Breakthrough: The Ideas That Changed the World

The First Long Distance Test Drive

Clip: Episode 4 | 2m 48s | Video has closed captioning.

In 1886, German inventor and engineer, Karl Benz, has his patent accepted for what is regarded as the world’s first automobile, but it’s a failure. Benz doesn't sell a single one for two years. Facing financial ruin he plunges into depression. Thankfully for humanity one person sees great potential in his "motor wagon" - someone who also knows how to create a bit of publicity, his wife Bertha.