The Evolution of Automobiles and Motorcycles
Automobiles are the most common form of transport in the world. They are also a highly technical system, with thousands of component parts. It is important to understand how automobiles function before you purchase one.
The first automobiles were bicycle-like contraptions with an engine. In the late 1800s, they evolved to a more sophisticated design. By the early 1920s, gasoline-powered cars had overtaken the streets of Europe and the United States.
Today, cars are fueled by gasoline, diesel, or a battery. Manufacturers have developed new technologies to improve the drivetrain, safety systems, and body. These advances have been driven by the competition of manufacturers across the globe.
Automobiles were originally a way of transporting people, goods, and animals. They evolved over time from the use of steam engines, which had short ranges. As air pollution increased, cars were forced to develop new technologies.
Today, there are more than 70 million passenger cars on the roads of the world. About half of them are produced by foreign automakers.
In the United States, one-quarter of the passenger cars are manufactured by domestic automakers. But the rest of the cars are produced by other companies. Honda, for example, has a strong presence in Latin America and Africa.
The automobile industry is the largest in the world. It provides transportation to millions of people every day. To understand the role of automobiles in modern society, it is important to know how they came to be.