The automobile was first created and refined in Germany and France in the late 19th century, but it was in the United States that the industry truly took off in the early 20th century. Pioneers like Henry Ford introduced mass production techniques that became the industry standard, leading Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler to become known as the "Big Three" automakers by the 1920s. During World War II, car manufacturers redirected their efforts toward military production, but after the war, car production surged in Europe and Japan to satisfy rising demand. While the automobile played a crucial role in the development of American cities, by 1980, the global automotive landscape had shifted, with Japan emerging as the leading car producer.

Though the automobile's most significant social and economic effects were felt in the United States, its development was originally advanced in Germany and France toward the end of the 1800s by inventors such as Gottlieb Daimler, Karl Benz, Nicolaus Otto, and Emile Levassor.