When was the first ever modern car invented?

There's no single answer to when the "first ever modern car" was invented, as it depends on how you define "modern car." There's no sudden leap from horse-drawn carriages to what we'd recognize as a car today. It was a gradual process of innovation.

However, several key dates and inventors are often cited:

* Karl Benz's Patent-Motorwagen (1886): This is widely considered the first practical automobile, receiving a patent in January 1886. It was a three-wheeled vehicle with an internal combustion engine.

* Gottlieb Daimler's vehicles (late 1880s): Daimler independently developed a high-speed internal combustion engine that was adapted to various vehicles, including a four-wheeled wagon.

Both Benz and Daimler made significant contributions almost simultaneously, leading to the rapid evolution of the automobile. Therefore, pinpointing one single "first" is difficult and often depends on the criteria used. The 1880s are generally accepted as the decade when the modern car emerged.