Car

A car, or an automobile, is a motor vehicle with wheels. Most cars are built to travel on roads, seat between one and eight people, have four wheels, and are used mainly for moving people instead of carrying cargo. As of 2025, there are over 1.6 billion cars in use around the world.

The idea of a car began with early inventors. The French inventor Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot created the first steam-powered road vehicle in 1769, and the Swiss inventor François Isaac de Rivaz made the first automobile powered by an internal combustion engine in 1808. However, the modern car that people could use every day was invented in 1886 by the German inventor Carl Benz with his Benz Patent-Motorwagen. Cars became common in the 20th century. Two important early cars were the 1901 Oldsmobile Curved Dash and the 1908 Ford Model T. In the United States, cars quickly replaced horse-drawn carriages. In Europe and other parts of the world, cars became popular mainly after World War II. Today, car use is still growing fast, especially in large countries like China and India.

Cars come with many features to help with driving, parking, and keeping passengers comfortable. Over time, cars have gotten more complex with new features like rear-reversing cameras, air conditioning, navigation systems, and in-car entertainment. Most cars still run on fossil fuels using an internal combustion engine, but electric cars have become more common in the 2020s. The shift to electric cars is important for helping protect the environment.

Using cars has both good and bad effects. For individuals, owning a car costs money for buying it, maintenance, fuel, insurance, and more. For society, cars need roads, create air pollution and noise pollution, and can lead to traffic collisions. However, cars also give people freedom to travel when they want, help create jobs in the automotive industry, and make it easier for people to visit new places and enjoy leisure time.

Etymology

The word "car" comes from ancient languages. It is believed to have started from the Latin words carrus or carrum, meaning "wheeled vehicle." Over time, the idea of a car changed from horse-drawn carts to today's motor vehicles.

In British English, people often say "motor car." The word "automobile," which means a self-moving vehicle, came from French and is more common in North America today.

History

Main article: History of the automobile

The idea of a vehicle that could move on its own has been around for a long time. In the 1600s, people built small models that moved with clocks or steam power. By the 1700s, inventors like Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot made bigger steam-powered vehicles.

In the 1800s, new ways to power vehicles were invented. Nicéphore Niépce and François Isaac de Rivaz created early engines that burned special fuels. Later, Carl Benz made the first car that many people could use every day. His car, called the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, had an engine that burned fuel to move.

As time went on, more people made cars. Companies like Daimler and Peugeot started building cars with engines. In the United States, Henry Ford changed how cars were made. He used a moving assembly line, which made it faster and cheaper to build cars. This helped many people afford their own cars.

Today, cars are made all around the world. Countries like Japan and Germany became big makers of cars, using new ideas and methods to make better vehicles.

Components and design

Propulsion and fuels

See also: Alternative fuel vehicle

Most cars today run on petrol burned in an internal combustion engine (ICE). Some cities restrict older, polluting petrol cars, and some countries plan to stop selling them in the future. Other fuels like diesel, autogas, and CNG can also be used in ICE cars. Work is ongoing to develop alternative power systems like hybrid vehicles, plug-in electric vehicles, and hydrogen vehicles. By 2025, one in four new cars sold is electric, though still fewer than one in twenty cars on the road are fully electric or plug-in hybrid.

User interface

Cars have controls for driving, comfort, and safety, operated by hands and feet. These include a steering wheel, pedals for brakes and speed (and a clutch pedal in manual cars), and levers for changing gears. Modern cars also have buttons and dials for lights, ventilation, and other functions. Over time, cars have changed from older controls like the choke valve and hand crank to modern features such as air conditioning, navigation systems, and in-car entertainment. Some cars now use touchscreens instead of physical knobs and switches.

Electronics and interior

Cars usually have interior lighting, an entertainment system that started with car radios, windows that can be raised or lowered, and power outlets for devices like mobile phones. More expensive cars may have extra features like massage seats and collision avoidance systems. Cars also have safety features to prevent electrical problems.

Lighting

Main article: Automotive lighting

Cars have many types of lights, such as headlights for seeing ahead and making the car visible at night, brake lights to show when braking, and turn signal lights to show direction. Some cars also have lights for reversing and side markers to improve visibility. Interior lights help the driver and passengers see better inside the car.

Weight and size

Cars have become heavier over time due to safety features like airbags and stronger materials, weighing between 1 and 3 tonnes. Heavier cars can be safer for the driver but can be more dangerous for others on the road. The weight of a car affects its fuel use and performance. Smaller cars, like the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV, weigh around 700 kilograms. Some places tax heavier cars more to encourage safer designs and better fuel efficiency.

Seating and body style

See also: Car body style, Car classification, Truck classification, and Vehicle size class

Most cars are made to carry several people, often with four or five seats. Cars with five seats usually have two passengers in the front and three in the back. Larger cars can carry more people, while sports cars often have only two seats. There are many types of car bodies to suit different needs, including sedan/saloon, hatchback, station wagon/estate, coupe, and minivan.

Safety

Traffic collisions are a major cause of injuries around the world. Early car accidents include the death of Mary Ward in 1869 in Parsonstown, Ireland, and an accident involving Henry Bliss in New York City in 1899. Today, there are safety tests for new cars, such as the Euro and US NCAP tests, and tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Some countries are improving safety rules for cars, like requiring data recorders and automated braking systems, to better protect everyone on the road.

Costs and benefits

Cars have both personal and societal costs and benefits. For individuals, owning a car involves expenses like buying the vehicle, paying for fuel, repairs, insurance, and parking. However, cars also offer benefits such as convenient transportation, freedom to travel when you want, and the ability to carry goods or people where you need to go.

Society also feels the impact of cars. Building and maintaining roads requires resources, and cars can create pollution and traffic congestion. On the other hand, the car industry creates jobs, generates taxes, and allows people to travel for work, leisure, and other opportunities, which contributes to overall wellbeing.

Environmental effects

See also: Exhaust gas, Waste tyres, Environmental effects of transport, Externalities of automobiles, Noise pollution, Environmental aspects of the electric car, and Vehicle recycling

Cars have many effects on the environment. They create air pollution and add to greenhouse gas emissions, which help cause climate change. In 2022, cars and vans were responsible for 10% of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. Electric cars produce fewer emissions than cars that use diesel or petrol, especially as more electricity comes from low-carbon sources.

Cars also cause other kinds of pollution. They can release heavy metals and microplastics into the environment. Roads can harm animals and plants by destroying habitats and breaking up wildlife areas. Many animals are killed on roads each year. Some new roads are built with features like green bridges to help wildlife cross safely. Governments are working to reduce car pollution by setting emission standards and planning to stop selling fossil fuel cars in the future. Some cities are creating low-emission zones and making it easier for people to use other ways to get around, like cycling.

Social issues

The mass production of cars in places like the United States, Australia, Argentina, and France helped people travel more easily and boosted economic growth in many areas. However, the rise in car use has also caused traffic jams in big cities such as Moscow, Istanbul, Bogotá, Mexico City, and São Paulo.

Cars can affect health and communities. Air pollution from cars can increase the risk of serious illnesses like lung cancer and heart disease. It can also harm babies, leading to born too early or having a lower birth weight. Children are especially sensitive to air pollution, which can contribute to health problems like asthma, and other issues. Car-centric cities often spread out, which can lead to people traveling more and less physical activity, potentially contributing to health challenges like obesity.

Emerging car technologies

Cars are changing with new technologies. Battery electric vehicles, like those using lithium iron phosphate batteries, are becoming safer and more affordable. Sensors such as lidar help cars "see" better, and wireless charging is being developed to power cars without plugs. Software can help cars avoid hitting pedestrians and make travel easier.

New materials like aluminium, fiberglass, carbon fiber, and biocomposites might replace steel in car bodies. Telematics and connected car systems allow people to share cars through car share and carpool schemes. Fully self-driving cars, or autonomous vehicles, exist in some places as robotaxis, but laws need updating before they can be used widely.

Industry

Main article: Automotive industry

The automotive industry is responsible for designing, building, and selling motor vehicles, with most of these being cars. In 2020, about 56 million new cars were made around the world. China made the most cars, followed by Japan, Germany, South Korea, and India. China also has the largest market for cars.

There are roughly 1.644 billion cars in use today, and they use a huge amount of fuel each year. As more people in places like China and India buy cars, there are concerns about how this affects the environment and health. Some people are looking for new ways to make transportation better for everyone. In Europe, new rules were introduced to make sure that by 2035, all new cars sold will be zero-emissions vehicles, meaning they won’t pollute the air.

Alternatives

Main article: Alternatives to car use

There are many ways to get around besides using a car. Public transport, such as busses, trolleybusses, trains, subways, tramways, and light rail, offers a good option for many people. Cycling and walking are also popular choices. In places like Copenhagen and Amsterdam, bicycle sharing systems make it easy for people to ride bikes around the city. Some cities are also exploring new ideas, like personal rapid transit, which could one day become an alternative to driving. Studies show that creating Low Traffic Neighbourhood areas in cities like London can bring many benefits over time.

Car motorsport

Main article: Motorsport

Motorsport is an exciting sport that includes fast racing and drifting. Popular racing series in motorsport are Formula One, IndyCar Series, NASCAR, World Rally Championship, and MotoGP. These competitions bring together skilled drivers from around the world to race on tracks or roads.