Automobiles are the most commonly used vehicles for getting around in our society. They are used in cities, towns and rural areas where it is too far to walk or where there is no public transportation. Almost all cars have four wheels and an internal combustion engine. Trucks, vans and buses are also automobiles.
Having a car gives you independence. You can travel where you want, when you want without relying on others for a ride. It can save you a lot of time and money by avoiding traffic jams and parking problems. It can also allow you to avoid rush hour commuting and work from home on days when road construction or accidents are causing delays. It can also give you the freedom to take advantage of economic opportunities that require personal transportation such as courier or delivery services.
While many people would list the automobile as one of the top inventions of all time, it does have some negative aspects too. Millions of people die in automobile accidents each year and cars pollute the air that we breathe. And they consume a great deal of fuel which is becoming increasingly scarce.
The history of the automobile began in the 19 th century with the invention of the internal combustion engine by Nikolaus Otto, Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz. The first gasoline-driven engines were produced in Germany, and later in the USA. Henry Ford revolutionized the automobile industry in the 1920s by using the assembly line – workers do only one task and parts move along a conveyer belt.