Automobiles have been one of the most important inventions of the 20th century. They have influenced the way we think about transportation and created new industries and jobs. They have also given people freedom to travel where and when they want, allowing them to live a more mobile lifestyle.

Before the automobile, most human-powered vehicles were horse-drawn carriages. Toward the end of the 19th century, Gottlieb Daimler, Karl Benz and Nicolaus Otto developed what were called motor cars. These were little more than lightweight buggies with engines, but they were expensive to operate. Ransom Olds, however, figured out how to make a simple one-cylinder, three-horsepower car at a reasonable price. He used an assembly line and made it possible for ordinary people to own a motor vehicle for the first time in history.

Early automobiles were used for racing and amusement, but they had many problems, including being unreliable, expensive and dangerous. Some writers, such as Booth Tarkington in books like The Magnificent Ambersons, decried these negative effects of motorization and called for a struggle to halt and partially reverse them.

Today, cars have been designed to be safe and comfortable to drive. They have become a major part of the American culture. They are used in movies, music and art. Some even have safety features that help protect the passengers in case of an accident. The body of the car is made from a variety of materials, such as steel, plastic and strong fiberglass. The engine is usually powered by gasoline, but alternative fuels such as electric power and hydrogen fuel cells are being explored.