What modern vehicle did Leonardo da Vinci’s self-propelled cart anticipate?

Leonardo da Vinci’s self-propelled cart anticipated the automobile.

The cart was a spring-powered vehicle designed to move without being pushed or pulled by an animal. Its mechanism used coiled springs to store energy, while a system of gears transferred that energy to the wheels. A steering mechanism helped determine the cart’s direction.

Leonardo’s drawing dates from around 1478 to 1480 and is found in the Codex Atlanticus. The cart was probably designed for theatrical or ceremonial use rather than ordinary transport. Some reconstructions suggest that it could travel a limited distance and follow a programmed route.

It is often called the world’s first automobile, but that description needs qualification. Leonardo’s cart had no internal-combustion engine and was not intended for road travel in the modern sense. It is more accurately an early self-propelled vehicle, demonstrating mechanical automation centuries before motor cars became practical.