Automobiles are a main form of transportation in the modern world. They are vehicles used for transportation that are powered by internal combustion engines and usually use a volatile fuel. The automobile has been a catalyst for innovation and change since its invention in the late 19th century. It opened new work opportunities, allowed people to travel to far away places and helped them spend more time with family and friends. However, there are disadvantages to owning a car such as maintenance costs and the possibility of getting into an accident.
The first automobiles were steam-powered and attached to wagons in the late 18th century. These were clumsy and slow. Then Karl Benz developed a more efficient model that was lighter and easier to control. Emile Levassor and Armand Peugeot followed with automobiles that were made in France. They were inspired by Daimler’s Stahlradwagen of 1889.
In the early 1900s, Henry Ford introduced a revolutionary process to manufacturing cars called the assembly line which enabled them to be produced much cheaper and more efficiently. This allowed them to be sold at a price most people could afford. The automobile also brought changes to society such as women who now had access to jobs that were previously reserved for men. There was a push for voting rights and they even carried “vote for women” banners from their cars. However, the automobile caused harm to the environment through exhaust pollution and by draining the world’s oil reserves.