Learn about the history and evolution of car technology. We have also created a timeline that shows the evolution of car tech from the very first car ever invented to the most advanced post-war technology, including electric and safety systems.

We have mapped the major developments and the digital revolution changing how we drive. We also round up the most important upcoming developments in-car technology.

• 1886: The first car was invented

Karl Benz, an Austrian inventor, invented the first automobile. It had three wheels and was powered by an internal combustion engine. Previous inventing cars used steam power, but they didn’t succeed.

• 1908 Ford Model T

Ford’s Model T was the first automobile to be produced in an assembly line. This technological leap made it much more affordable and thus more accessible to all. The car’s 20-horsepower petrol engine could travel 45 mph, still slower than the galloping horses.

• 1911 – Electric ignition starters

Electric ignition starters were created to turn the engine on and off with a push-button to replace manual hand cranks. Hand cranks were dangerous as the engine could jump while the car started. This could sometimes injure the driver. In 1912, the first electric starter was installed on a Cadillac. They were quickly adopted by many other vehicles.

• 1921 – Cigarette lighters

The removable part of wireless cigarette lighters was heated by electricity. They were standard equipment in American cars by 1925. Although cigarette lighters are no longer in fashion today, we still have sockets for plugging in electronic gadgets like sat-navs.

• 1930 – Car radio

In monophonic AM frequency, the first car stereo was made in 1930. Although driving can now be set to music for the first time in 1930, it would take 22 years until the first car radio that could receive FM frequency was available. This first radio came out of a car in 1952.

• 1934- Coil spring suspension

Coil spring suspension was a popular choice for carmakers who began to look at ways to make driving more enjoyable. Initially just the front two, each wheel was given a metal coil spring that compresses to absorb road bumps. This resulted in a smoother and more relaxing ride.

• 1949 – Car keys

Chrysler developed a way to turn the ignition and electric starter on the car. This power was placed inside a key, and everyone soon started using it.

• 1951 – Power steering

The hydraulic power of power steering technology saves you so much elbow grease by amplifying the pressure on the wheels when you turn the steering wheel. First, power steering was introduced on the Chrysler Imperial. The Cadillac followed a year later.

• 1953 – Air conditioning

The Chrysler Imperial was the first car to offer air conditioning. There were three settings available: medium, high and low. The Nash “Integrated” system was introduced in 2012, offering front-end heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. This made driving much more enjoyable in the summer.

• 1958 – Cruise control

Cruise control allows the driver to keep a constant speed and not use the accelerator. This system makes driving steady easier, especially when on the motorway. It was used for the first time in a Chrysler Imperial and was standard equipment on all Cadillacs by 1960.

• 1959 – Seatbelts

Nils Bohlin was Volvo’s first safety engineer and invented the modern 3-pin seatbelt. Volvo gave the patent away to other carmakers free of charge, believing it would save lives. In the UK, carmakers needed to install seatbelts starting in 1965. However, they were only required to be worn in the front seats beginning in 1983. All children must wear a seatbelt starting in 1989, and all back-seat passengers starting in 1991.

• 1960s-Electric windows

The gentle sound of an electric window being rolled down was initially only available to luxury cars. It was an option on many cars up until recently. However, eventually, winding down your car’s windows was no longer an option.

• 1969 – Intermittent windshield wipers

Windscreen wipers were limited to one speed until this point. Ford modified this setting to adjust the speed.

• The 1970s – Cassette tape stereos

Carmakers started adding stereos to their cars that could play cassette tapes in the 1970s. Drivers could now blast their favourite Led Zeppelin songs from their cars.

• 1971 – ABS technology

ABS, or Anti-Lock Braking Systems, is a clever technology that stops wheels from locking up when they are under sharp braking . This prevents them from skidding. It was first used on Concorde and trains, then adapted to a Chrysler Imperial.

• 1973 – Catalytic converter

This technology reduces harmful emissions from the engine and cleans up exhaust fumes. Since 1993, petrol cars must have catalytic converters.

• 1974 – Digital dashboard displays

Move over analogue dials! An Aston Martin Lagonda was the first to feature a digital dashboard display. It featured trip computers, temperature and speed readings, and fuel economy measures. Digital dashboards were not popular with drivers, so most cars still use analogue speedometers alongside digital displays.

• 1984 – CD players

The first car CD player was the CDX-1 technology. It eventually replaced cassette tapes which were becoming obsolete technology.

• 1988 – Airbags

Airbags have been installed in US government vehicles since the 1970s. They were originally intended for drivers. However, the first production airbag was introduced by Chrysler in 1988. However, today’s airbag technology is available to all passengers and can be placed anywhere on the vehicle.

• 1992 – Electromagnetic Parking Sensors

Parking sensors that emit electromagnetic radiation alert you to potential dangers when parking. These sensors were “reinvented” using technology that was not widely used in the 1970s.

• 1994 – On-board diagnostics

Ford created the first computer diagnostics in 1980 for its factory lines. The 16-pin connector was a standard feature for carmakers. It allowed garage mechanics to access key information about the vehicle for repairs. In America, the use of on-board diagnostics was mandatory in 1996. It became mandatory in Europe in 2001.

• 1996 – Connected cars

General Motors introduced connected cars with its OnStar program. This system uses your phone to call 911 when you are in an accident. The technology can be linked to the phone’s GPS location to direct emergency services to the car.

• 2000 – GPS Sat Nav

Although several versions of GPS satellite navigation systems were in use from the early 1990s, the US military created interference as they closely guarded the technology. The US President Bill Clinton directed the military to stop scrambling the GPS signals and open up the technology to all. Although sat navs were developed quickly, it took several years to become more accurate.

• 2000 – Hybrid cars

In the 19th century, adding a hybrid engine to a petrol engine was first proposed. However, the idea was rejected. At the beginning of the century, Toyota took it back and created the Prius. It was a huge success. Every carmaker today is developing hybrid cars.

• 2001 – Bluetooth

In 2001, the first hands-free Bluetooth kit was released. 2001 was the year that the first hands-free Bluetooth kit was released. Later, a better Bluetooth technology was developed that could recognize speech. Nowadays, Bluetooth is integrated into the car’s infotainment system.

• 2002 Reversing camera

This technology has saved many a mishap when reversing. As you reverse, tiny cameras capture live footage from the area behind your car. This technology was used for the first time outside of America in a Nissan Primera.

• 2003 – Automatic parking

Toyota launched this technology first with Intelligent Parking Assist, which allowed drivers to parallel park. Lexus introduced a self-parking feature to its LS model in 2006. Many new cars now have automatic parking.

• 2010s Driver assistance features

Dozens of technology features can be used to assist drivers. Examples include cross-traffic alerts, lane departure warnings and blind-spot warnings.

Many carmakers now offer smartphone integration. You can locate your car using GPS and lock it remotely.

• 2014 – Tesla autopilot

Elon Musk was the first to introduce autopilot technology on his Model S. This driver assistance can drive the car and change lanes on the highway.

• 2014 – 4G wi-fi hotspots

This technology allows passengers to use their car as a 4G router and connect to the Internet with smart devices.

• 2020 – Self-driving cars

The Waymo self-driving vehicle from Google is expected to be released in 2020. In 2015, the Waymo completed its first driverless ride on public roads with a non-disabled blind man.

• 2021 Advanced Heads Up Display

While head-up display used to be a luxurious feature, it is now more accessible across the board. All that is required now is a compatible smartphone and a vehicle.