Jean-Joseph-Etienne Lenoir builds a “horseless carriage” that uses an internal combustion engine that can reach speed of 3 mph).
1867
Nicholaus August Otto develops an improved internal combustion engine.1870
Julius Hock builds the first internal combustion engine that runs on liquid gasoline.1877
Nikolaus Otto builds the four-cycle internal combustion engine, the prototype for modern car engines.George Baldwin files for the first U.S. patent for an automobile - well, actually a wagon fitted with an internal combustion engine.Karl Benz builds a three-wheel automobile powered by a gasoline engine. the world’s first motorbike uses one of his internal combustion engines to build the world’s first motorbike.1886
Henry Ford builds his first automobile in Michigan.1887
Gottlieb Daimler uses his internal combustion engine to build a four-wheel vehicle, considered the first modern automobile.
Source: inventors.about.com