Science · May 14, 2026
Carl Benz and the first automobile: how mobility was invented in Mannheim
In 1886 Carl Benz filed his patent in Mannheim for a vehicle powered by a gas engine. The City of Squares is thus regarded as the birthplace of the modern automobile.
In Mannheim, Carl Benz developed the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, for which he received a patent in 1886 and which is today considered the first practically usable automobile with an internal combustion engine. Equally famous is the first long-distance journey that Bertha Benz undertook in 1888 from Mannheim to Pforzheim, proving the vehicle's suitability for everyday use. This pioneering achievement still shapes the city's self-image as the cradle of the automobile. The story is commemorated, among other things, by memorial sites and routes in the region that follow the historic journey. Mannheim combines this heritage with an ambition to be a location for technology and innovation.
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This summary is based on a report by City of Mannheim from May 14, 2026. You can find the full original article with all the details here:
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