An automobile, also referred to as a motor car or a motorcar, is a wheeled, self-propelled vehicle that uses an internal combustion engine fueled by liquid petroleum fuel (often gasoline), most commonly for transportation. The automobile was among a cluster of major technologies that began dramatically transforming modern life in the early decades of the twentieth century. In the United States, it gave rise to the middle class and a whole new way of life. It enabled people to live far away from cities, allowing families to spread out across suburbia with their own homes and yards.
The earliest automobiles were steam-powered. In the late 1700s, a Frenchman named Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot built an automobile out of a steam-powered dredge scow. His invention was a symbol of the promise and pitfalls of modern industrial society.
Automobile technology developed rapidly in the early 1900s, in part due to hundreds of manufacturers competing to gain market share. Key innovations included the electric ignition, introduced by Charles Kettering in 1910, independent suspension, four-wheel brakes and paved highways. Henry Ford revolutionized automobile production in the 1920s by introducing the assembly line and Model T, making cars affordable to the general public.
Today, automobiles are ubiquitous in most parts of the world. The layout of many metropolitan areas makes owning a vehicle essential for most people. Vehicles enable people to travel quickly and efficiently, enhancing productivity. They provide freedom of movement, enabling more leisure time and opportunities for socialization. They help families stay together by eliminating the need for them to commute long distances to work and school. They allow people to shop and run errands without having to wait for a bus or taxi.