Automobiles are passenger vehicles that have four wheels and an internal-combustion engine, used for transporting people and goods on streets and roads. They are a major form of personal transportation and generate substantial global revenue. The automobile industry is highly regulated, with government regulations governing safety, pollution, and fuel efficiency standards. The industry also produces specialized automobiles for off-road use, such as road rollers and forklifts, and for emergency services, including fire engines and police cars. In addition, there are many companies that provide automobile services, such as gas stations and repair shops.
The modern automobile industry has roots that date back hundreds of years. The first steam-powered road vehicles were developed in the 1860s and ’70s, principally in Germany and France. The development of the internal-combustion gasoline engine in the 1890s allowed the automobile to compete with the railway system as a means of land travel. Bertha Benz’s historic transcontinental drive in a petrol-powered Winton car and Horatio Nelson Jackson’s cross-country trip in a Winton gave the automobile credibility as a viable mode of long-distance transportation.
By the 1920s, it had become almost impossible to imagine life without a personal car in the United States. The industry became increasingly consolidated as Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler emerged as the “Big Three” auto makers. The development of mass production techniques by Henry Ford revolutionized the automotive industry, enabling automobiles to be produced at such low prices that middle-class families could afford them.
The automobile had a profound effect on society as well, opening up new modes of leisure travel and making it possible for urban dwellers to rediscover pristine landscapes, rural residents to shop in towns, and teenagers to develop independence by driving. However, the industry also brought with it traffic congestion and accidents that resulted in deaths and injuries. As a result, drivers soon faced a variety of government requirements, including seat belts and driver’s licenses.
There are a number of benefits to owning an automobile, including the freedom of travel, the ability to customize your vehicle, and the convenience of not having to rely on public transportation. The downsides include the expense of buying, maintaining, and insuring a vehicle, and the negative environmental impact. Most cars run on gasoline, which releases carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. The United States Environmental Protection Agency estimates that transportation accounts for 27 percent of all greenhouse gases.
The automotive industry is classified in the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) as part of the manufacturing sector. This sector employs a significant number of workers and generates significant revenue. Its products are manufactured in a wide range of countries and the automotive industry has become an integral part of the world economy.