Benz, Karl

views updated Jun 27 2018

Benz, Karl (1844–1929) German pioneer of the internal combustion engine. After some success with an earlier two-stroke engine, he built a four-stroke engine in 1885. Benz achieved great success when he installed the engine in a four-wheel vehicle in 1893. Benz was the first to make and sell light, self-propelled vehicles built to a standardized pattern.