An automobile, or motor car is a vehicle for carrying people which is powered by its own internal combustion of a fuel (usually petrol, diesel, gas or air). The engine provides power to the wheels through a transmission system. A typical automobile has an average of about a hundred parts, including the chassis, bodywork, controls, electrical equipment and service devices. About 5 – 59 million vehicles of various types are produced annually worldwide.

The automobile has become a dominant force for change in the modern world. Its impact is felt in every industry, every area of life and every corner of the planet. It revolutionized the ways that cities were planned and built, brought modern amenities to rural areas and even ended social isolation in family homes. It created new jobs in industries like automobile manufacturing and service stations, as well as in ancillary industries like petroleum and rubber. It has also changed transportation by allowing commuters to get to work without having to depend on trains or buses. It has shaped the way families live, and it has stimulated participation in outdoor recreation activities. It has also pushed the growth of many auxiliary services and products like road construction and highways.

Karl Benz is generally credited with inventing the automobile in the late 1880s, and Henry Ford popularized it for the masses with his Model T. Both men were entrepreneurs and engineers. They realized that if they used a manufacturing process called the assembly line, which sped up production by having workers stay in one place and perform only a single task as the parts moved past them on a conveyor belt, then they could produce a lot of cars very quickly. This allowed the cost of the automobile to drop significantly, and more people could afford one.

Automobiles are very useful and convenient for long trips, and they can also go places that other wheeled transportation cannot because of rough roads or terrain. They are generally faster than walking or riding a bicycle, and they can carry more passengers than do trains, buses or bicycles. In addition, they can be rented for short periods of time, and some are equipped to serve special purposes such as fire engines, ambulances or patrol cars.

There are different kinds of automobiles, categorized by their purpose and structure, such as passenger cars, cargo cars and special automobiles (for example, a crane car at the construction site or a fork-lift at a warehouse). The most common type of car is the passenger vehicle, which is designed to transport passengers. It may be equipped with various accessories for comfort, such as seat warmers and air conditioning. It is also possible to add more safety features, such as seatbelts and antilock brakes. Other important options for automobiles are satellite navigation systems, GPS devices and electronic controls on the dashboard. Some cars are also equipped with a radio, CD player and MP3 player, and some have built-in refrigerators or microwave ovens.