* Early Self-Propelled Vehicles: While the concept of self-propelled vehicles existed for centuries, the first truly successful models were steam-powered, and appeared in the 1700s.
* The First "Cars": The first gasoline-powered vehicles, which more closely resemble modern cars, emerged in the late 1800s. Karl Benz is often credited with building the first practical gasoline-powered car in 1886.
* Evolution and Development: From there, cars continuously evolved, with innovations like the electric starter, mass production, and the internal combustion engine.
So, it's more accurate to say that cars were gradually invented and developed over a long period of time, rather than having a single "invention" date.
