Karl Benz

Karl Benz was a German engineer and inventor. He was born in Karlsruhe, Germany, in 1844. He built the first automobile powered by a gasoline engine. His invention started the age of the automobile.

Early Life

Benz loved machines from an early age. His father was a train driver who died when Karl was two. His mother worked hard to give him a good education. He studied engineering and dreamed of building a horseless carriage.

Big Achievements

In 1885, Benz built the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, the first car with a gasoline engine. It had three wheels and could go about 10 miles per hour. His wife Bertha took the car on the first long-distance drive to prove it worked. His company later merged with Daimler to form Mercedes-Benz.

Fun Facts

• The first Benz car had only three wheels.
• His wife Bertha drove the car 66 miles to prove it was practical.
• The company Mercedes-Benz is named partly after him.

Did You Know?

Bertha Benz drove the car without telling her husband to prove it could make a long journey. Along the way, she had to buy fuel from a pharmacy and fix the brakes with a leather strap. Her trip is considered the first road trip in history.