A car is a means of transport that allows you to travel long distances without having to depend on other people for transportation. It gives you access to more jobs, places to live and services. It has also made it easier for families to stay together. It is the most common means of transport around the world.
The automobile was created in the early 1900s and by 1920 it had replaced horse-drawn carriages on most streets and highways of the United States. American manufacturers innovated many manufacturing techniques including moving assembly lines to speed production and lower prices. This allowed middle-class Americans to afford to buy their own cars. The automobile has revolutionized our society in a multitude of ways, from personal freedom to creating new industries such as motels and hotels. It has also opened up new leisure activities and brought in changes in government regulations such as seatbelt laws and driving licenses. It has also caused harm to the environment with pollution from exhaust gases and the destruction of undeveloped land for roadways.
The automobile is a complex technical system consisting of subsystems with specific design functions such as the engine, chassis, bodywork, control systems and electrical equipment. It also uses advanced materials such as high-strength plastics and new alloys of steel and nonferrous metals. Research and development engineers and scientists continually seek to improve the efficiency, safety, comfort and convenience of automobiles. It is the fastest growing industry in the world.