Automobiles are the primary mode of transportation in many countries. Over 1.4 billion vehicles are in operation around the world, with three trillion miles (five trillion kilometers) driven annually. Modern life would be unthinkable without access to automobiles. With a car, people can choose the route they want to take and save time on the commute. This freedom of choice is one of the reasons that so many families own a car.

The history of the automobile began in the late 1800s when several inventors and engineers began working on self-propelled cars. Karl Benz is generally credited with inventing the first true automobile in 1885, but many others also worked on these cars during this period. By the 1920s, automobiles had supplanted horse-drawn carriages on the streets and highways of America and Europe.

In the 1930s, market saturation combined with technological stagnation to slow automobile production and innovation. The automotive industry shifted its focus to producing for the war effort, and by 1945 automakers made one-fifth of the nation’s war production. Postwar, however, there was renewed interest in the automobile. In the 1960s, consumer concern over nonfunctional styling of American cars and questions about fuel efficiency prompted a shift to smaller, functionally designed vehicles from Germany and Japan.

Since that time, the auto industry has continued to change and expand. New technology has improved cars, and a wide variety of styles have emerged. For example, there are coupes that offer performance and luxury features, minivans that have space for multiple passengers, and SUVs that combine the size of a large car with the capability of off-road driving. There are even hybrids that combine the benefits of gas and electricity to power the car.

There are a variety of special automobiles as well, such as ambulances and fire engines that respond to accidents or other emergencies. These automobiles typically have bright red lights and loud sirens to let drivers and other motorists know they are coming. There are also police cars, which patrol highways and city streets to prevent crime and enforce traffic laws.

The automobile has greatly changed society in the United States. It gave people a freedom of movement that was never before possible, and it encouraged leisure activities like family vacations. It allowed urban residents to rediscover pristine countryside, and rural dwellers to shop in towns. It led to the development of industries and services that supply parts, fuel, and maintenance. It also brought new social problems like traffic jams, accidents, and pollution. It also introduced new government requirements, including licensing and safety standards.