Automobiles are vehicles for people that run on an engine and move on wheels. They have become a big part of the way we live. They can take us to work, school or other places. They can also bring people to different cities and countries. Some of them have air conditioning and some have radios. Most of them have seats for the driver and passengers. Some have windows that open and close. They also have a trunk and fenders which cover the wheels. They have a dashboard that shows how fast the car is going and some other things.

The modern automobile was developed in the 19th century. It was first made by Karl Benz in Germany. Then Henry Ford helped make cars cheaper so that more people could afford them. He invented the assembly line and he made a model of the car that was called the Model T. Then other companies made the same kind of car.

Before the automobile, people used horses for transportation. Later people used trains, ships and planes to travel. But the automobile was a great improvement. It gave people more freedom to go where they wanted. It was also easier to visit friends and family. People from urban areas could escape to the countryside. And people in the countryside could go to urban areas.

Some of the early cars were powered by steam. But they were heavy and slow. Later people started to use gasoline engines. These were much lighter and faster. But they still had problems. Then other people built electric motors to power automobiles. They were lighter than gasoline engines and they could go very quickly. But they had some other problems too.

The best automobiles now have safety features. They can prevent people from being hurt in accidents. They have seat belts to keep the people in the seats from being thrown around. They can also protect the passengers from bad weather by having a windshield and door locks. Most automobiles also have a brake that stops the car. They can also turn the energy from braking into electricity to power the motor. Some automobiles have regenerative brakes that can make the motor work again.

There are other special automobiles for certain jobs too. You might see a crane automobile at a construction site or a road roller at a highway construction project. There are even ambulance and police automobiles for emergencies. Some of these automobiles have special equipment like air bags and fire extinguishers.

The downside to the automobile is that it can cause pollution if too many are used in a small area. It also takes a lot of oil to keep them running and the gas that is burned by the engines releases carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas. People can help reduce the harm caused by automobiles by using them less or by buying fuel efficient ones. They can also use other forms of transportation such as buses, passenger trains, trams and subways.