A vehicle that moves on the ground under its own stored power, generally with seating for a driver and a small number of additional passengers. It is distinguished from other vehicles such as bicycles, buses, trucks and wagons, which are also designed to carry people but are primarily used for hauling loads. Also called automobile car and motorcar. Origin: French, from auto- + mobile (as compared with l’automobile, meaning ‘the car’).
Although steam powered road vehicles such as the phaetons were developed as early as the late 1700s, it was Karl Benz, who invented the first true automobile in 1885/86 that ushered in this mode of transport. These early vehicles were expensive and often customized to the wealthy but Henry Ford revolutionized car manufacturing by introducing the Model T in 1908.
Automobiles have become one of the most powerful and important inventions in human history, changing not only the way we travel but also creating industries and jobs. They have made it possible for people to live in places far away from their work and create new lifestyles. They have been the main form of transportation in most industrialized countries for over a century and even today are still the major mode of transport for many families.
There are many benefits of having an automobile, such as the convenience and freedom it provides to get where you want when you want. However, there are some negatives such as the high cost of purchasing and operating a car as well as the environmental impact it has on our planet.