Automobiles are the largest source of personal transport on the planet. There are over sixty million new cars produced every year and there is always a demand for automobiles. Automobiles give people freedom and allow them to go where they want and when they want.

The first modern automobile was invented by Karl Benz in 1886. His Benz Patent-Motorwagen used an internal combustion engine to propel the car. Until the 20th century, all automobiles were powered by steam or by horse power. After that, gas-powered automobiles were developed.

In the 1910s and 1920s, the automobile revolutionized American society in many ways. It gave women the opportunity to work outside the home and gain more personal freedom. In 1916, Nell Richardson and Alice Burke traveled around the country in their automobiles to advocate for women’s right to vote. They drove around with “votes for women” banners to spread their message. The automobile allowed them to do this without the help of a husband or a relative.

Today’s modern automobile can be classified as a family car, luxury or sports sedan, compact SUV, hatchback, station wagon or passenger van. SUVs are very popular because they offer the towing capacity of a truck with the passenger-carrying space of a family car.

As the world’s population increases, it becomes necessary to use more automobiles for transportation. However, too many automobiles in a small area can cause traffic congestion and pollution. To counter these problems, some cities have public transportation like buses, passenger trains and trams to get people where they need to go more quickly and cheaply than a private automobile.