Here are some key contenders, with caveats:
* Cugnot's Steam Carriage (1769): This is often cited as the first self-propelled vehicle, but it was more like a steam-powered wagon designed for hauling artillery than a car. It's not what we'd consider a car today.
* Benz Patent Motorwagen (1886): This is considered by many to be the first gasoline-powered car, and it's a much closer resemblance to what we'd recognize as a car. However, other inventors were working on similar vehicles at the time, making it difficult to claim absolute "first."
* The quadricycle by Karl Benz: This was the first vehicle that could be considered a car as we know it, as it was a self-propelled vehicle with a petrol engine and a steering wheel.
* The Daimler Motor Carriage (1887): This vehicle was also gasoline-powered, and it was able to reach speeds of up to 10 mph. It was one of the first cars to be designed for public use.
Ultimately, the "first car" is a matter of perspective and definition. All of these early vehicles contributed to the evolution of the modern car, and each holds a significant place in automotive history.
