Automobiles are a very important part of everyday life. They allow people to travel longer distances, which gives them more job opportunities, better housing and a wider variety of activities to participate in. They also give people the ability to stay in touch with family and friends. Cars can also help during emergencies. For example, if your child is sick or injured, you can take them to the hospital quickly. They can even save you money when you go grocery shopping, since you don’t have to pay for gas or take the bus.
In the late 1800s, inventors and engineers started to develop automobiles. Karl Benz, who was a German engineer, was the first to develop a working automobile in 1885. He was followed by Henry Ford, who innovated the assembly line. His invention made it possible to produce cars at a lower price, which allowed the average American to purchase one.
After World War II, automobile production slowed down and innovation became less dramatic. During this time, some car manufacturers pushed nonfunctional styling and poor quality over safety and fuel efficiency. Questions began to surface about the pollution caused by ‘gas guzzling’ cars and the drain on dwindling world oil reserves. This opened the market to foreign cars such as Germany and Japan, which had functionally designed and well-built small cars.
Today, new technical developments are making automobiles more efficient and safer. The future looks bright for electric, hybrid, and autonomous vehicles as society shifts away from the traditional internal combustion engine.