Benz's Patent-Motorwagen

What happened

On 29 January 1886 the German engineer Karl Benz patented his Patent-Motorwagen, a three-wheeled carriage powered by a single-cylinder petrol engine with electric ignition. It is widely regarded as the world's first practical automobile.

Why it matters

Benz's Motorwagen marked the birth of the motor car — a self-propelled machine that would go on to remake transportation, cities, and daily life across the world.

Sources

• National Motor Museum. Benz Motorwagen — The Birth of the Motorcar · Reputable source