Leonardo da Vinci’s self-propelled cart was designed to move by itself without animals or a person pushing it.
The cart, usually dated to around 1478–1480, is often described as an early precursor of the modern automobile. Leonardo’s drawings show a three-wheeled vehicle powered by coiled springs. The springs were wound in advance, and their stored energy was transmitted through mechanical components to the wheels.
The machine may have been intended for theatrical performances or court entertainments rather than transportation. Its steering was limited, and the surviving drawings do not reveal every construction detail. In 2006, engineers and historians built a working reconstruction based on Leonardo’s sketches.
The cart is sometimes called Leonardo’s automobile, but it was not an engine-powered car in the modern sense. It did not use gasoline, electricity, or an internal-combustion engine. Its importance lies in the early use of stored mechanical energy to create autonomous movement.