Automobiles are powered by engines that run on gasoline, diesel fuel, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), electric motors, or other sources of power. They are built with chassis, transmission, bodywork, control system, electrical equipment, service devices and other components. Most of these are manufactured by major automobile manufacturers.
Cars are the dominant mode of transportation in many countries, providing mobility for individuals and goods that is not available with public transit or walking. Approximately 90 percent of American households own cars and trucks.
During the 1910s and 1920s, the automobile brought women into roles traditionally held by men and provided personal freedom and independence. Unlike traveling by horse-drawn carriage, the automobile allowed women to travel alone without the worry of making it to their destination on time or being subject to the schedules of others.
As a result of the automobile, towns expanded outward from their city limits and the country developed a network of roadways. Roadway maintenance varied from place to place, and mud holes, rocks, and unbridged streams frequently slowed or stopped traffic. Despite these obstacles, the automobile became the norm in America and spawned new businesses such as Rand McNally that printed the first auto guides and introduced diners where motorists could stop for cheap, relatively fast food.
The most important benefit of owning a vehicle is that it saves you time. With a car, you can make it across town in the same amount of time that it takes to walk from one end of the city to the other. This allows you to spend more of your time doing the things you enjoy.