January 29, celebrated as World Automobile Day, honours Karl Benz’s 1886 patent for the Benz Patent Motorwagen (Patent No. DE 37435A). This three-wheeled vehicle, recognised as the first practical, petrol-powered automobile, marked the start of a revolution that reshaped human mobility and history.
Karl Benz, born on November 25, 1844, in Germany, pursued mechanical engineering before founding Benz & Co. in Mannheim in 1883. Two years later, in 1885, his company built the groundbreaking Benz Patent-Motorwagen. Officially patented on January 29, 1886, this innovation is now preserved in Munich, Germany.
Although he was officially granted a patent in 1886, there is still debate about who should be credited as the true inventor of the internal combustion engine automobile.
Interesting History & Controversies
However, according to recorded history, Benz was not the first to sell a commercial car. That credit goes to Charles and Frank Duryea, who sold the first gas-powered commercial car in 1893. Interestingly, just three years after Benz received his patent—and four years before the first commercial car sale—the first car dealership was established. In 1889, Fred Koller opened the first dedicated car dealership, making history in the automotive industry.
Historians attribute the establishment of the first car dealership even before the first commercial car sale to a remarkable event: In 1888, Bertha Benz, wife and business partner of Karl Benz, undertook a long-distance journey in their patented Benz “Motorwagen.” This endeavour attracted global attention to the Benz Patent-Motorwagen and even secured the company its first advance sale. Recognising the potential for future car sales, Fred Koller was inspired to open the world’s first car dealership in 1889.
It is believed that Karl Benz drew inspiration from two sources when designing his first practical motor vehicle. This is according to the most comprehensive study on the subject, the book “Ein Jahrhundert Automobiltechnik” (A Century of Automotive Technology), published in 1986 by Olaf von Fersen, a German journalist and the first non-Briton to be admitted to the Guild of Motoring Writers.
According to von Fersen, the birth of the modern automobile is marked by Benz’s three-wheeled motor car. However, he argues that the “brake” built in 1884 by the Frenchmen Édouard Delamare-Deboutteville and his assistant Leon Malandin exhibited the key characteristics of the modern automobile. This means that two years before Karl Benz’s “Motorwagen,” they had already obtained a patent for their vehicle under the number FR 160 267 A.
However, this vehicle did not go down in history as the “first practical vehicle” because it failed to demonstrate its practicality through a test drive confirmed by witnesses. Five years earlier, in 1879, the American lawyer George B. Selden registered a four-wheeled vehicle called the “Road Engine,” which was granted patent number US 549 160 A in 1895. This vehicle also has a place in history. However, the reality is that Selden’s first actual prototype was not built until 1904.
Flying Car: From Road to Sky
Although many prototypes of flying cars have been built since the beginning of the 20th century, it remained a popular subject in fantasy and science fiction stories. It wasn’t until the beginning of the 21st century that it began to enter the practical realm. While it is said that Gustav Whitehead, a German immigrant to the US, flew a powered aircraft in 1901, this has not found a place in history due to the lack of reliable and unquestionable documentation.
However, there is credible confirmation, documentation, and witnesses to aircraft designer Glenn Curtiss building his Autoplane in 1917. History records that although it could jump, it could not fly successfully. Later, in 1935, Constantinos Vlachos built a prototype of a “tri-phibian” vehicle with circular wings, but that too was unsuccessful.
The first successful flying car was the Autogiro Company of America AC-35, a prototype roadable autogyro, flown by test pilot James G. Ray on March 26, 1936. On October 26, 1936, the aircraft was converted to a roadable configuration. Ray drove it to the main entrance of the Commerce Building in Washington, D.C., where John H. Geisse, head of the Aeronautics Branch, received it. Although successfully tested, it did not enter production.
The first fixed-wing roadable aircraft was built by Waldo Waterman. On February 21, 1937, Waterman’s Arrowbile took to the skies for the first time. It was powered by a Studebaker engine on the ground and in the air. It could fly at a speed of 112 mph (180 km/h) and travel at a speed of 56 mph (90 km/h).
From then on, numerous companies and individuals worked tirelessly to make the flying car of fantasy and science fiction a reality. Therefore, the truth is that there is no definitive answer to who made the “first practical flying car.” Many companies and individuals have contributed to making this dream a reality, including AVE Mizar, Fulton Airphibian, Aerocar, Alef Model A, PAL-V Liberty, and Vinata Aeromobility.
Since the beginning of this century, many companies have successfully flown and driven their prototypes, but there is still a long way to go before achieving a vehicle that can both fly and travel on the road like a normal vehicle. This vehicle needs to be robust enough to meet road safety standards, light enough to fly, have a large degree of autonomy, high reliability, be equipped with automated routing and collision avoidance systems, and have sufficient designated landing sites.
World Automobile Day Celebration in Dubai
The Auto World Journal is proud to announce a grand in-person celebration of World Automobile Day, scheduled to take place in Dubai on January 28 and 29, 2026.
Originally planned for 2025, the event has been rescheduled to 2026 to address logistical and legal considerations, ensuring a larger, more comprehensive experience for participants. This highly anticipated celebration is set to draw over 4,000 industry leaders, innovators, and enthusiasts from more than 100 countries, showcasing the future of automotive technology.
The two-day event promises an unparalleled opportunity to network with global stakeholders, explore cutting-edge advancements in the automotive industry, and celebrate the legacy of automobiles that have shaped modern transportation.
Keep an eye on the World Automobile Day website and the Auto World Journal news portal for the latest updates and event details. Until then, we extend our warmest wishes for a happy and inspiring World Automobile Day to all enthusiasts and professionals in the automotive world.
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