Here's a breakdown of the key milestones:
Early Steam-Powered Vehicles:
* Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot: In 1769, he created a three-wheeled steam-powered vehicle that could carry a small load, but it was slow and unreliable. It's often considered the first self-propelled road vehicle, but it was more like a steam tractor than a car as we know it today.
* Richard Trevithick: In 1801, he built a steam carriage that was more advanced than Cugnot's, but it was banned in London due to safety concerns.
Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles:
* Karl Benz: In 1886, he patented the first gasoline-powered automobile, a three-wheeled vehicle called the "Benz Patent Motorwagen." It's widely considered the first true automobile.
* Gottlieb Daimler: In 1886, he also developed a four-wheeled motor carriage, but it wasn't patented until 1889.
So, who created the first car?
* Technically: Cugnot's steam-powered vehicle was the first self-propelled road vehicle, but it's not considered a true car.
* Practically: Karl Benz is credited with creating the first gasoline-powered automobile, which is the basis for modern cars.
Therefore, Karl Benz is generally considered the creator of the first car.
