Automobiles are vehicles designed to transport people and things over long distances. They use gasoline, diesel fuel or kerosene to work. The engine of an automobile uses the chemical energy of the fuel to create mechanical work and turn the wheels. In the early 19th century, some of the first automobiles were powered by steam. These were slow and expensive to operate. Later, electricity became a popular alternative power source for automobiles. Its advantages included being quieter than petrol and not requiring an oil change. However, electric cars also had a limited range and recharging stations were scarce. The modern automobile is primarily driven by an internal combustion engine. It burns a mix of air and fuel (petroleum or diesel) and the resulting chemical energy turns the crankshaft to move the car’s wheels.

The automobile revolutionized many aspects of human life. It brought more personal freedom to those who could afford it, including access to jobs and leisure activities. It also shaped the way we live, as suburbs sprung up around urban areas and families moved away from city centers to new homes in the countryside. The automobile also created a huge variety of spin-off industries. Its demand for vulcanized rubber created hundreds of small businesses that produced such items as inner tube repair and tire-changing tools. Automobiles sparked demands for highway construction and safety regulations like seatbelts. It also increased the number of family vacations, which led to the rise of tourist attractions and fast food restaurants.

Before the advent of the automobile, traveling even a few miles took hours. The automobile allowed people to rediscover pristine landscapes they had only seen on maps, and it made it possible for suburban families to shop in the cities without sacrificing the tranquility of home. It also helped teenagers to look cool in front of their friends, and it gave dating couples a portable place to meet.

With such a large impact on society, it is not surprising that the automobile industry is one of the world’s largest. It dominated the economy in the United States after the 1920s and generated a huge number of jobs. It was also a major consumer of steel and petroleum products, and it stimulated dozens of other industries through its demand for ancillary services like tire manufacture, brakes and transmission systems.

American automotive companies innovated mass production techniques, and Ford, GM and Chrysler emerged as the three biggest automakers in the world. After World War II, automakers expanded rapidly in global regions such as Japan and Europe. Today, despite intense competition, the automobile industry is still an important part of the global economy. However, the high profits earned by American carmakers on their gas-guzzling “road cruisers” are paid for with social costs in terms of pollution and a drain on dwindling world oil reserves. Engineering has become subordinated to the questionable aesthetics of nonfunctional styling, and quality has declined. The car may be the most useful invention ever devised, but it has also created enormous problems.