Automobiles are cars, trucks, buses and limousines that use internal combustion engines and are driven by wheels. They are one of the most common ways to get around in big cities, small towns and rural areas where it’s too far to walk and there’s little public transportation. Trucks, vans and buses are automobiles too, but they have bigger engines than most cars and can carry more passengers. Automobiles have helped people move farther away from home, so they could work, shop and play more. They’ve also allowed people to live on the edge of cities, and helped grow suburban neighborhoods.
The modern automobile, as we know it, was invented in 1886 by German inventor Karl Benz. His Benz Patent-Motorwagen used a four-stroke internal combustion engine that burned gasoline. The first mass-produced automobiles came on the market in 1908.
Over 4.25 million people around the world are employed in the automotive industry today, making it one of the largest industries in the world. Auto manufacturing has revolutionized the economy, and made leisure travel more affordable to the masses than ever before. It has also put a dent in the fortunes of horse breeders and buggy manufacturers.
There are different types of automobiles, depending on the number of doors and the shape they have. Sedans (called saloons in British English) usually have four doors, while coupes (two doors) are more sporty. SUVs, or sport utility vehicles, are a type of automobile that combines the towing-capability of a pickup truck with the passenger-carrying capacity of a sedan.