In the 1960s, consumer safety advocates started to push for federal safety standards for automobiles. Ralph Nader wrote a book about the dangers of automobiles in 1965 called “Unsafe at Any Speed.” Over the next twenty years, auto manufacturers had to meet stricter safety standards for such things as windshields, seat belts, head restraints, brakes, tires, lighting, and door and roof strength.
The first motorcycle was produced in 1894 by Hildebrand & Wolfmuller. In 1896, the Excelsior Motor Company, originally a bicycle company in Coventry, England, began producing a motorcycle. In 1898, Charles Metz built the first production motorcycle in the United States, in Waltham, Massachusetts.
The definition of an automobile is quite broad and may include many different types of vehicles. Generally, however, it refers to a four or five-seat vehicle that runs on roads and seats one to eight passengers. There are also vehicles with more than seven seats, which are commonly referred to as a minivan, SUV, bus, or limousine.
The development of automobiles in the twentieth century was remarkably rapid. Hundreds of small manufacturers vied for market share and the attention of the public. Some, like Charles Kettering, made the first electric ignition in 1910 for the Cadillac, the first automobile to use an electric self-starter, and the first car to have four-wheel brakes. In addition, cars were made more affordable, and even lower-income families could afford to buy a new car.