The first true 
automobile was a machine that had three wheels and was powered by steam. It was built by Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot of France in 1769. It was heavy and moved very slowly. Many manufacturers produced steam-driven automobiles during the late 1890s and early 1900s. A disadvantage of steam was that water had to be brought to a boil before the car could go.
During this same period other manufacturers produced cars run by electric motors. Electric cars ran smoothly and were easy to operate. However, they did not run well at high speeds. They also had to have their batteries recharged every 50 miles (80 kilometers) or so.
Gas Engines
Étienne Lenoir of France developed a gasoline-powered internal-combustion engine in 1860. In 1876 the German Nikolaus Otto built an improved gasoline engine. Gasoline engines proved to be more reliable than the other kinds. The brothers Charles E. and J. Frank Duryea built the first successful gasoline-powered car in the United States in 1893. Soon several people set up factories to produce cars.
Development of the Automobile Industry
Henry Ford made his first automobile in Detroit in 1896. Ford introduced the assembly line in 1913. This made it easy to produce many cars very quickly. Assembly-line workers stay in one place and do only a single task as the parts pass by on a conveyor. Ford soon sold millions of cars. The Model T version was especially popular. Several other companies were established at this time as well.
Innovations
In the period after World War I (1914–18), automobiles became easier to operate and more comfortable. Steel bodies and heaters became common.
After World War II (1939–45) automakers began using power steering, power brakes, and automatic controls for windows and seats. Air conditioning also became available.
In the late 1950s, European compact cars like the Volkswagen Beetle caused a sensation. Automakers in the United States built their own compact cars starting in 1959.
The Problem of Oil
The gasoline used in cars comes from oil. As the United States began to use up its own oil supplies, it looked to other countries for more. In 1973 the oil-producing countries stopped shipping as much oil to the countries that needed it. This caused high prices and long lines at gas stations. It also made automakers work to produce cars that did not use as much gasoline. Japanese companies were especially successful at this.
Cars also cause widespread air pollution. As gasoline is burned it produces harmful gases. New types of gasoline and catalytic converters helped ease the problem. Even so, some scientists blame these gases for a problem called global warming. The scientists and others became more concerned in the 1990s. Many drivers had replaced their passenger cars with SUVs. Such automobiles use large amounts of gas and produce more of the harmful gases.
By the 21st century some automakers had created vehicles that 
used alternative energy sources. Some ran on biofuel (such as ethanol) or batteries. The most successful alternative cars were called hybrids. They ran on a combination of gasoline and electric power.
Safety
Automobile safety is a continuing issue. Early cars were very dangerous to ride in. Since then car manufacturers have worked to create safer cars. They installed such devices as seat belts and air bags to protect riders in a crash. They have also tried to improve the way cars are built and the materials used to build cars so that the cars will survive a crash better.
