Who was the first auto maker?

There's no single definitive answer to who the very first automaker was, as it depends on how you define "automobile" and "manufacturer." Several inventors were building self-propelled vehicles around the same time. However, Karl Benz is generally credited with creating the first practical automobile, receiving a patent for his Benz Patent-Motorwagen in 1886. While others were experimenting, Benz's design was considered more complete and commercially viable.