The origin of the automobile can be traced back to the end of the 18th century. In 1769, the French inventor Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot designed and manufactured the world’s first steam-powered tricycle, which was powered by a steam engine and could carry 4 people at a speed of 3.5 kilometers per hour. Although this vehicle was bulky, had low efficiency and was difficult to operate, it broke the tradition of human travel relying on animal power and laid the foundation for the birth of modern automobiles. It is regarded as the “ancestor of automobiles” in the history of automobile development. The real turning point in the history of automobiles came in 1885. The German inventor Karl Benz successfully developed the world’s first practical internal combustion engine-powered automobile. This automobile used a single-cylinder four-stroke gasoline engine with a displacement of 0.954 liters and a power of 0.75 horsepower, and could reach a maximum speed of 16 kilometers per hour. In 1886, Karl Benz applied for a patent for this automobile, which is known as the “birth certificate of the automobile” and marked the official birth of the modern automobile era. Since then, the automobile has gradually got rid of the limitations of steam power and moved towards a more efficient and practical direction. In 1908, Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor Company, launched the Model T, which changed the pattern of the automobile industry. Ford pioneered the assembly line production method, which reduced the production time of each Model T from 12 hours to 93 minutes, greatly reducing the production cost. The price of the Model T dropped from 850 US dollars to 260 US dollars, making the automobile no longer a luxury for the rich, but accessible to ordinary families. The popularization of the Model T promoted the rapid development of the automobile industry and laid the foundation for the formation of the modern automobile industry chain. The 1930s was a period of rapid development of automobile technology. In 1938, Volkswagen launched the Beetle, which was designed by Ferdinand Porsche. With its simple appearance, reliable performance and low price, the Beetle became one of the most popular models in the world, with a total production of more than 20 million units. At the same time, hydraulic braking systems, independent suspension systems and other technologies were gradually applied to automobiles, improving the safety and comfort of automobiles. In 1939, General Motors launched the first automatic transmission automobile, which greatly simplified the driving operation and made driving easier and more convenient. After the Second World War, the automobile industry entered a period of rapid recovery and development. In the 1950s, the United States became the world’s largest automobile producer and consumer, with a large number of classic models such as the Chevrolet Bel Air and Ford Thunderbird. In the 1970s, affected by the oil crisis, automobile manufacturers began to focus on the research and development of energy-saving technologies, and small-displacement automobiles became popular. In the 1980s, Japanese automobile manufacturers represented by Toyota, Honda and Nissan entered the global market with their advantages of fuel economy and reliability, challenging the dominant position of American and European automobile manufacturers. The 21st century has witnessed the rapid development of intelligent and electrified automobile technologies. In 2008, Tesla launched the Roadster, the world’s first high-performance electric sports car, which proved the feasibility of pure electric vehicles and triggered a global wave of electrification. In recent years, autonomous driving technology, Internet of Vehicles technology and intelligent cockpit technology have developed rapidly, making automobiles gradually move towards “intelligent mobile spaces”. From steam power to internal combustion engine power, and then to electric power; from manual operation to automatic driving, every milestone in the history of automobiles is a witness to human wisdom and technological progress. In the future, with the continuous development of technology, automobiles will continue to bring more changes to human society.
