Who invented the automobile?

    Karl (Carl) Benz.

This question does not have a straightforward answer. The history of the automobile is very rich and dates back to the 15th century when Leonardo da Vinci was creating designs and models for transport vehicles.

There are many different types of automobiles - steam, electric, and gasoline - as well as countless styles. Exactly who invented the automobile is a matter of opinion. If we had to give credit to one inventor, it would probably be Karl Benz from Germany. Many suggest that he created the first true automobile in 1885/1886.

Below is a table of some automobile firsts, compiled from information in Leonard Bruno's book Science and Technology Firsts (Detroit, c1997) and About.com's History of the Automobile.

Related Web Sites

About.com: History of the Automobile - About.com is an Internet directory. It includes descriptions of automobiles and inventors, and other topics such as the history of the sports car and the history of the American car. Encyclopedia Smithsonian: Transportation History - For information about automobile history look under the "Rail and Road" section. There is a reading list and Web links to resources about automobiles and other ground transportation vehicles like the motorcycle. European Automotive Hall of Fame - This site provides biographies of the many inventors who shaped the automobile industry from Karl Benz to Henry Ford. EV (electric vehicle) History from Econogics.com - This site contains a comprehensive history of the electric vehicle along with company information and related Web links. Links to Michigan State Government: Early Automobile History - This site has links to various topics about Automotive History like the history of GM and Henry Ford along with Web links to museums and historic sites. The link to Automotive History from the Flint Public Library provides biographic information of the many inventors who shaped the automobile industry. Philadelphia Free Library: Automobile Reference Collection - To read a brief summary of the collection use the drop down menu to read "Automobile Reference Collection." In order to search for items in the collection you will need to search the catalog or ask a librarian for assistance.

Further Reading

Bruno, Leonard. Transportation. Science and technology firsts. Detroit, Gale, c1997: 499-534. Burness, Tad. Ultimate auto album: an illustrated history of the automobile. Iola, WI, Krause Publications, c2001. 503 p. Coffey, Frank. America on wheels: the first 100 years: 1896-1996. Los Angeles, General Publishing Group, c1998. 304 p. Eckermann, Erik. World history of the automobile. Warrendale, PA, Society of Automotive Engineers, c2001. 371 p. Georgano, G.N. & Thorkil Ry Andersen, editors. The new encyclopedia of motorcars, 1885 to the present. New York, Dutton, 1982. 688 p. Lafferty, Peter. Top gear: the history of automobiles. New York, F. Watts, c1990. 32 p.

For more print resources...
Search on "benz, karl" "history and automobile" or "internal combustion engine" in the Library of Congress Online Catalog.

An early Benz automobile. Photo courtesy of Vintage Web Classic Cars Picture Archive.

Horseless buggy made by Charles and Frank Duryea, 1893. The first practical gasoline automobile built in the United States. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress.

De Dion motor carriage #2. c1901. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress.

First automobile on Pa. Avenue, 1896. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress.

Early steam automobile presented to Smithsonian / Underwood & Underwood, Washington, 1928. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress.

Austro Daimler by A.E.N. Paul Neumann (advertisement for Daimler automobiles), 1918. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress.

Top of Page