The automobile, also known as a motor car or simply as a car, is one of the most universal of modern inventions. It is a self-propelled vehicle intended for passenger transportation on land, typically consisting of four to eight tires and powered by an internal combustion engine that is fuelled most often by gasoline, but can also be powered by diesel or electric power. The branch of engineering that deals with the manufacture and technology of automobiles is called automotive engineering.
The modern automobile is a complex machine with thousands of parts. Like the human body, it has several semi-independent systems, such as the circulatory system that carries coolant and lubricating oil, the digestive system that absorbs food and breaks it down, and the heart that pumps blood through the body.
Automobiles allow people to move around the world with speed and freedom, giving them access to jobs, education, health care, entertainment, and leisure activities. Entire industries developed to support the production and distribution of automobiles, and new services such as hotels and restaurants sprang up. Automobiles also have caused problems, such as air pollution and the destruction of wild land.
If you’re considering buying a car, be sure to consider the pros and cons. Having a car can give you a sense of freedom, but it can also be expensive to maintain and inconvenient to use during bad weather or when the schedules of friends and family interfere with your travel plans. At FICOH, we offer affordable auto, home and renters insurance that can help you save money on these expenses.