantly improved and developed.
Automobiles must be able to carry the weight of their engines and all other systems within them, and they must also be flexible enough to absorb shocks and vibration. This is why they must be supported on a chassis which is strong enough to support the car, but which can be modified for different uses and road conditions.
The major parts of an automobile are the engine, the wheels and tires, the suspension system, the braking system, and the body. These are all designed to interact with each other and to respond to the many changes which occur while driving a car.