An automobile is a motor vehicle that is powered by a gasoline or electric engine. The term automobile is derived from the Greek element “auto,” which means self-propelled. It is a complex technical system that can be used for transportation, and can also be designed to improve comfort or safety. There are several subsystems involved in an automobile’s design, including its body, chassis, and engine.

The first car was developed in the late nineteenth century. It was an answer to the 19th-century dream of an autonomous, self-propelling carriage. Its first commercial model was built in 1884 by Edward Butler. He based it on a horizontal single-cylinder gasoline engine. It had steerable front wheels and a drive chain to the rear wheel.

The automobile was one of the first things to be mass produced in the United States. It helped to bring down the price of cars, making them more affordable for middle class families. It has also helped to define a new industry. The automotive industry is now a global business with 70 million passenger cars being manufactured each year worldwide.

A modern automobile can be found in most of the world’s cities, with an average of three trillion miles being logged each year. This number represents a huge change in how we think about transportation. A car is also one of the most important tools in modern society. It has led to new industries, new jobs, and a new understanding of the way we move around.

An auto’s main function is to transport passengers and goods. It is a four-wheeled motor vehicle with a seat for up to eight people. Generally, it is driven by an internal combustion engine.

While the automobile’s name is not a secret, the actual machine is not. Unlike most inventions of the nineteenth century, which were merely conceived and constructed in the lab, modern cars have been developed in factories using thousands of components. This makes for a very complex technical system that is constantly evolving. The automobile’s most basic system, however, is its engine.

The invention of the internal combustion engine was the harbinger of the modern automobile. Its introduction helped to lower the cost of manufacturing cars. This allowed more consumers to afford them, and encouraged manufacturers to introduce more innovative designs. During the early twentieth century, the automotive industry began to expand in Europe, Japan, and the United States. In the late 1940s, automobile production in the United States rose rapidly, and the “Big Three” automakers, Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler, formed a formidable trio.

Although the automobile’s main function has changed, its design hasn’t. The automotive industry has evolved from its earlier days, with a growing focus on emission-control systems, industrial materials, and sleek iconography of streamlining. The latest models feature a variety of technological innovations, from hybrid powertrains to new ways to handle high-speed driving.

The most interesting automobiles are the ones that have a unique feature. These include the 911 Carrera, which is a sports car, and the automobile-inspired Stout Scarab, which was a pre-minivan.