Automobiles (also called cars) are motor vehicles designed to transport people and cargo. Most automobiles have four wheels, seat one to eight people and run on gasoline or diesel fuel. Some have electric motors. The automobile is one of the most important inventions in history. It has revolutionized transportation and the world economy. Modern life would be inconceivable without it.

The development of the automobile spanned several centuries. It began with the invention of the gunpowder engine by Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens in the late 1600s. During the nineteenth century, inventors such as Gottlieb Daimler, Karl Benz and Nicolaus Otto developed the first modern gasoline powered automobile. The development of the assembly line by Henry Ford enabled mass production and made automobiles affordable to most middle class families.

A car’s design depends largely on its intended use. Automobiles that are used off road must have durable, simple systems that can withstand severe overloading and extreme operating conditions. On the other hand, high speed highway driving demands better passenger comfort and optimized vehicle stability.

Besides transporting people and freight, automobiles have many other uses. They are widely used as recreational vehicles, for work and school, to visit friends and family, for tourism, shopping, and to make deliveries. Automobiles have also helped to develop outdoor recreation, including golfing and camping. They have spurred the growth of restaurants, motels and service stations. They have even changed the architecture of cities and towns by changing the layout of streets, bringing urban services like schools, libraries and hospitals to rural areas. They have ended rural isolation, allowing people to travel long distances for work and play. They have spawned industries that provide automotive parts and services, such as steel and machine tools. They have also prompted the construction of roads and highways, which were once the largest item of government spending.

Despite its many drawbacks, the automobile has dramatically changed society. It brought women into jobs, a movement for the right to vote and other social changes. It has stimulated participation in outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing and camping and sparked the growth of tourism and travel-related businesses, such as restaurants, hotels and tourist information centers. It has caused a decline in farming as more of the nation’s food is now grown in cities and towns, but it has brought urban amenities such as schools, medical care and recreation facilities to rural America. It has also caused a shift in economics, as manufacturing and the distribution of goods have become more concentrated in the United States. It has led to the development of a large domestic market and to the development of international trade. It has also prompted the growth of international competition from foreign car manufacturers, particularly Japan’s fuel-efficient, functionally designed and well-built small cars. The automobile has come to be viewed as an icon of American culture. It has shaped the country’s image as a technological leader, a powerhouse of industry and a symbol of freedom.