Automobiles, also known as cars, are wheeled motor vehicles that operate on roads and carry passengers and cargo. They are powered by internal combustion engines, electric motors or a combination of both. Automobiles are a vital component of the modern world and a leading force for change in twentieth century America. The industry ranked first in value of products and provided one out of every six industrial jobs in the United States, and it has become the backbone of a consumer goods-oriented society. It is the most important user of steel and petroleum and a major purchaser of raw materials. Its growth is the result of many economic, ecological, and geopolitical factors.
The scientific and technical building blocks of the automobile go back several hundred years. In the late 1600s, Christiaan Huygens invented a type of internal engine sparked by gunpowder. By the end of the nineteenth century Gottlieb Daimler, Karl Benz and Nicolaus Otto had developed motorcars with petrol-driven engines.
By the beginning of the twentieth century manufacturers had improved production techniques and the automobile became a mass-produced product. Henry Ford introduced the Model T in 1908. In a few short years, Ford greatly outpaced competitors in reconciling state-of-the-art design with moderate price.
Today, there are many different kinds of automobiles. Depending on their intended use, they are classified as family, sports, luxury, commercial or emergency cars. Any owner of an automobile will tell you that having a car saves them a great deal of time by getting them where they want to be, when they want to be there. The hours saved can be better spent on work, spending quality time with family and friends or just enjoying life to the fullest.