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The Evolution of Cars

  • The First Car

    The First Car
    Karl Benz invented and built the very first combustion engine car with three wheels. Powered by gas instead of steam or coal from years ago.
  • First Four-Wheeled Car

    First Four-Wheeled Car
    Daimler took a stagecoach and adapted it to hold his engine, thereby designing the world's first four-wheeled automobile.
  • First Hybrid Car

    First Hybrid Car
    Ferdinand Porsche debuts Austria’s Lohner-Porsche, a radical hybrid car that generates electricity from two small gasoline engines to power its front wheels at a Paris Fair.
  • The Biggest Car Corporation

    The Biggest Car Corporation
    William Durant formed General Motors (GM), and it eventually became the biggest corporation in the world.
  • The Assembly Line

    The Assembly Line
    After observing a meat packing company, Henry Ford made an assembly line for his cars. Having many stations, production was faster and cheaper.
  • Metal Body

    Metal Body
    Dodge was the first company to introduce a car body that was made completely of steel.
  • Cigarette Lighter

    Cigarette Lighter
    The first cigarette lighter was added to cars.
  • The Turning Signal

    The Turning Signal
    The Delaware Company devised the first flashing turn signal.
  • The Beetle

    The Beetle
    Volkswagen started producing the Beetle in Germany. To this day one of the most popular cars.
  • The 'Military' Car

    The 'Military' Car
    Karl Pabst designed the Jeep, which became an important vehicle for the Allied forces in World War II.
  • Cruise Control (With a Twist)

    Cruise Control (With a Twist)
    Cruise control was invented by a blind man named Ralph Teetor.
  • Seatbelt

    Seatbelt
    The first seat belt was installed in a car in Sweden.
  • Airbags

    Airbags
    Chrysler began the first production airbag, initially just on the driver's side
  • Reverse Camera

    Reverse Camera
    Reversing cameras were added to the Nissan Primera for the first time.
  • Autopilot Car

    Autopilot Car
    Elon Musk debuted the first autopilot technology on his Model S, making it the first car that could steer and change lanes independently of the driver.