Bertha Benz and her husband Karl Benz had invented the first gasoline-powered automobile, but no one knew how to use it, leaving the invention unused. Everyone called Karl a fool for creating what they considered a ridiculous tricycle

To make matters worse, Karl took refuge in alcohol to accompany his depression.

The Benz family lived in Mannheim with their five children, and Bertha had to visit her parents in Pforzheim, almost 100 kilometers to the south. To support her husband and make sure that his work was not in vain, Bertha took courage and decided to set off on the tricycle to visit them.

The journey took almost a full day, a reasonable amount of time considering the power of the vehicle in the late 19th century. Bertha had to stop several times at pharmacies to refuel with gasoline, which was sold there at the time. She visited two tanners to repair the brakes, thus inventing brake pads, and a blacksmith to fix the transmission chain. When a fuel line clogged, Bertha used a pin to repair it and insulated a wire with a makeshift tie.

After arriving at her destination, Bertha informed her husband of the success of the trip by telegram. The next day, she set off for Mannheim, completing the return journey.

The trip attracted a lot of attention, as Bertha met many curious people along the way. It was then that people began to understand that the automobile was not just a curious toy, but a practical and fast means of transportation.

Karl became instantly famous and soon everyone wanted a replica of his car, leading to numerous orders. Bertha’s trip was also an opportunity for her to test the vehicle from a user’s perspective, identifying potential improvements.

She suggested adding a gear to the transmission to increase speed, thus reducing travel time and allowing it to overtake wagons, adding a fourth wheel for greater stability, improving the brakes, and installing a fuel filter. From there, what would become a large automobile empire, known to this day, was born.