autocars

Autocars is a term historically used to refer to self-propelled road vehicles designed for transporting people and goods, typically referring to passenger cars. In contemporary usage, the word autocars is largely replaced by automobile or car, with autocar appearing in older texts or in specific contexts.

The term derives from auto-, meaning self, and car from carriage. It emerged in the late 19th century in English and other languages as motor-powered vehicles began to evolve from horse-drawn carriages. In some markets, autocar or autocarism has been used to describe early or particular types of passenger vehicles, though the common modern term remains automobile or car.

Historically, autocars began as experimental machines competing with steam and electric propulsion. Internal combustion piston engines eventually became dominant, and mass production in the early 20th century made cars affordable for a broad public. This shift transformed transportation, industry, and everyday life, enabling longer travel, new business models, and urban development patterns.

Technology and variants have diversified autocars into gasoline, diesel, hybrid, and electric configurations. Modern autocars integrate advances in safety, performance, efficiency, and connectivity, with regulatory frameworks addressing crash safety, emissions, and, increasingly, autonomous driving features. The term itself is seldom used in everyday discourse today, but autocars remain central to discussions of automotive history and transport policy.

In summary, autocars denote self-propelled passenger vehicles whose evolution shaped the modern mobility landscape, though the preferred contemporary terms are automobile and car.