Automobiles are one of the most important aspects in our modern world. They are a lifeline and make our lives much easier. Cars are a way to travel, visit places, go shopping, and carry goods.
Auto / automobile definition: The word automobile comes from the Greek prefix “auto” (self) and the Latin word “mobilis” (moving). It describes a vehicle that is self-propelled and is used for land transportation.
It is a complex technical system comprising many sub-systems with specific functions and thousands of component parts. The major subsystems include body, chassis, engine, drivetrain, control systems, and emission control systems.
The history of automobiles began with Siegfried Marcus, a German working in Vienna, Austria, who invented a two-stroke internal combustion engine fueled by gasoline. He made a crude model in 1870, but it wasn’t until 1888 or 1889 that his design was put into production and tested.
Early cars were based on horses and steam engines, but the first modern automobiles were gas-powered. The most famous automobile in history was the Benz Motorwagen, which was patented by Karl Benz on 29 January 1886 and put into production and sold commercially in 1888.
Another innovation was the Ford Model T, which Henry Ford produced in a factory and started selling to ordinary Americans. This car changed people’s lives and became the most popular type of automobile in the world.
Besides being a convenient form of transportation, automobiles are also safer than walking or riding bicycles for long trips. The addition of safety belts, airbags, crumple zones and side-impact protection reduce deaths and injuries when an accident happens.