The invention of the very first automobile is credited to German engineer Karl Benz in 1886. Benz was the first to create a vehicle that was powered by an internal combustion engine. His three-wheeled vehicle, known as the Motorwagen, was the first successful example of a gas-powered automobile. It was able to travel at a top speed of 16 km/h and Benz even patented the design in 1886. This design paved the way for the modern automobile, as Benz inspired many other inventors to continue to develop and improve the design. These advancements eventually led to the mass production of cars that we know today.