Throughout the world, automobiles are one of the most common forms of transport. Today, the automotive industry is one of the largest industries in the world. Approximately 70 million passenger cars are manufactured worldwide each year. They are used for personal transportation and goods transportation.
The first automobiles were designed in the late 1800s. These vehicles were two or three-wheeled, with a single or dual engine. Some of these cars were powered by gasoline, while others used electric power.
In the early years of the automobile, most car parts were assembled by hand. However, after World War II, production lines were installed in factories. This helped to make automobiles more affordable for middle class families. During this period, the automotive industry grew rapidly.
The first automobiles were designed to carry passengers. The first commercial three-wheeler was built by Edward Butler in 1884. This machine had steerable front wheels and a drive chain to the rear wheel. This design had a horizontal single-cylinder gasoline engine.
The automobile was developed to overcome geographic and social limitations. It was the answer to the nineteenth century dream of a self-propelling carriage. It also served as a mobile platform for speeches.
Modern automobiles are highly complex technical systems. They employ thousands of component parts. Their design and performance depends on their purpose. They can be modified to improve speed, handling, and comfort.
The modern automobile was conceived after a breakthrough in existing technology. During the late 1800s, Benz invented an internal combustion engine, which could run on fuel, such as gasoline. This engine had a number of advantages over the earlier electric power.