Automobiles are a key technology, providing an essential means of transportation for many people. They have revolutionized the way people live and work in this country and all over the world. The automobile is also one of the most recognizable and popular consumer goods in history. It is a complex technical system, employing thousands of subsystems with specific design functions. These subsystems are the result of significant technological advances in electronic computers, advanced plastics, and high-strength metals.

During the first decades of this century, American car manufacturers developed manufacturing techniques that allowed middle-class families to afford automobiles. These included the introduction of the assembly line, a concept pioneered by U.S. automaker Henry Ford. The assembly line made the production of automobiles much faster and cheaper. This reduced the cost of the cars and opened them up to many more Americans.

By the 1920s, America’s automotive industry was a vital force in the development of a new consumer-goods economy. It was a major source of jobs and an important consumer of steel, petroleum products, rubber, and other industrial materials. It was one of the largest consumers of labor in the nation, and it provided the foundation for a new society based on the consumption of consumer goods.

The automobile was a critical factor in the expansion of America’s urban areas, and it was also a powerful social force. It was used for transportation to and from work, school, shopping, recreation, and to visit friends and family. It enabled women to leave behind traditional roles in the home and to start working outside the house for wages. It was used to carry political messages, with women driving around with “votes for women” banners and giving speeches from their automobiles in the 1910s and 1920s.

Automobiles have become a dominant element in modern life, with over three trillion miles (five trillion kilometres) driven per year worldwide. Passenger cars have become the primary mode of transportation for most people, and Americans are offered hundreds of different models to choose from.

For a safe, reliable vehicle that can fit the whole family, look no further than a midsize SUV like the Mazda CX-5. This vehicle is well-equipped, has excellent fuel economy, and is fun to drive. It is an outstanding value and a great alternative to the bigger, more expensive vehicles available.