List of basic automobile topics

For a more comprehensive list, see the List of automobile topics.

An automobile (or motor car) is a wheeled passenger vehicle that carries its own motor. Most definitions of the term specify that automobiles are designed to run primarily on roads, to have seating for one to six people, typically have four wheels and be constructed principally for the transport of people rather than goods. As of 2002 there were 590 million passenger cars worldwide (roughly one car for every eleven people), of which 140 million were in the U.S. (roughly one car for every two people).

The following list of topics is provided as an overview of and introduction to automobiles:

Automobile Portal

1 Types of automobile
2 History of automobiles
3 Basic automobile concepts
4 Automobile scholars
5 Leaders in automobiles
6 Automobile lists
7 See also
8 External links

Types of automobile

The basic automobile is privately owned for transporting the owner and his or her passengers. See automobile. Other types of cars include:

History of automobiles

Main article: History of the automobile

History of steam road vehicles
Cugnot's fardier à vapeur – an experimental steam-driven artillery tractor regarded by some as the first 'car'
Benz Patent Motorwagen – First purpose-built automobile