World Automobile Day is celebrated every year on January 29th. It marks the day in 1886 when Karl Benz, a German inventor, applied for a patent for his ‘Motorwagen,’ the first practical car that could be sold. This car, known as the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, was the world’s first petrol-powered car.
However, 117 years prior, French inventor Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot had already constructed the first steam-powered road vehicle in 1769. Then, 39 years later, in 1808, François Isaac de Rivaz, a French-Swiss inventor, designed and built the first automobile powered by an internal combustion engine.
In fact, it was 78 years after this revolutionary discovery that Karl Benz applied for a patent for his ‘Motorwagen’ car in 1886. Nevertheless, it was the American-made Model T, manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in 1908, that first gained dominance in the market. Released at a price affordable to the general public, this car was quickly adopted in the United States. It rapidly overtook horse-drawn carriages and established the ‘Ford Model T’ as a favorite in the market.
From the first car patent, in just 138 years, we have progressed to autonomous cars that operate without human involvement and even to vehicles capable of flying. Indeed, by 2036, marking 150 years since the first practical car, the Benz Motorwagen, it is expected that our roads will be dominated by autonomous vehicles powered by the most eco-friendly fuels.
In a few years, flying cars might become a reality. Numerous successful prototypes have already been developed in this field, making the concept of flying cars no longer a marvel to us today. Indeed, considering the journey of modern Homo sapiens, who, according to fossil and DNA evidence, evolved approximately 300,000 years ago, the past 138 years represent an astonishing journey of advancement and innovation.
Greetings and heartfelt wishes on ‘World Automobile Day’ to all our beloved readers. Starting from the upcoming year, Auto World Journal has decided to celebrate this day with a grand celebration in the physical world. We have chosen Dubai, the global city, as the venue for this significant event on January 28 & 29, 2025. For those interested, you can now mark these dates on your calendar… Yes, let’s come together and celebrate this day that marks the commencement of the dynamic world of motion. Once again, a happy ‘World Automobile Day’ to all our readers.
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