Here's why:
* Cugnot's carriage was the first to be demonstrated publicly and to actually transport a load. It was a three-wheeled vehicle designed to haul artillery. While it only managed a top speed of about 2.5 mph and ran for short distances before needing to be refueled, it proved the feasibility of steam power for locomotion.
* Other early steam vehicles existed, but they were either not fully functional or were not widely documented. For example, some argue that Ferdinand Verbiest built a steam-powered vehicle in 1672, but evidence of its existence is limited.
While there may be earlier contenders for the title of first steam vehicle, Cugnot's steam carriage is widely considered the first successful and documented example, and thus holds a significant place in the history of automotive technology.
