Automobiles are a vital element of modern society, as they facilitate travel, shopping and leisure. Their popularity has resulted in dozens of industries that directly or indirectly depend on them.
The automobile is a complex technical system employing many subsystems with specific design functions. They include a body, chassis, engine, transmission, steering system, suspension and tires.
In addition, there are many other components. Some are used for a particular purpose, such as the crane vehicle that is built to help build buildings or the road roller that is used in road construction. Others are used in emergency situations, such as fire engines or ambulances.
Cars are also used for transporting animals. There are also special automobiles for use in a variety of ways.
Several different types of vehicles are made to carry large loads, such as tractor trailers or heavy-duty trucks. These vehicles are more durable than passenger cars and can be more economical to run.
Some of the more important technologies that have been developed to improve automobiles are computerized control systems, safety equipment and emission-control devices. These developments have increased both the power and range of cars and their reliability.
The invention of the automobile by Henry Ford in 1908 marked the beginning of what is known as the assembly line, a process that greatly simplified production and reduced the number of laborers needed to manufacture cars. Throughout the twentieth century, this process revolutionized manufacturing and transformed the United States into a consumer goods society.