Automobiles are the most important means of personal transportation, delivering people and goods across more than three trillion miles (five trillion kilometres) each year. With its invention in the early 1900s, the automobile ushered in a new age of personal mobility, revolutionizing both public and private life. It became the mainstay of a consumer economy, and grew to be one of the largest users of steel, petroleum, and other industrial materials, creating ancillary industries that helped drive America’s economic growth. The automobile also played a key role in military affairs, and during World War II was the main supplier of vehicles for the war effort.
Initially, automobiles were powered by steam, electricity, or gasoline engines. Steam engines were powerful, but could only travel short distances. Electric cars were comparatively easy to start, but they had limited range and required frequent recharging. Gasoline engined automobiles, on the other hand, were economical and highly portable. When Henry Ford introduced the Model T, he used modern mass production methods at his Highland Park factory to transform the industry and introduce car ownership to the middle class. By 1920, a car cost less than half the annual income of the average American family.
Once the automobile became widely available, it quickly changed the social fabric of American society. Families could take vacations and rediscover pristine landscapes in rural areas, while urban dwellers could shop in towns and cities. Teenagers gained a sense of freedom and independence as they learned to drive, and dating couples found that a car provided a convenient and portable place for intimate conversations.
As the industry grew, most car companies were assemblers, building cars by putting together parts and components from several different sources. This approach to production was inexpensive and lent itself well to mass marketing, allowing automobiles to be sold at prices that were more affordable than ever before.
In addition, automobiles provided the opportunity to be independent of a schedule or the weather, enabling people to go places they would have been unable or unwilling to go on foot or by train or bus. Two women, Nell Richardson and Alice Burke, took an especially daring road trip in 1916, driving from coast to coast in a car decorated with “votes for women” banners.
Today, the majority of automobiles are driven by consumers and businesses for their primary purpose of transporting passengers or freight. These vehicles contribute to a significant portion of the world’s air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and are also a major cause of global warming.
Despite these concerns, most people still choose to own and operate cars for the convenience, freedom of movement, and security that they provide. With the advancement of new technologies and improved fuel efficiency, cars may be able to reduce their environmental impact while continuing to improve passenger comfort and safety. However, there are a growing number of communities that are moving away from automobiles altogether in favor of more sustainable modes of transportation.