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Did Henry Ford invent the automobile?

Contrary to popular belief, American inventor Henry Ford (1863–1947) did not invent the automobile, though he did play a role in its development. The first primitive automobile was actually built as early as 1789 in Paris by French engineer Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot (1725–1804). This three-wheeled, steam-driven device was the first self-propelled vehicle. Its maximum speed was about 3 miles (1.9 kilometers) per hour. In 1801 the English engineer Richard Trevithick (1771–1833 ) improved on the design by creating another three-wheeled vehicle in which the engine drove the rear wheels. Further advances in the development of the automobile were delayed for years because of the strict limitations imposed on auto safety. Until 1896 a man was required to walk in front of any self-propelled vehicle, carrying a red flag by day and a lantern at night, and the speed limit was set at 4...

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