Here are a few contenders for the title:
* Cugnot's Steam Carriage (1769): This three-wheeled vehicle, built by Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot, is often considered the first self-propelled road vehicle. It was designed to haul artillery and could travel at a speed of about 2.5 mph.
* Richard Trevithick's Steam Carriage (1801): Trevitick's carriage was more advanced than Cugnot's and could carry passengers. It was also the first vehicle to be used for public transportation.
* Karl Benz's Patent Motorwagen (1886): Many consider this to be the first true car. Benz's invention was powered by a gasoline engine and was a three-wheeled vehicle.
Ultimately, the title of "first car" is a matter of interpretation.
It's important to note that even before these vehicles, there were other attempts at creating self-powered vehicles, but they were not successful or commercially viable.
