Automobiles are vehicles that carry people and their things. More than 73 million of these four-wheeled vehicles were manufactured worldwide in 2017. The automobile, also known as the car, is one of the most universal and widely used modern technologies. It is a complex machine with many systems that work together to make it safe and comfortable to travel in. It is powered by an engine that drives the wheels and powers lights and other electrical systems. The automobile has changed the world in many ways. It has made it possible for people to live far away from urban centers and have careers in many different places. It has also helped to create jobs in industries that produce cars and services like gas stations, restaurants and motels. But it has also caused problems such as air pollution and congestion on highways. Millions of people die in car accidents every year. And the number of automobiles is growing so fast that it is hard to find parking space in cities.
Karl Benz invented the first gasoline-driven automobile in 1885. But it was Henry Ford who developed mass-production techniques that allowed cars to be made inexpensively. These techniques included using assembly lines, where workers perform a single task and parts pass through on conveyer belts. This made the cost of cars affordable for middle class families. This led to the growth of American automotive companies, such as Ford, Chrysler and General Motors.