Here are some contenders for the title:
* Cugnot's Steam-Powered Carriage (1769): This is often considered the first self-propelled vehicle capable of carrying passengers. It was designed by Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot and used for hauling artillery.
* Richard Trevithick's Steam Carriage (1801): Trevithick's vehicle was the first to run on a public road, though it was short-lived due to safety concerns.
* Karl Benz's Motorwagen (1886): Many consider this to be the first true "automobile" due to its use of an internal combustion engine and its design as a road-going vehicle.
Ultimately, it's a matter of interpretation. While Cugnot's carriage was a significant milestone, Benz's Motorwagen is generally recognized as the first practical and commercially viable automobile.
