It was founded in 1986 by a group of former Car and Driver employees, led by David E. Davis with support from Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation,[2][3] using the credo No Boring Cars.

[4] Automobile positioned itself more broadly than the other automotive publications, an editorial theme expanded by editor David E. Davis: the magazine de-emphasized instrumented tests and elaborate technical data, instead offering subjective, experiential reports; providing in-depth review of older cars with its Collectible Classics series; and offering styling analysis with its column by former General Motors designer Robert Cumberford.

[5] In 1991 the magazine was bought by K-III Communications (later Primedia).

[6] In 2007, the publication was acquired by Source Interlink (later TEN: The Enthusiast Network).

[8] In December 2019, Discovery's subsidiary TEN Publishing announced the discontinuation of Automobile.