What is the first car ever made?

There's no single definitive answer to what the very first car ever made was, as it depends on how you define "car." There wasn't a sudden invention; it was a gradual evolution. However, strong contenders for early automobiles include:

* Karl Benz's Patent-Motorwagen (1886): This is often cited as the first practical automobile. It was a three-wheeled vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine. Many consider this the first true automobile.

* Gottlieb Daimler's and Wilhelm Maybach's vehicles (late 1880s): Daimler and Maybach developed high-speed internal combustion engines that were adapted to various vehicles, including a four-wheeled carriage. Their contributions were crucial to the development of the automobile.

The distinction often comes down to whether you prioritize the first *self-propelled vehicle*, the first vehicle with an *internal combustion engine suitable for practical use*, or the first vehicle resembling a modern *car* in design. Benz's Patent-Motorwagen is generally the most widely accepted answer due to its practicality and documentation.