* Technological advancements: The invention of the internal combustion engine was crucial. Earlier steam-powered vehicles existed, but were bulky and impractical. The internal combustion engine offered a more compact and powerful alternative. Improvements in metallurgy (making stronger, lighter materials) and machining also played a significant role.
* Desire for personal transportation: Horses were expensive to maintain and unreliable. A self-propelled vehicle offered the potential for faster, more convenient, and more independent travel than horse-drawn carriages.
* Competition and innovation: Several inventors were racing to create a practical automobile simultaneously. The desire to be the "first" fueled intense competition and rapid development. This wasn't a single, planned project but a convergence of efforts.
* Economic opportunity: There was a growing sense that a successful automobile could revolutionize transportation and create a lucrative market.
Therefore, it wasn't a singular "why," but rather a combination of technological possibility, human desire for improved transportation, competitive spirit, and the promise of economic gain that led to the creation of the first automobiles. It's also important to note that defining the "first car" is difficult as the transition from early self-propelled vehicles to what we recognize as a car was gradual.
