What Are Automobiles?
Automobiles are a main mode of land transportation. They are four-wheeled vehicles designed mainly for passenger transportation and propelled by an internal combustion engine using a volatile fuel. Modern automobiles are complex technical systems comprising thousands of subsystems with specific design functions. Many of these subsystems have evolved from breakthroughs in existing technology, while others have been the result of new technologies such as electronic computers, high-strength plastics and advanced alloys of steel and nonferrous metals.
The most important part of a car is the engine, which drives the wheels. This engine can be powered by gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene or electricity. The energy from the fuel is converted into torque and then into motion by the transmission, which has gears to change the engine speed and the amount of power applied to the wheels. The body of the car holds the driver and passengers, as well as any storage space. The car chassis is what holds all the mechanical parts of the automobile together, and it also helps to control the vehicle when driving on rough terrain or at high speeds.
Some cars have special purposes, such as emergency automobiles (fire engines, ambulances and patrol cars). These are built to save lives and provide help in times of need. Other cars are meant for recreational use such as a sports car or a minivan. These are a good choice for people with families and children, as they offer room and comfort.
Automobiles have made it possible to travel long distances quickly, and to carry more luggage than is practical with a bicycle or walking. They can also carry a number of people and pets, and they are much faster than trains (steam-powered, diesel-powered or electric-powered). 4-wheel drive “off road” automobiles can go places that other wheeled transport cannot, but they are expensive to run and require specialist knowledge to maintain.
Owning a car is a major commitment, but it offers freedom and independence not available with other means of transportation. It is a luxury that allows people to work at their own schedule and not have to rely on the public transit system or family members for rides. It can also be a source of status and prestige for some, and the ability to purchase expensive accessories can increase its value.
There are a few big companies that dominate the world’s automobile market, including General Motors, Toyota, Ford Motor Company and Volkswagen. Several other companies manufacture automobiles in lesser quantities. Many of these are small companies that began by producing non-automobile products, but switched to car production after the Second World War. In Japan, Isuzu, Nissan and Mazda all began as textile factories before the war, but they switched to car manufacturing after the war, partnering with European manufacturers such as Fiat and absorbing some of their technologies. In the United States, the emergence of the Model T and the methods of industrialization introduced by Henry Ford revolutionized car production. These methods eventually spread worldwide, and today almost everyone can afford a private automobile.