Benchmarking in the Automobile Industry

The first automobile was made by Guido da Vigevano in 1335. It was a windmill-type drive with gears and wheels. In the early 15^th century Portuguese arrived in China and interaction of two cultures lead to a variety of new technology including creation of wheel that turned under its own power. By 1600, small steam power model engines were developed. The early steam powered automobiles were too heavy that they were only practical on a perfect flat circle as strong as iron.

In 1769, the first road vehicle was military tractor invented by French Engineer and Mechanic Nicolas Joseph Cugnot (1725 to 1804). Between 1832 to 1839 Robert Anderson of Scotland invented the first electric carriage. Electric cars with used rechargeable batteries that powered a small electric motor.

Carl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler both Germans shared the credit of changing the transport habits of the world. Carl Benz invented petrol engine in 1885 and Daimler made a car after a year driven by motor. France too had joined the motoring scenario by 1890, when two Frenchmen Panhard and Levassor began producing automobiles powered by Daimler engine. Charles Duryea built a car garage in America with petrol engine in 1892 followed by Elwood Haynes in 1894 thus paving the way for motorcars in that country. Around 1900 electric land vehicles outsold all other types of cars in America.