The Birth of the Father of Cars and the Founding of the World’s First Car Company.

On November 25, 1844—exactly 176 years ago today—a pioneering German engineer and entrepreneur, Karl Friedrich Benz, was born. He would go on to design and develop the world’s first car powered by an internal combustion engine. Together with his wife, Bertha Benz, Karl co-founded the company that would later become known as Mercedes-Benz.

Benz was born into a poor family, and after his father passed away when he was only two years old, his mother worked hard to provide him with the best education possible. A model student, Benz was accepted into a polytechnic school and later pursued mechanical engineering at the University of Karlsruhe, graduating at the age of 19 in 1864. A bicycle enthusiast, Benz dreamed of creating a fully mechanized, “horseless” carriage.

Despite working in various engineering jobs, Benz struggled to find true satisfaction. Eventually, he settled in Mannheim, where he partnered with August Ritter to start an iron foundry and metal workshop. Though the business faced difficulties, Benz’s fiancée Bertha bought out Ritter’s shares, allowing Benz to maintain control of the business. Karl and Bertha married in 1872 and had five children together.

Benz began developing various components for his envisioned vehicle, including the ignition system, spark plugs, gears, carburetor, water radiator, and clutch. His first complete gas-powered car, designed for a driver and one passenger, was assembled in 1885. He patented his two-stroke engine design in January 1886. At the time, people didn’t see the potential of such a vehicle, but Bertha, ever supportive, undertook a historic journey in 1888. She drove the car 106 kilometers to her mother’s house in Pforzheim without informing her husband, sending him a telegram upon arrival to confirm her safe journey. This was the first recorded long-distance car trip, which transformed public perception of the safety and practicality of motor vehicles. In her honor, a vintage car rally is held along her route every two years.

Following this journey, Karl improved his car with features like brake linings and additional support for hill climbing. At the 1889 Paris World Exhibition, Benz’s vehicles received widespread acclaim, and demand soared. The company’s workforce grew from 50 in 1889 to 430 by 1899, and Karl and Bertha went on to establish a network of companies across Europe, solidifying their position as one of the continent’s premier car manufacturers.

However, by the 1920s, Benz and Daimler—Mercedes’ engine manufacturer—faced fierce competition. Rising production costs due to inflation led to declining sales for both companies. In 1924, they signed a “mutual interest agreement” to unify production, marketing, and sales efforts while maintaining separate brands. Ultimately, the two companies merged in 1926, forming Daimler-Benz, the foundation of today’s Mercedes-Benz.

Karl Benz remained on the board of the newly formed company for the rest of his life. The merger proved fruitful, with sales tripling by 1927, and Mercedes even launched a diesel truck line that same year. Karl Benz passed away in his home in Ladenburg on April 4, 1929, at the age of 84, and Bertha remained there until her death in 1944 at age 95.

Thus began the journey of the modern automobile industry, which has evolved tremendously since. The incredible achievements of Karl Benz laid the foundation for today’s transportation. This episode of On This Day in Motoring celebrates his revolutionary contribution.

An interesting fact: Although the first car was created by a man, the world’s first driver was a woman—Bertha Benz, who took her husband’s invention on that iconic journey and introduced future generations to the marvel of motorized travel.