On January 29, 1886, Karl Benz, a German mechanical engineer, received the very first patent (DRP No. 37435) for a gas-fueled car to be powered by the internal combustion engine (and yes, the name "Benz" is where Mercedes-Benz gets part of its name).

The history of self-powered road vehicles dates back many hundred years. In fact, Nicolas Cugnot of France is credited by most as the creator of the very first self-powered automobile in 1769, which operated by steam. After Cugnot, many other inventors began designing and creating new types of self-powered vehicles. Nikolas Otto is credited with creating the very first internal combustion engine. Gottlieb Daimler invented what is often recognized as the first modern gas engine with a vertical cylinder where gasoline injected through a carburetor.

As competition increased, many inventors wanted to patent their ideas in order to protect them. For example, a number of Benz's contemporaries, including Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach, were also working toward a patent designed motor vehicle. However, on January 29, 1886, Karl Benz was the first to receive a patent on a gas-fueled internal combustion engine automobile. It had three wheels and caught the attention of inventors and the media.

Thanks to the protection of patents, Benz was able to succeed in creating a motor vehicle with the right combination of performance and appeal. Benz patented other vehicles and many related inventions, including carburetors, accelerators, and spark plugs. In 1891, Benz built his first four-wheeled car. Benz then went on to found his own auto company, which became the world’s largest manufacturer of automobiles by 1900 and the precursor to Daimler AG (formerly DaimlerChrysler).