The first true, purpose-built automobile powered by an internal combustion engine was made by Karl Benz in 1885/1886. While there were earlier steam-powered road vehicles, Benz's Patent-Motorwagen is widely recognized by historians and institutions like the German Patent Office as the world's first car because it integrated an engine designed specifically for vehicular use, making it a practical invention rather than a mere experiment.
Benz's three-wheeled vehicle was a groundbreaking achievement. It featured a single-cylinder, four-stroke engine that produced around 0.75 horsepower, a tubular steel frame, and wire-spoked wheels. The engine's output was modest, allowing for a top speed of just 16 km/h (about 10 mph), but its design principles—a lightweight chassis, an efficient internal combustion engine, and electric ignition—became the foundation for all future automobiles. Benz received the imperial patent for his "vehicle powered by a gas engine" (DRP No. 37435) on January 29, 1886, a date now celebrated as the birth of the automobile.
It's important to distinguish this from other pioneers. Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach, working separately, developed a high-speed engine and installed it in a stagecoach around the same time, but their work was an engine adaptation, not a bespoke vehicle. Therefore, Karl Benz is credited with creating the first integrated automobile, a title cemented by its official patent and operational status.
