Agnelli, Giovanni (1866-1945): An Italian industrialist and founder of Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino (A.K.A. Fiat), the first automobile factory in Italy. Agnelli also founded companies that made ball bearings and airplane engines.

Benz, Carl (1844-1929): A German engineer who designed and built the first automobile powered by an internal-combustion engine. His company, founded in 1883 to build engines, merged with Daimler in 1926 to form Daimler-Benz, maker of Mercedes-Benz luxury cars.

Buick, David Dunbar (1854-1929): A Scottish-born United States auto manufacturer who founded Buick in 1902. Buick was plumber who made the first porcelain bathtubs and who also had an interest in cars. In 1903 Buick was bought out by a group of Blacksmiths and gave up control of his company before selling a single car.

Chevrolet, Louis (1878-1941): A Swiss-born United States automobile racer, designer, and manufacturer who in his first race in 1905 set a speed record of 68 mph. With the help of friend William C. Durant he built the first Chevrolet car in 1911. He later sold his interest to Durant in 1915.

Chrysler, Walter P. (1875-1940): A United States auto maker who joined with Buick in 1912, Willys-Overland until 1921, and Maxwell in 1923, which he turned into the Chrysler Corporation in 1925. Chrysler purchased Dodge Brothers, Inc., in 1928 and introduced the Plymouth that same year.

Cugnot, Nicolas-Joseph (1725-1804): A French military engineer who built a steam-powered, three-wheeled vehicle in 1769 that is recognized by the British Royal Automobile Club and Automobile Club de France as the first automobile.

Daimler, Gottlieb (1834-1900): A German mechanical engineer who patented a high-speed internal-combustion engine in 1885 and developed a carburetor that allowed gasoline to be used for fuel. In 1890 he founded Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft, which built the first Mercedes car in 1899.

Diesel, Rudolf: Rudolf Diesel invented the diesel-fueled internal combustion engine.

Dodge, John F. (1864-1920): Horace E. (1868-1920): Two U.S. born brothers who manufactured auto parts for Ford and founded their own automobile adventure in 1914. Dodge Brothers cars were the first to feature cars with all-steel bodies.

Durant, William C. (1861-1947): The founder of General Motors Corporation. Durant began his career with a horse-drawn carriage company in 1886 and took over Buick in 1904, forming the General Motors (GM) Company in 1908. He lost control in 1910 to Chevrolet but regained ownership in 1915. He was forced out for good in 1920 and founded his own company, Durant Motors, Inc., in 1921.

Duryea, Charles E. (1861-1938): J. Frank (1869-1967): Brothers who built the first successful gasoline-powered automobile in the United States in 1893. An improved version, driven by Frank Duryea, won in 1895 the first auto race in Chicago.

Ferrari, Enzo (1898-1988): An Italian automobile maker, born in Modena. Ferrari made luxury sports cars that dominated the racing scene worldwide after 1950. Ferrari tested cars for Alfa Romeo from 1920 to 32 and headed the company's racing team. In 1939 he left to form his own company. In 1959 he was bought Fiat.

Firestone, Harvey (1868-1938): Born in Ohio, Firestone began manufacturing rubber tires in the 1890s which were used on carriages and bicycles. He later catered to the automotive industry which made the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company into one of the U.S.'s largest industries. A large order from Henry Ford in 1906 helped to establish the pneumatic tire which lead to the balloon tire.

Fisher, Frederic J. (1878-1941): A U.S. manufacturer of fine auto bodies who, with his uncle and five brothers, founded the Fisher Body Company in 1908. The company was acquired by General Motors in 1926.

Ford, Henry (1863-1947 ): Born in Dearborn, MI, Ford produced his first petrol-driven motor car in 1893, and in 1899 founded a company in Detroit, designing his own cars. In 1903 he started the Ford Motor Company, pioneering the modern "assembly line' mass-production techniques for his famous Model T (1908--9), 15 million of which were produced up to 1928. In 1919 he was succeeded by his son Edsel Bryant Ford (1893--1943), and in 1945 by his grandson Henry Ford II (1917--87).

Honda, Soichiro: (1906-1992): A motor cycle and car manufacturer, born in Japan, he started as a garage apprentice in 1922 and opened his own garage in 1928. By 1934 he had started a piston-ring production factory. He began producing motor cycles in 1948, and became president of Honda Corporation in the same year, until 1973.