Automobiles are wheeled vehicles designed to run on roads and transport people or goods from one place to another. They typically have four wheels and are powered by a gasoline or diesel internal combustion engine. In the future, automobiles may be powered by electricity or other alternative fuels as well.

The automobile revolutionized twentieth-century life. It was a major force for change in American culture and society, and the backbone of a new consumer-goods economy. It became the chief customer of petroleum and steel, and drove innovations in related ancillary industries as well. The automotive industry created jobs and helped to build cities and towns, provided more personal freedom and increased the prosperity of its owners. It also fueled social unrest and contributed to the growth of organized crime.

Exactly who invented the automobile remains controversial. Earlier accounts gave credit to Karl Benz, from Germany, for creating the first true motorcar in 1885 or 1886, though it is now widely accepted that a bicycle mechanic, J. Frank, and a Springfield, Massachusetts car dealer, Charles Duryea, both made successful gasoline-powered cars in the 1890s. Ford’s introduction of the assembly line in 1913 made it easy for manufacturers to produce many cars quickly.

In the postwar period, engineering was often subordinated to questionable aesthetics and nonfunctional styling. This came at a high cost in terms of air pollution and a drain on dwindling world oil supplies. Eventually, automakers began to focus on developing smaller, more fuel-efficient models.