The evolution of the automobile is punctuated by insights and inventions that – unexpectedly, at the time – were not the fruit of male genius. From the first pioneers who challenged conventions to the brilliant minds that revolutionized technology, women have played a crucial role in the development of the automotive industry. On International Women's Day, let's try to write a bit of automotive history, from a female perspective.
Pioneers of the Road
- Bertha Benz (1888): Karl Benz's wife not only financed her husband's invention but also tested the Benz Patent Motorwagen number 3 by driving 100 kilometers – from Mannheim to Pforzheim – with their two children on board. After discovering some problems during the journey, she made fundamental improvements to the car, inventing leather brake pads.
- Anne D’Usez (1898): The French duchess was the first woman to obtain a driver's license and, ironically, also the first to be fined for speeding. In the 1920s, she founded the first women's automobile club in France.
- Dorothy Levitt (1906): A fearless writer and driver, Dorothy Levitt set the women's world speed record in 1906, reaching 146 km/h. In her book The Woman and Her Car, she recommended the use of the rearview mirror, initially considered little more than a decorative accessory.
- Ernestina Priola (1907) was the first Italian woman to obtain a driver's license.
- Alice Ramsey (1909) was the first to complete a coast-to-coast journey in the United States, demonstrating not only her driving skill but also women's ability to face extraordinary challenges.
Inventions that Changed Driving
- Margaret Wilcox (1893): An American, among the first women in the world to become a mechanical engineer, Margaret Wilcox patented (in her husband's name, as it was illegal for women!) the car heating system, utilizing engine heat.
- Mary Anderson (1903): Observing the difficulties of tram drivers in New York, forced to lean out of windows or even stop to clear snow from the windshield, Mary Anderson invented the manual windshield wiper, followed in 1917 by the automatic windshield wiper by Charlotte Bridgwood.
- Florence Lawrence (1914): A film star and inventor, she conceived and had built an "automatic signaling arm" and a stop signal that appeared on the rear of the car when the brake was pressed: thus, turn signals and brake lights.
- Glady’s West (1956): A mathematician and programmer, Glady’s West contributed to the development of the GPS system alongside IBM.
Women at the Wheel and in Command
- Wilma K. Russey (1915) The first female taxi driver in New York, she had already worked for several years as a mechanic at Dalton's Garage.
- Lella Lombardi (1975): One of only five women to have competed in Formula 1 and the only one to score points, as well as the one who competed in the most Grand Prix races.
- Michelle Christensen (2005): The first female designer hired by Honda, she contributed to the design of iconic models such as the second-generation NSX.
- Danica Sue Patrick (2008): A successful driver, Danica Sue Patrick was the first woman to win an IndyCar race and made her mark in NASCAR championships.
- Mary Barra (2014): CEO of General Motors, she is one of the few women to hold a top position in an industry traditionally dominated by men; her leadership is globally recognized.
