Automobiles are very complex machines that have many systems that work together to drive the car and to make it safe for people to ride in. The heart of every automobile is the engine that creates power to drive the wheels and electricity for lights and other systems.
Before cars were invented it was a long and laborious task to travel even a few miles. A trip to town could take hours and traveling to the countryside meant days in a horse and buggy. Modern life would be inconceivable without the use of automobiles.
Karl Benz designed and patented the first internal-combustion flat engine that powered a car. By the end of the 19th century Benz was one of the largest producers of vehicles. His cars were a bit expensive but he introduced new manufacturing methods that made them affordable to middle-class families.
After World War II production of vehicles slowed down and the invention of new systems was slow. During this period manufacturers began adding features like power steering and automatic controls to their models. Some cars also became larger and used up a lot of fuel.
There are special automobiles for specific purposes such as crane vehicles at construction sites, road rollers at road construction and fork-lifts in warehouses. There are also emergency automobiles such as fire engines and ambulances. Some of these are designed to rescue people from car accidents while others are designed to help control fires or respond to gas or electrical problems.