Automobiles are one of the world’s most common types of vehicles. They are used for both passenger and commercial purposes, with more than 1.4 billion cars in operation worldwide and nearly 70 million new units produced each year.

The history of the automobile dates back to 1672 when Nicolas Cugnot built the first steam-powered vehicle, although it was not until 1885 that Karl Benz patented his Benz Motorwagen, the world’s first petrol-powered car. During that time, the engine was improved by German inventors Carl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler, with many innovations including an accelerator for speed regulation, a battery ignition system, a spark plug, a clutch, a gear shift, and a radiator for cooling.

As demand for the automobile grew, hundreds of small manufacturers rushed to build them. They were especially encouraged by the absence of tariff barriers between the American states, which allowed the sale of cars at lower prices than in Europe.

Moreover, the United States had a large land area and an abundance of cheap raw materials, which made the American automotive industry more profitable than in Europe. The country’s manufacturing tradition, coupled with its large population and wide geographic area, created a seller’s market for cars that was unprecedented in history.

Since the 1920s, almost all cars have been mass-produced, so marketing plans heavily influenced their design. Alfred P. Sloan was one of the first to establish the idea of different makes of cars, made by one company, so that buyers could “move up” as their fortunes improved.

Automobiles have many basic safety problems, which can be dangerous for drivers and passengers. These include human drivers who make mistakes, wheels that lose traction when the brakes are applied too quickly or suddenly, and a high center of gravity that can cause the vehicle to roll over when driving at high speeds.

The automobile is also susceptible to environmental hazards, such as exhaust from engines and pollution in the air. In recent years, government regulation has forced automakers to incorporate a variety of safety systems into their products, some of which are mandatory, such as tire pressure monitoring and stability control.

Some technologies are not required, such as blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assist. These can be a costly addition to the vehicle, but are essential when drivers must deal with road and weather conditions that make it more difficult or unsafe to drive.

In addition, automobiles are subject to other threats such as theft and fire. The latter is particularly dangerous because it can result in extensive property damage, which can be expensive and lead to significant financial loss.

As technology has advanced, the automobile has also become more fuel-efficient. This is a function of the reduction in engine size and the use of more efficient fuels.

Automobiles are classified on the basis of purpose and type of fuel used for transportation, with passenger vehicles taking up a majority of sales. Passenger cars, such as cars and trucks, are the most common type of vehicle in the United States, with about 63 million vehicles being sold each year.