Made in Germany: History of the German Car Industry

1888 – Benz proves the value of a car with the first long-distance drive

Benz patented his invention in 1886 but struggled to find investors to begin production. That is until one morning in August 1888 when his wife, Bertha Benz, took his Motorwagen on the world’s first long-distance trip – driving 104km (65 miles) from Mannheim to Pforzheim and back to visit her mother.

The concept was proved: the horseless carriage was capable of long-distance travel. Benz began production of his car.

In 2008, the “Bertha Benz Memorial Route” was officially approved as a route of the industrial heritage of humanity.