Women working in the automotive world have always had to overcome additional obstacles. However, the courage, determination and passion of individuals broke down social barriers, opening the way for subsequent generations. Join us on a journey through the extraordinary stories of selected women in the automotive industry.
First long-distance car trip
Bertha Benz (source: Mannheim Bühler –Automuseum Dr. Carl Benz, Ladenburg)
Bertha Benz - when talking about the history of the automotive industry, she cannot be omitted. She was the wife of Karl Benz, an engineer and inventor. More importantly, he was the first person in the history of the automotive industry to cover more than a hundred kilometers in a car on his own, without the presence of a mechanic. She traveled from Mannheim to Pforzheim and was accompanied by her two teenage sons. The journey took from dawn to dusk due to repairs she had to make along the way. Bertha went on a journey without her husband's knowledge. She wanted to show the world that the car her husband had invented was a safe and practical means of transport and give her partner confidence.
The first turn signals in cars
Florence Lawrence (source: Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research)
Although she never patented her invention, Florence Lawrence is an actress who constructed a turn signal prototype. She inherited her passion for motoring from her parents.
In 1914, she began work on a prototype. Her solution consisted of two flags placed at the back of the car. The driver could raise them by clicking a button next to the seat, depending on the direction of travel. Additionally, when you press the brake, a STOP sign was to be displayed at the rear of the car. Her ideas became an inspiration for further works.
The originator of the lines on the roads
JuneMcCarroll (source: THE HISTORICAL MARKER DATABASE)
June McCarroll came up with the idea of painting lines dividing the road into two lanes after she was pushed to the side of the road by a truck driving in the middle of the road. Initially, local authorities ignored her idea. So June took matters into her own hands. In 1917, she personally painted the first known strip in California on Indio Boulevard.
In November 1924, the idea was adopted by the California Highway Commission and soon adopted around the world.
The first woman racer in history
Hélène van Zuylen
Hélène van Zuylen was the first woman to take part in the rally, thus opening the way for other competitors. It took place in 1898, during the Paris-Amsterdam-Paris rally organized by her husband. She took part in the race in a male disguise and under a pseudonym, revealing her true identity after it was over.
Inventor of the car heating system
Margaret Wilcox (source: PAHO - 18 Inventions by Women that. Changed the World)
Today we cannot imagine traveling without heating. It was Margaret Wilcox who decided to tackle the problem of cold cars. She was born in 1838 and was one of the few female engineers at the time. In 1893, she received a patent for car interior heating, developing a system that absorbed heat from the engine into the cabin. Margaret's design inspired the air heaters found in today's cars.
There are many more extraordinary women in the history of the automotive industry. Let us remember that not only men contributed to the development of this industry. Today, more and more women are taking up jobs in the automotive world and we are proud of it!