Automobiles are complex machines that power, control and steer their own movement and carry people to their destinations. They are also the source of jobs for millions of people worldwide who work in the factories that produce them, and at the restaurants or motels that travelers stop at. Automobiles also save people time and allow them to do more of the things they want and need to do in a day.
The automotive industry grew dramatically in the early twentieth century. The United States became the center of automobile production as Henry Ford innovated mass production techniques. His “Model T” set the standard for affordable cars and allowed his company to grow rapidly. Other car manufacturers adopted his methods and the Big Three (Ford, GM and Chrysler) emerged as global enterprises by 1920s. The industry funneled much of its resources to the military during World War II and afterward grew rapidly in global regions such as Europe and Japan.
Today there are over 5 59 million various automobiles on the road, a quarter of them are trucks or buses. Each year millions of people die in car accidents. They also pollute the air that we breathe and cause a great deal of congestion in urban areas. Despite their many benefits, there are serious drawbacks to the automobile that we need to address. For example, we need more efficient vehicles that are less expensive to operate, safer and cleaner for the environment.