The automobile is a motor vehicle designed primarily for passenger transportation, usually propelled by an internal combustion engine fueled most often by gasoline (petrol in American English) and sometimes other petroleum products. It is one of the most universal of modern technologies, and is produced by one of the world’s largest industries. The modern automobile is a complex technical system incorporating subsystems with specific design functions.

The scientific and technological building blocks of the automobile go back many centuries. The first steam-driven automobile was built by Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot of France in 1769. By the late 1800s, manufacturers were producing cars that ran on gasoline and electricity. Gasoline-powered cars offered the advantage of greater range and speed than steam cars, which required a lengthy time for water to heat up before they could run. The development of the assembly line in the United States in 1913 enabled car production to increase greatly.

During the 1920s, the automobile became the cornerstone of a new consumer goods-oriented society in America and provided millions of jobs. It was the mainstay of a booming industry that included ancillary industries such as steel and petroleum, and helped revolutionize a number of other industrial processes. It also led to changes in urban and rural life, such as the growth of suburbs and the end of urban isolation of people living in the city.

Today the automobile remains a vital means of transport and its use is widespread around the world. It helps people get to work and school, shop and see friends. It stimulates participation in outdoor recreation and has spurred the growth of tourism-related industries such as restaurants and motels along highways. It has also led to the expansion of highways and roads, a major item of government expenditure.

A key feature of the modern automobile is its safety features. It is a very complicated machine with many systems that work together to power the automobile, control and steer it and make it comfortable for passengers. Some of the most important safety features include airbags, seat belts and padded interiors.

Automobiles can be made in a variety of shapes and sizes, depending on the needs of the driver and passengers. The most common shape is a sedan or coupe, which has two doors and can hold up to four people. It is also possible to have a van or minivan that has up to three rows of seats and can carry eight or nine people. All modern cars have safety features that require passengers to fasten their seat belts before driving and to place children in special child seats.

The body of the car is made of steel or other strong materials. It protects the mechanical parts and keeps them protected from weather and other elements. The body of the car also includes the hood, trunk and fenders that cover the wheels. It can be painted or covered with plastic or fiberglass to match the owner’s preferences and personality.