| The automobile industry has had an exciting and | | | | are developing entirely new options to power their |
| exponential growth of the past hundred years. A | | | | vehicles, most pertinently hybrid and |
| century ago, cars were just beginning to enter | | | | electric-powered engines. Many people consider a |
| into mainstream production, and the Henry Ford | | | | fancy car an integral part of their personal |
| had yet to introduce the industry standard Model | | | | identity. Driving a race-striped sports car complete |
| T. Now, many people consider a car to be a | | | | with spoiler and spinners definitely strokes the |
| necessity, and even own more than one. Henry | | | | ego. In this far from ideal world where speed |
| Ford is the man that most people associate with | | | | limits govern, this "need for speed" attitude often |
| the early automobile industry. Although he | | | | results in a police ticket. Cars themselves have |
| definitely wasn't the first person to build or | | | | evolved a lot since the original, plain Model T. It's |
| distribute automobiles, his masterful use of | | | | safe to say that there is a vehicle to meet every |
| production-line assembly allow the Model T to | | | | personality. There are commuter cars, trucks, |
| become the car of choice of the middle-class, | | | | vans, suburbans, and motorcycles. When all of the |
| hard-working American. The car cost | | | | possible upgrades, add-ons, and paint jobs are |
| approximately four months' wages, and Ford has | | | | considered, it's safe to say that there is a vehicle |
| been widely attributed with the quote, "Any | | | | to meet every personality. The automobile has |
| customer can have a car painted any color that | | | | not only left an imprint on our own hearts, but |
| he wants so long as it is black." There's no | | | | also on society as well. Vehicles are expensive to |
| question that automobiles are common place | | | | maintain and insure, and millions of dollars are |
| around the world today. With over 590 million | | | | spent building and improving roadways, but the |
| passenger cars worldwide, there is approximately | | | | benefits are undeniable. Each person with a |
| one car for every eleven people. However, that | | | | driver's license has the independence of |
| ratio is even better in more highly developed | | | | on-demand transportation at their convenience. |
| countries, where almost every adult owns their | | | | The automobile industry has left its mark on the |
| own personal car. In fact, over 73 million cars | | | | economy as well, creating jobs for people and |
| were produced just last year! Japan leads the | | | | helping them get there. It's certainly a lot more |
| world in car production, home to manufacturers | | | | convenient that walking, riding a bicycle, or sharing |
| such as Toyota, Honda, and Nissan. Closely | | | | public transportation. Modern society takes the car |
| following Japan is the United States, with Ford and | | | | industry for granted. Not all that long ago, cars |
| Chrysler leading the way. China, Germany, and | | | | were a new-age science fiction object that only |
| South Korea also making up a significant portion | | | | the rich could afford. Thanks to the continuing |
| of production. The "Big Five" countries produce | | | | evolution of the industry, it's safe to say we'll be |
| over half of the cars in the world. The high and | | | | taking advantage of this convenient method of |
| rising cost of gasoline has forced both automobile | | | | travel for years to come. |
| owners and producers to take a second look at | | | | If you are a car fanatic and looking for discussions |
| how their vehicles use the expensive resource. | | | | for enthusiastic drivers you have come to the |
| Cars owners are actively looking to burn less gas, | | | | right place. We also have discussions & tips |
| by improving their driving habits and trading in | | | | regarding programming languages such as |
| their large gas-guzzlers for more economical and | | | | javascript. |
| environmentally-friendly vehicles. Manufacturers | | | | |