An automobile is a wheeled passenger vehicle that carries its own motor. Most definitions specify that it be designed to run primarily on roads, have seating for one to seven people, and be constructed principally for the transport of passengers rather than goods.
The scientific and technological building blocks of the automobile have been in place for several hundred years. The first modern automobiles were steam and electric, but they lacked the speed, range, and convenience of gasoline internal combustion engines. In the early 1900s, gas and oil dominated the market, but in the 1910s diesel and other fuels began to gain acceptance.
Automobiles have had a significant impact on society in the United States. They have given people more freedom to travel and do things in their leisure time. They have allowed urban dwellers to escape to the countryside, and rural dwellers to visit cities. Cars have also opened up opportunities for business and education.
Today, automobiles are a central part of our lives. There are nearly five billion vehicles in operation worldwide, 140 million of them in the United States. The automotive industry has become one of the largest in the world, and its impact is far-reaching.