A motor vehicle is a road transport tool driven by power and featuring four or more non-track load-bearing structures. Its standardized definition covers carrying, towing and special-purpose functions. This term can be traced back to the idea proposed by Zhang Sui of the Tang Dynasty, "the method of stimulating the rotation of copper wheels and transporting them with fire steam", originally referring to steam-driven track locomotives. In modern Chinese, the pronunciation of "汽车" (qi chē) and its mechanical structural features form a complete interpretation system, including core components such as engines and suspension systems.

The wheeled road vehicle equipped with light power and self-propelled - the automobile - was not like this when it was first invented. The development of the automobile has also been a long process. After more than 100 years of continuous improvement and innovation, it has gathered human wisdom and craftsmanship, and benefited from the support of various industries such as petroleum, steel, aluminum, chemical engineering, plastics, mechanical equipment, power, road networks, electronic technology and finance, driving its development. It has become a transportation tool with multiple types and different specifications, widely used in various fields of social and economic life. Since 1970, the number of cars worldwide has almost doubled every 15 years. In 2013, the global car production was 87.38 million.

In 1769, the Frenchman N. J. Guinau built the world's first steam-driven three-wheeled car. This car is named "Cabo 'ore", with a length of 7.32 meters and a height of 2.2 meters. A large boiler shaped like a pear is placed on the frame. The diameter of the front wheel is 1.28 meters and that of the rear wheel is 1.50 meters. When moving forward, the direction is controlled by the front wheel. It needs to stop and heat up for 15 minutes every 12 to 15 minutes of moving forward. The operating speed is 3.5 to 3.9 kilometers per hour. The second car was made in 1771 and never actually ran. It is now on display at the National Gallery of Art in Paris, France. Although Guiniu's invention failed, it marked the dividing line between ancient transportation (powered by humans, livestock or sails) and modern transportation (driven by mechanical power), and was of epoch-making significance.