Cars and mobility - Mobility history - Automotive history
Which person made the first long-distance journey by automobile in 1888, demonstrating that the motor car could be used in everyday life?
Correct!
In August 1888, Bertha Benz and her sons Eugen and Richard made the first long-distance journey in automotive history. They traveled from Mannheim to Pforzheim, her mother’s birthplace, covering about 180 kilometers in total including the return trip and several detours. The journey was more than a private excursion: it showed that a motor car could be used over longer distances. Practical problems had to be solved along the way, including finding fuel and carrying out repairs. Bertha Benz therefore played a major role in demonstrating the everyday usefulness of the motor car developed by her husband, Carl Benz.
