Automobiles are vehicles that use an engine or motor to move. They usually have four wheels and can carry people. They are more powerful than a bicycle or a horse. Most automobiles burn gasoline or diesel fuel to power the engines. The engine uses the fuel to make a piston move up and down. The piston’s motion turns the wheels to make the car go forward or backward. Most cars are also equipped with a brake to stop the car. Some alternative-fuel automobiles run on biofuel or batteries.
The first modern automobiles were developed in the early 20th century. In 1901, German inventor Gottlieb Daimler and engineer Karl Benz created the world’s first gas-powered motorcar—a sleek, four-wheeled machine that could travel up to fifty-three miles per hour. By comparison, Ransom E Olds’ 1901-1906 one-cylinder, three-horsepower automobile looked and acted like a motorized horse buggy. It cost about $650, putting it within the reach of middle-class Americans.
By the 1920s the automobile had become a central force in American life, and the automotive industry was one of the biggest employers in America. It also helped drive changes in society. It revolutionized the economy by helping people buy consumer goods. The automobile was a huge customer of the petroleum and steel industries, and it made many other industrial products more popular.
Today, the auto industry is one of the largest in the world. It produces more than 63 million cars and trucks each year. Most are made in the United States. The majority of those are passenger cars. Some are made in Europe, Japan, China, and India. Other countries produce smaller numbers of cars and trucks.
Although there are many benefits of owning an automobile, it has some disadvantages too. Accidents can hurt or even kill people. Traffic congestion can slow down cars. The air pollution caused by so many automobiles can harm people’s health and help cause global warming. Automobiles need to be maintained regularly to keep them running well.
Some people have trouble affording an automobile, so they use public transportation. Buses, trains (steam-powered, diesel-powered, monorail or light rail), trams and subways can get people to where they need to go faster and cheaper than a car.
The automotive industry includes the manufacturing, wholesaling, retailing and maintenance of motor vehicles. It is not a formal North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) sector but it provides important economic information. The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks employment, production and sales in the automotive industry. These figures are not available for all countries. The global production of automobiles is a significant source of foreign exchange earnings. Some of this money comes from exports of oil, and some of it is earned by the workers in the automotive industry. Other foreign earnings come from sales of parts and components. The industry also generates tax revenues for local governments. It is one of the most important sources of jobs worldwide. In addition to the direct employment in the manufacturing of automobiles, the industry supports other occupations that work with cars and trucks.