People lives changed more during twentieth century than in any previous period in history. With so many inventions came in this period, there are few of them that have influenced and changed world more than automobile. Since most people alive today have grown up in the automotive age, the impact of the automobile on the society is easily overlooked.

             Out of experiments in many places and with many elements of design, the essential features of the automobile emerged around the turn of the century. In the last quarter of the nineteenth century, and especially in the 1890's, much work was carried in France, Germany, Great Britain, Austria, and United States to develop practical designs of both vehicle and motor. In 1885, Gottlieb Daimler, who had previously worked with Dr Nikolaus August Otto, applied a single cylinder and air-cooled vertical machine to a carriage. A few years later Daimler created his first "four wheeled wooden built light wagonnete" powered by petrol. Karl Benz of Manheim (Germany) then built an engine specifically intended for motor cars, leading to the four-wheelers (Thomas 321). As petrol cars became more dependable the advantage of not having to wait until steam was generated gave them clear superiority over the steamers, and the self-starter took away the principal advantage from electric propulsion. At the beginning of the century, petrol driven internal-combustion motor car had established itself as the dominant mechanical road vehicle and started its expansion with great rapidity (Ware 291). .

             In 1894, the French newspaper La Petit Journal introduced a new invention to the wider public by organizing a trial run of motor cars from Paris to Rouen. In 1895 the race was organized from Paris to Bordeaux. The winner averaged fifteen miles an hour. In the first decade of 1900's, French led the world in the production of cars, and automobiles even took part in French army maneuvers.