What spring-powered vehicle did Leonardo da Vinci design as a precursor to the automobile?

Leonardo da Vinci designed a spring-powered self-propelled cart that is often described as an early precursor to the automobile.

The cart appears in drawings from the late fifteenth century and was powered by coiled springs rather than by an engine, horse, or person pushing it. Its mechanism could release stored energy to turn the wheels, while a programmable steering system helped determine the route.

The design was compact and apparently intended for short movements, demonstrations, or theatrical effects rather than ordinary transportation. Reconstructions have shown that the mechanism can work, although historians cannot prove exactly how Leonardo intended every part to operate.

Calling it the first car can be misleading. Automobiles require a continuously powered propulsion system, while Leonardo’s cart used energy stored in springs. It is more accurately described as an early self-moving vehicle.