Karl Benz ’s 1886 Patent Motorwagen, considered the first production automobile, didn’t look much like today’s cars. It was modeled on horse-drawn carriages, though it lacked doors or a roof. The vehicle also had three wheels, not four, and a tiller rather than a steering wheel.
Cars have evolved dramatically since Benz introduced his invention at the end of the 19th century. Now, with fully autonomous vehicles only a few years from mass production, the automobile could become unrecognizable from past iterations. Change isn’t always easy, but regulators, business leaders and consumers should embrace this revolution, not fear it.