An automobile is a four-wheeled vehicle that is mainly used to transport people and goods. Automobiles can come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They are a technical system that has evolved over the years, using technology and safety legislation.
The first automobile was created in the late 1800s in Germany. The Daimler Reitwagen was created by Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach. It had a powerful engine and a top speed of around seven miles per hour.
After World War II, automobile production soared in Europe and Japan. Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler became the “Big Three” automobile manufacturers.
Motorcycles were also invented during this period. In 1867, a bicycle builder named Sylvester Howard Roper invented a similar machine.
Today, automobiles are a highly complex technical system with thousands of component parts. Manufacturers are devoted to improving the body, chassis, engine, and control systems.
Automobiles have become the most common form of transportation in the United States, with a large number of vehicles in use. Sales of automobiles increased from 304,062 in 1990 to 571,580 in 1995.
Approximately 70 million new passenger cars are manufactured worldwide each year. About half of the vehicles sold are produced by foreign manufacturers. Increasing numbers of people are using automobiles to travel the three trillion miles that Americans commute on a daily basis.
Automobiles are a vital part of modern society. They are the most prevalent form of transportation in the world. Vehicle ownership is increasing by about five to ten percent every year.