Automobiles, which are land vehicles equipped with power devices, are primarily used for transporting passengers or goods.

They are powered by internal combustion engines, electric motors, or hybrid systems, and utilize various control systems and components for driving, acceleration, deceleration, steering, etc.

The evolution of automobiles has undergone a lengthy process since their inception.

1. Invention and Emergence of Steam Engines

Before the invention of steam engines, there were primitive "vehicles" in a sense.

Initially, cylindrical pieces of wood were rolled under heavy objects to transport them. It was observed that larger wooden wheels led to faster transportation speeds, leading to the adoption of increasingly larger wooden wheels. Eventually, wheeled vehicles with axles were developed, marking the earliest forms of wheels.

In 1774, James Watt, a British inventor, successfully invented the world's first mechanical steam engine, which directly opened the door to the first industrial revolution. From then on, the history of automobile development began.

In 1759, a Frenchman named N.J. Cugnot built the world's first steam-powered three-wheeled vehicle called the "Fardier à Vapeur." It featured a large boiler resembling a pear mounted on a frame, measuring 7.2 meters in length and 2.2 meters in height. This vehicle required a 15-second stop every 12 to 15 seconds of travel to heat up for another 15 seconds and had a speed of 3.5 to 3.9 kilometers per hour.

In 1804, Richard Trevithick manufactured a steam carriage that transported 10 tons of cargo over 15.7 kilometers on a railway.

In 1808, Richard Trevithick invented the steam locomotive for railways.

In 1825, Goldsworthy Gurney invented and manufactured a steam-powered public bus with 18 seats and a speed of 19 kilometers per hour, making it the world's earliest public bus.

2. Birth of Internal Combustion Engines

In 1860, Étienne Lenoir developed the internal combustion engine, which operates by drawing in air and fuel, compressing and igniting the mixture, and then exhausting the resulting combustion gases.

In 1876, Nikolaus Otto significantly improved engine efficiency by compressing and igniting a gasoline-air mixture within a cylinder.

In 1879, German engineer Carl Benz successfully tested a two-stroke experimental engine.

Later, he founded the "Benz & Cie" company and constructed the first patented motor car, which was powered by a 0.9-horsepower single-cylinder gasoline engine, had a top speed of 15 kilometers per hour, and received its patent on January 29, 1886, considered the birth date of the automobile.

In 1886, Karl Benz, a German, unveiled the first four-wheeled automobile equipped with a 0.46-liter four-stroke gasoline engine with a power output of 0.82 kW and a top speed of 18 km/h.

3. Mass Production of Modern Automobiles

In the 20th century, the automobile industry expanded globally. In October 1908, Henry Ford began selling the Model T in the United States, eventually producing and selling 15 million units within a short span of 19 years.

During the oil crisis of 1973, the American automobile industry faced significant challenges. Seizing this opportunity, Japan focused on developing and producing fuel-efficient compact cars.

The impact of the oil crisis led to practical advancements in automobiles, with coverage extending to agricultural and expeditionary fields, providing people with a diverse range of options.

4. Industrialization of Automobiles

After, Japan vigorously developed its automobile industry. However, due to Japan's economic conditions at the time, mass production similar to that of the United States was not feasible. To reduce costs, improve production efficiency, and ensure company profits, Toyota developed the Toyota Production System (TPS).

This production system eliminated waste-forming elements and reasons, facilitated flow by removing flow barriers, effectively reduced inventory, increased inventory turnover, and shortened production cycles. Consequently, it has been widely adopted and applied by other companies.

5. Development of New Energy Vehicles

Today, new energy vehicles are gaining increasing market share and are highly advocated by many countries due to their extremely low emissions.

New energy vehicles refer to vehicles powered by energy sources other than diesel or gasoline engines, such as hybrid vehicles, fuel cell vehicles, solar vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles, etc. According to incomplete statistics, there are over a million natural gas vehicles worldwide, and the number of liquefied petroleum gas vehicles exceeds four million.

Over more than a century of continuous improvement and innovation, automobiles have embodied human wisdom and craftsmanship. Supported by various industries such as petroleum, steel, aluminum, chemicals, plastics, machinery, electricity, road networks, electronics, and finance, they have become transportation tools of various forms and specifications, widely used in various sectors of socio-economic life.