Early Concepts and Experiments:
* 1769: Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot, a French inventor, creates the first self-propelled vehicle powered by a steam engine. It's essentially a three-wheeled steam carriage.
* 1801: Richard Trevithick, an English inventor, builds the first steam-powered road carriage, the "Puffing Devil." It's a four-wheeled vehicle and a significant step towards a more practical design.
* 1886: Karl Benz, a German engineer, patents the first gasoline-powered automobile, considered the "first practical car." This invention marks a significant shift towards internal combustion engines.
The Birth of the Modern Car:
* 1896: Henry Ford, an American inventor, begins producing cars on a larger scale, revolutionizing the automotive industry.
* 1908: Ford introduces the Model T, an affordable and mass-produced car that becomes iconic and accelerates the adoption of automobiles worldwide.
Therefore, while Cugnot's steam carriage can be considered the "first car" in 1769, the modern car as we know it was born in 1886 with Benz's gasoline-powered automobile. It's important to note that the development of the car was a collaborative effort involving many inventors, engineers, and companies.
