While the invention of the first petrol car is often attributed to Karl Benz, the story is a bit more complex.
Karl Benz is widely recognized for building the first practical gasoline-powered automobile, the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, in 1886. This vehicle was the first to be commercially successful and is considered the founding father of the modern automobile.
However, other inventors played a significant role in the development of the petrol car.
- Émile Levassor and René Panhard were early pioneers who developed a successful petrol-powered car using a Benz engine in 1890. Their design, the Panhard & Levassor, became a popular model and influenced many future car designs.
- Gottlieb Daimler, a contemporary of Benz, also developed a successful petrol engine and applied it to various vehicles, including a motorcycle and a four-wheeled carriage.
Therefore, while Karl Benz is credited with the first commercially successful petrol car, other inventors contributed significantly to its development and advancement.
