If we consider a car to be a vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine and capable of carrying people, then the first one was invented by German engineer Karl Benz. It was he who in 1885 designed and assembled the world's first car that matches the modern understanding of this term. His invention was a tricycle with a gasoline engine producing 0.75 horsepower. The machine could reach speeds of up to 16 km/h. Karl Benz officially received a patent for his invention on January 29, 1886. This document is considered the "birth certificate" of the automobile. That is why Karl Benz is regarded as the person who first invented the car in the world in the form we know it today.
Who and when started moving towards the automobile?
Nevertheless, there were many attempts to create self-propelled machines earlier. For example, in 1769, French engineer Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot designed a steam-powered carriage intended for transporting artillery. His vehicle moved by steam and could pull heavy loads. But the design was imperfect and did not become widespread. Despite this, Cugnot is also often called one of those who invented the first car, although it was not a "car" in the modern sense. Another inventor who made an important contribution to the development of automobiles was Gottlieb Daimler, who worked in parallel with Benz. In 1886, he installed a gasoline engine on a four-wheeled carriage, thereby taking another step in the development of the automotive industry. But it was Karl Benz who received priority thanks to the patent and the completed design.
Who invented the first car in the world: a controversial issue?
When it comes to who first invented the car, it is important to consider that history consists of many discoveries. Benz made the car mass-produced and functional, and his wife Bertha Benz in 1888 made the first long-distance car journey in history, thereby proving the car's suitability for everyday use. Some also mention American George Selden, who in 1879 filed a patent application for a gasoline engine design for a self-propelled carriage. However, his patent was only granted in 1895, and he did not build a working model. Therefore, Selden cannot be considered the one who invented the first car, despite the legal disputes he had with the Benz and Daimler companies.
Thus, to the question "Who and when invented the first car in the world?" one can confidently answer: Karl Benz in 1885. It was his design that laid the foundation for modern cars, and the patent obtained in 1886 secured his status as the pioneer. Although there were other self-propelled machines before him, the car in the full sense of the word - with an internal combustion engine, capable of carrying passengers - appeared precisely thanks to Benz. And it is he who can rightfully be called the one who first invented the car in the world.
