Automobiles are one of the main ways people travel in the modern world. They have a profound impact on society, enabling people to move rapidly from one place to another without being dependent on other forms of transportation. They are also a source of employment, generating numerous jobs in the design, construction, repair, and maintenance of automobiles. They have become a vital part of many economies and have changed the lifestyles of millions of people around the world.
The development of the automobile is a remarkable story of human ingenuity and inventiveness. Its beginnings were humble — the first vehicles were horse-drawn carriages with engines added in the late 1700s and 1800s. By the 1900s, they had grown to be a sophisticated system that affects every aspect of life in the developed world, from the design of cities to police, fire, and ambulance services and family vacation trips. Mass production techniques, developed for the automobile industry, have been adapted in other industries to produce a huge variety of goods.
The specific arrangement and choice of components in an automobile depends on its intended use. For example, a car designed for off-road use must be rugged and simple with high resistance to extreme overloads and operating conditions. A sports car, on the other hand, requires enhanced steering and handling abilities and improved engine performance for high speed driving. The design of an automobile is a complex balance of factors, with compromises often needed to satisfy all requirements.