Automobiles is the branch of Engineering which deals with manufacturing and technology of automobile vehicles. Today automobiles play a major role in our lives, without them the luxuries of modern world cannot be imagined. Whether it be passenger cars, trucks or buses or a hybrid; each one is equipped with advanced features that make them a perfect mode of transportation in the modern world.
The earliest automobiles were mainly steam powered, but as the industry evolved in the late 19th century, Germany became the center of innovation. Nikolaus Otto, Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz all began to manufacture gas-powered engines for their automobiles, which soon became popular throughout the world. In America, Henry Ford introduced the moving assembly line, in which workers were assigned specific tasks while the car parts passed on a conveyor belt. The new production method enabled Ford to produce the Model T runabout at a cost that was less than the average annual wage in the United States. By the time the Model T was retired in 1927, 15 million units had been sold, and mass personal “automobility” had become a reality.
Today, there are more than 70 million vehicles registered for use in the United States, and they cover about three trillion miles (five trillion kilometres) each year. Almost all of them are cars, and the automotive industry is one of the largest in the world. In recent years manufacturers have fought to maintain their market share by offering hundreds of different models. Some of these are based on proprietary technological advances, while others are designed to comply with safety and fuel economy regulations.
Aside from their ability to transport people and goods, automobiles have many other important functions. They provide people with a way to escape from their daily routines and to explore the sights of their city or country. They also help them to connect with friends and family. Having a car saves time by cutting down travel times. People can go shopping, take children to school, or visit relatives.
In addition, automobiles have helped to bring about changes in society. They have brought jobs to millions of people who work in factories that produce them or at restaurants or motels that travelers stop at. They have created problems as well, such as air pollution and traffic jams. But, most of all, the automobile has helped shape our modern lifestyles. The auto is a symbol of the promise and the perils of our time. It has ushered in the age of consumer goods, and is now melding with a new age of electronics.
