What Are Automobiles?
Automobiles are cars that use engines or motors to move. They are powered by gasoline (petrol) or diesel fuel. They are much faster than a bicycle or horse-drawn carriage and can carry more people. They can also go on roads that are too steep or rough for other wheeled transport. They can be driven by a person or by an automatic machine. Some are used as police cars, fire engines and ambulances. There are also special automobiles for carrying cargo, such as trucks and trailers.
OPENS UP THE WORLD: Having your own car means that you can go farther away from home than you can on foot or by bicycle, which opens up more work opportunities and allows you to be closer to friends and family. It also gives you the freedom to visit places on your own schedule rather than waiting for a bus or train to come by, and it can let you get to work more quickly.
SAVES TIME: Having your own car can save you time on things like going to the store, taking a trip to see family or visiting friends. Being able to drive short distances can also help you save money on gas and food. And having a car can even reduce your commute time and allow you to work from home more often.
SAFETY: Most modern automobiles have safety features that protect passengers in case of a crash, including seat belts, airbags and crumple zones. They are also designed to keep you safe from the weather and other road hazards. And because they are enclosed, they offer more protection than walking or riding a bike.
NEW TECHNOLOGY: Many manufacturers constantly develop better engines, chassis and transmissions. These improvements can increase speed, acceleration and fuel efficiency as well as improve handling, braking and safety.
AUTOMOBILITY: The car is an essential part of life in the developed world. It has made it possible for most of us to live in one place and work in another, and to have large social networks that span the globe. It is also a major source of pollution in cities, contributing to climate change and congestion. It is therefore important to keep developing ways to make them more environmentally friendly and safer to use.
The first automobile was a steam-driven model built by Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot in 1769. Throughout the 19th century, German manufacturers like Nikolaus Otto, Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz improved the internal combustion engine, making cars faster and easier to operate. By the end of the century, American companies like Ford and GM had become dominant. Ford innovated the moving assembly line, which makes one worker do a single task while parts pass on conveyor belts. By the time production stopped in 1927, 15 million cars had been sold. Since then, other countries have joined the world’s market for automobiles. Today the world has more than a billion of them. Most are privately owned. But there are also buses, passenger trains and subways that can take you to your destination more quickly and cheaply than an automobile when traffic jams are bad.
