Generally, automobiles are defined as a type of transportation that runs on roads. These vehicles carry passengers and goods and are designed to provide ease of movement for people. They are also known to contribute to air pollution, depletion of fossil fuels, and climate change.
Automobiles are highly complex technical systems. There are thousands of component parts that make up a car. Each part has a specific design function. These include the engine, transmission, chassis, body, wheels, tires, and shock absorbers.
The first cars were primitive. They were steam-powered, electrically-powered, and didn’t have rearview mirrors. They were designed to carry a small number of people. The first automakers, like Etienne Lenoir, had already developed a crude engine.
Automobiles began to transform the way we travel. They gave people easier access to transportation, and allowed them to travel in and out of cities and suburbs. They also made it possible for more people to have jobs.
The rise of the middle class in the United States during the early twentieth century helped expand the market for automobiles. The automobile industry began to produce cars at lower prices. This meant more Americans could afford to buy one.
The automotive industry was initially dominated by three companies. These were Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler. They became the “Big Three” automakers.
In the 1920s, a push occurred to give women the right to vote. As women entered the workforce, they often found themselves working in male-dominated jobs.
