Basically, automobiles are a type of motorized vehicle that is designed to carry passengers. They are also used for goods transportation. The automobile is a highly technical system that uses thousands of component parts.
The first automobiles were bicycle-like contraptions developed in the mid-Victorian era. They were designed to carry a limited number of passengers. Among the first automobiles were the Stout Scarab, which was designed by William Bushnell Stout for his engineering firm. It featured a rear engine and a streamlined beetle-like shape.
In the mid-1800s, bicycle mechanics J. Frank and Charles Duryea designed the first successful American-made gasoline automobile. The machine used a horizontal single-cylinder gasoline engine and a drive chain to the rear wheel.
After World War II, the automobile industry in the United States grew rapidly. The increase in per capita income encouraged demand for automobiles. It also provided an incentive for the mechanization of industrial processes.
Automobiles in the United States were initially sold at a lower cost than those in Europe. This reduced the price of the automobiles and helped middle class families afford them. The automobiles were also affordable because of the manufacturing tradition in the United States.
In 1913, the United States produced 485,000 motor vehicles. Among these cars were the Model T runabout, which sold for less than the average annual wage in the United States. It also was the first low-cost gas car. In 1927, the Model T coupe sold for $290.