Automobiles are usually four-wheeled vehicles, designed primarily for passenger transportation and powered by an internal combustion engine using a volatile fuel. The automobile is a complex technical system, comprising many subsystems with specific design functions.
The modern automobile is a highly developed, technologically advanced vehicle. Its development has been driven by breakthroughs in electronic computer technology and high-strength plastics, along with new alloys of steel and nonferrous metals. It has become a major industry, with worldwide manufacturers competing to produce the best cars for consumers.
Karl Benz, a German engineer, invented the first automobile in 1885. Many inventors and engineers followed, and by 1910 the automobile was becoming more affordable for most people. In this period, Henry Ford revolutionized manufacturing by introducing the assembly line. This allowed workers to stay in one place and work on one part of the car at a time, so the cars could be made quickly and inexpensively.
Throughout the twentieth century, the automobile became a key force for change in American society. It helped the middle class grow and brought urban services to rural areas. It increased participation in outdoor recreational activities, which led to the growth of industries like hotels and restaurants. It also encouraged travel, which spurred the development of roads and highways. It created jobs and stimulated ancillary industries like the oil, gas, rubber and plastics industry.
Today, most Americans rely on the automobile for daily life, and it is hard to imagine what our lives would be like without them. A recent study found that Porsches hold their value the most, with the 911 coupe losing only 9% of its value after five years.