Automobiles are four-wheeled vehicles designed primarily for passenger transportation, commonly propelled by an internal combustion engine using a volatile fuel. Modern automobiles are complex technical systems employing thousands of subsystems with specific design functions. They are designed to be safe and comfortable for passengers, yet also cost-efficient to manufacture and operate.

The invention of the automobile brought with it profound changes in transportation, industry and everyday life. It gave people more personal freedom. It stimulated participation in outdoor recreation and helped to develop a number of services and industries like roadside service stations, restaurants and motels. It also ended rural isolation and brought urban amenities like schools and medical care. It required the construction of roads and highways, and it spawned new jobs in the manufacturing and service industries.

After automobiles first appeared in the late 1800s, American manufacturers quickly gained dominance. Henry Ford innovated mass production techniques that became the standard, and Ford, General Motors and Chrysler emerged as the dominant companies by the 1920s. Production accelerated during World War II, but the market began to stagnate and innovation slowed by the 1950s. Concerns about safety, nonfunctional styling and the draining of world oil reserves opened the market to foreign imports of German and Japanese fuel-efficient, functionally designed small cars.

Owning your own vehicle can help to relieve some stress from your hectic schedule by allowing you to travel faster than if you were relying on public transportation. It can save you a lot of time that would otherwise be spent waiting for the bus or commuting on foot, and the extra time can allow you to spend more quality time with your family.