Karl Benz

About

Engineer who, with Bertha Benz, created the first internal combustion-powered cars. His first model was called the Benz Patent Motorwagen.

Before Fame

At first he studied locksmithing but ended up changing paths and going into locomotive engineering.

Trivia

His wife Bertha took the first ever intercity car road trip, using one of his cars.

Family Life

He was married to Bertha Benz from 1872 until his death in 1929. He and Bertha had five children. His father, Johann Benz, was killed in a railway accident when Karl was young.

Associated With

The first Benz cars were hand-assembled and expensive until the assembly line innovation of Henry Ford was implemented.