Car

A car, or an automobile, is a motor vehicle with wheels. Most definitions of cars state that they run primarily on roads, seat 1-8 people, have four wheels, and mainly transport people rather than cargo. There are over 1.6 billion cars in use worldwide as of 2025.

The French inventor Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot built the first steam-powered road vehicle in 1769, and the Swiss inventor François Isaac de Rivaz designed and constructed the first internal combustion-powered automobile in 1808. The modern car—a practical, marketable automobile for everyday use—was invented in 1886, when the German inventor Carl Benz patented his Benz Patent-Motorwagen. Commercial cars became widely available during the 20th century. The 1901 Oldsmobile Curved Dash and the 1908 Ford Model T, both American cars, are widely considered the first mass-produced and mass-affordable cars, respectively. Cars were rapidly adopted in the US, where they replaced horse-drawn carriages. In Europe and other parts of the world, demand for automobiles did not increase until after World War II. In the 21st century, car usage is still increasing rapidly, especially in China, India, and other newly industrialised countries.

Cars have controls for driving, parking, passenger comfort, and a variety of lamps. Over the decades, additional features and controls have been added to vehicles, making them progressively more complex. These include seat belts, airbags, rear-reversing cameras, air conditioning, navigation systems, and in-car entertainment. Most cars in use in the early 2020s are propelled by an internal combustion engine, fueled by the combustion of fossil fuels. Electric cars, which were invented early in the history of the car, became commercially available in the 2000s and widespread in the 2020s.

There are costs and benefits to car use. The costs to the individual include acquiring the vehicle, repairs and maintenance, fuel, driving time, parking fees, taxes, and insurance. Personal benefits include on-demand transportation, mobility, independence, and convenience. Societal benefits include economic benefits, such as job and wealth creation from the automotive industry, and societal wellbeing from leisure and travel opportunities. Traffic collisions are the largest cause of injury-related deaths worldwide. As of 2024, cars produce 10% of global carbon dioxide emissions, contributing to climate change. Other environmental impacts include the resources used to produce and dispose of them and procure their fuel, air pollution from exhaust and particles released by brakes and contact between tyres and the road, and noise and light pollution. Widespread car use results in road congestion and promotes urban sprawl, leading to higher infrastructure costs, habitat destruction, limited mobility for those who cannot drive (including children, disabled people, and the elderly), social isolation, and sedentary lifestyles that worsen health outcomes.