motor vehicle
Quick Summary
A motor vehicle is a self-propelled vehicle, typically with four wheels and rubber tires, designed for use on highways and not operated on rails. The origins of the automotive industry trace back to the development of the gasoline engine in the late 19th century, with early manufacturers often coming from bicycle or machinery production backgrounds. Early experimentation included steam and electric-powered vehicles, but gasoline engines eventually dominated. The assembly method, where components are manufactured by separate firms, became integral to the marketing of motor vehicles, particularly in the United States. Transportation, including motor vehicles, has significantly influenced the development and use of natural resources, land use, and environmental conditions.1234
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
United StatesImpact of the motor vehicleSince about 1920 more genuine change has occurred in American rural life than during the preceding three centuries of European settlement in North America. Although the basic explanation is the profound social and technological transformations engulfing most of the world, the most immediate…
Read MoreSince about 1920 more genuine change has occurred in American rural life than during the preceding three centuries of European settlement in North America. Although the basic explanation is the profound social and technological transformations engulfing most of the world, the most immediate…
Read More
logisticsTransportation and communication…the railroad was the powered vehicle that could travel on ordinary roads and even unprepared surfaces, within the operating zones of armies forward of railheads. This was a 20th-century development, a combination of the internal-combustion engine, the pneumatic tire, and the endless track. Motor transport was used on an increasing…
Read More…the railroad was the powered vehicle that could travel on ordinary roads and even unprepared surfaces, within the operating zones of armies forward of railheads. This was a 20th-century development, a combination of the internal-combustion engine, the pneumatic tire, and the endless track. Motor transport was used on an increasing…
Read More