In 1885, Karl Benz patented the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, while Gottlieb Daimler independently developed the first motorcycle powered by an internal combustion engine. These innovations marked the dawn of the automobile age, revolutionizing transportation and paving the way for modern automotive engineering. Their contributions laid the foundation for the global automotive industry, transforming economies and societies worldwide.

The automobile transformed 20th-century poetry and literature: from Marinetti's Futurist Manifesto celebrating a roaring car over the Winged Victory to Kerouac's On the Road, the car became the dominant modern symbol of freedom, speed, and restlessness. This shift in imagery reflected broader societal changes and the embrace of modernity.