An automobile, or motorcar, is a two or four wheeled vehicle that can carry people or cargo. Typically, the term is used to refer to a passenger vehicle. However, it is also used to describe any other type of car.
An automobile is a portmanteau of the French words auto and movere, which means “car,” or a mobile. It is a self-propelled machine that uses a gearshift to change its speed.
The first automobiles were created in the late 1800s. Early accounts credit Karl Benz with inventing the first true automobile. He built the world’s first three-wheeled automobile in 1885, and invented the spark plug, battery ignition system, and accelerator for speed regulation. In the next few years, he began producing his own vehicles.
The early 1900s were a great period for the automobile industry. A new breed of car manufacturers emerged, fueled by mass production techniques. One of these companies was the Ford Motor Company, which launched the Model T. Another was the General Motors Company.
After World War II, the auto industry soared in Japan. But the United States had a better economy, which encouraged the mechanization of industrial processes. With lower-cost raw materials, the automotive industry thrived in the US. This was a good thing because it helped manufacturers to compete with each other. By the 1980s, the automobile had become a global industry. Today, one-quarter of all passenger cars on the road are in the U.S.
Motorcycles are another class of motorized vehicles. They are self-propelled machines that can be customized to meet individual tastes. Some people even consider motorcycles to be automobiles. And while the term “automobile” is commonly used to refer to motorcycles, legal matters get a bit nitpicky.
As you can see, an automobile is a complicated technical system. It is comprised of thousands of components and subsystems. These include the frame, engine, body, drivetrain, fuel tank, transmission, tires, and brakes.
During the early 1900s, the United States was a leader in manufacturing the automobile, but it was Europe that perfected the first automobile. The automobile became popular in the United States because of a large consumer market and the absence of tariff barriers. Automobiles were affordable and plentiful, and the low labor costs made it easier for manufacturers to enter the market.
By the end of the 1920s, the automotive industry had become a major economic contributor to the American economy. During this time, the Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler corporations were the leading American automakers. There were 485 American companies involved in the motor vehicle business by the start of the new century.
The automobile industry has changed greatly since its beginnings in the early 1800s. Manufacturers have improved the safety and control systems, as well as the powertrains and emission-control systems. At the same time, the automobile industry has also adapted to changes in the environment. Vehicles are now produced using liquefied liquified petroleum gas (LPG) instead of gasoline.
