Who invent the automatic car first?

It's difficult to definitively say who invented the first automatic car, as the development of the automatic transmission was a gradual process with contributions from multiple inventors.

Key figures in the development of the automatic transmission include:

* 1904: Louis Renault, a French inventor, patented a system called the "Renault-type gearbox" which used a planetary gear system to shift gears automatically. However, this system was not widely adopted.

* 1920s: General Motors (GM) began developing an automatic transmission system for their cars.

* 1939: Oldsmobile, a subsidiary of GM, introduced the first widely successful automatic transmission, called the "Hydra-Matic."

The Hydra-Matic transmission is often considered the first true automatic transmission that achieved commercial success. However, several other manufacturers were working on similar technologies at the time, and the Hydra-Matic was a culmination of many innovations.

Therefore, while Oldsmobile is credited with bringing the first successful automatic transmission to market, it's important to recognize the contributions of Louis Renault, General Motors, and other inventors who played a crucial role in its development.