Trailblazing Women in the Automotive Industry

If you were to name industries where women have struggled to receive representation, the automotive Industry would probably be at the top of the list. Over the years, women in the automotive industry have faced relentless discrimination and gender stereotyping. In honor of Women’s History Month, we at Landers Kia would like to recognize several trailblazing women who challenged society’s norms about gender roles and paved the way for a more inclusive, diverse future. 

Bertha Benz

Bertha Benz was the business partner and wife of automobile inventor Karl Benz. While Karl Benz was the inventor of the motorwagen, Bertha was incredibly invested in its success and even funded Karl’s business venture before they were married. After Karl received the patent for his motorwagen in 1885, he struggled to market it to the public as a viable form of long-distance transportation, but thanks to Bertha’s adventuring spirit, this all changed. On August 5th 1888, Bertha pushed one of the Benz Patent Motorwagen out of the shop and down the road to avoid waking her husband. Once she was far enough from the house, she started the engine and made a 65-mile journey to Pforzheim, Germany. During the journey, Bertha made several repairs on the vehicle, using a garter to repair the ignition and a hat pin to clear a clogged fuel pipe. When the wooden brakes failed, she improvised and installed leather replacements, the first brake pads. Though people were alarmed by the strange motorwagen on the road, Bertha’s historic ride brought great public attention to Benz’s invention. 

Mary Anderson

While riding in a trolley car on a winter day, Mary Anderson dreamt up the idea for the first-ever manual windshield wiper. Mary noticed that in order to clear the windshield, drivers would lean out the side of the vehicle or pull the vehicle over to clean it off by hand. Mary envisioned a solution that would allow drivers to remain inside the vehicle: the manual windshield wiper. In 1903, Mary hired a designer and received a patent for her invention. Less than two decades later, windshield wipers were standard equipment on most automobiles. 

Charlotte Bridgwood

Charlotte Bridgwood was an American Vaudevile performer, inventory and president of the Bridgwood Manufacturing Company. In 1917, Charlotte Bridgwood created the first automated windshield wipers based on Mary Anderson’s manual wiper design. However, he design used rollers rather than blades, and after her patent expired in 1920, wipers based on her design became standard automobile equipment, and she received little recognition for her invention. 

Florence Lawrence

Daughter of Charlotte Bridgwood, Florence Lawrence was a silent film star and inventor of the first auto signaling arm, a predecessor to the turn signal, and the first mechanical brake signal. Florence never received a patent for her inventions and consequently received neither credit nor profit from them. 

At Landers Kia, we know that women belong in the automotive industry. We are inspired daily by the incredible women in the automotive industry, especially those who work with us at Landers Kia. Happy Women’s History Month!