International Women's Day: Celebrating Bertha Benz

In light of International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating one of the greatest female pioneers in the automotive industry. Arguably, she is the reason that the automobile was able to develop. That woman is Bertha Benz.

Who is Bertha Benz?

Bertha Benz was born Bertha Ringer on May 3, 1849, in Pforzheim, Germany. She was the wife and business partner of Karl Benz, the inventor of the first patented automobile powered by an internal combustion engine.

Bertha Benz played a crucial role in the development of the automobile by being the first person to undertake a long-distance road trip in a motor vehicle. In August 1888, without informing her husband, she took their sons and embarked on a journey from Mannheim to Pforzheim, a distance of about 66 miles in Benz's Motorwagen.

Development and innovation

During this historic journey, Bertha faced numerous challenges. The vehicle was still in its experimental stage, and there were therefore no established infrastructures or fuel stations for cars at the time. Bertha had to improvise, solving problems on the go. She used a hatpin to clean the fuel line when it became clogged, and she stopped at a pharmacy to refuel the vehicle with ligroin, a petroleum-based solvent, since no gasoline stations existed.

Bertha was also responsible for improving the braking system by cover the brake shoes with leather, thus inventing brake pads. It was Bertha who convinced Karl Benz to make further improvements to the vehicle, such as adding a gear system.

Marketing the automobile

Bertha's journey was not just a test drive but also a publicity stunt aimed at proving the viability of her husband's invention. Along the way, she faced scepticism and criticism from onlookers, but her determination and ingenuity ultimately proved the capabilities of the Motorwagen.

Her journey was instrumental in demonstrating the practicality and potential of the automobile, and it significantly contributed to the promotion of Karl Benz's invention. It helped popularize the idea of the automobile as a viable mode of transportation and paved the way for the automotive industry's growth.

Celebrating Bertha Benz

Bertha Benz's adventurous spirit and her role in the early development of the automobile have earned her recognition as an automotive pioneer. Her journey is commemorated annually with the Bertha Benz Memorial Route, which follows the path she took on her historic trip.