The automobile (from the French for motor car) is a four-wheeled passenger vehicle that is propelled by an internal combustion engine, most commonly using gasoline or a liquid petroleum fuel. The modern automobile has become one of the most ubiquitous and widely used technologies in the world. It is considered to be the dominant mode of transportation in most developed countries, with over 73 million cars produced worldwide in 2017.

In addition to the obvious benefits such as freedom from the confines of public transport and not having to be subjected to other people’s hygiene issues whilst traveling, having a car also makes it much easier to reach places that would not otherwise be accessible, especially in bad weather conditions. There are even special “off road” vehicles that can go further afield than the usual car.

Automobiles can also be very useful tools in business, allowing you to travel to clients across town or even around the country without having to worry about the weather and traffic problems. This allows businesses to operate at full capacity and to meet customer demands more effectively.

By the 1920s the automobile had changed America’s society more than any other force. It was the backbone of a new consumer goods-oriented economy. It was the largest consumer of steel and oil, and the most important producer and customer of many other industrial products. It enabled suburbanization and reshaped the architecture of the typical American dwelling. It also brought urban services to rural areas and freed women from their home responsibilities.