History

The Beginning

Ferdinand Verbiest-1672:

Verbiest and his Steam Machine

The credit of all the technology rolling over four wheels goes to this Flemish Missionary Ferdinand Verbiest who designed the first working steam-powered moving body in 1672. A 65 centimeters long flat model toy for the Chinese Emperor, that was unable to carry a driver or a passenger, no one knew then what shape will it take later on.

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Nicolas Cugbolt-1769

Cugnot's fardier à vapeur

After Ferdinand, N.Cugnot stands among the pioneers to employ successfully a device for changing the reciprocating motion of steam piston into rotary motion.. A small version of his three wheeled  fardier à vapeur, or Steam Dray as they call in English, ran in 1769. A Steam Dray was a  two wheeled horse cart look-alike body for transporting very heavy equipment such as cannon barrels. It is said that Cugnot was a big admirer of Verbiest.

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Karl Benz-1885

Karl Benz and his Benz- Patent Motor-wagen

Karl Benz is known for giving a new window to the automotive technology when a three wheeled vehicle powered by his self invented four stroke cycle gasoline engine was built in Mannheim, Germany in 1885. He was awarded and later he marketed his vehicle by the brand Benz & Cie. He sold 25 vehicles between 1888 and 1893.

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