What wheeled device did Leonardo da Vinci design that is often called the first self-propelled vehicle?

Leonardo da Vinci designed a self-propelled cart that is often regarded as an early precursor of the automobile.

The cart appears in a drawing from around 1478 to 1480. Springs stored energy and released it through mechanisms connected to the wheels, allowing the vehicle to move without an animal pulling it. Steering could be set in advance, making the cart suitable for programmed movement over a limited path.

The machine was probably intended for theatrical or ceremonial effects rather than transportation. It could have carried scenery or created a surprising moving display at a court event. Because its motion was powered by wound springs, it was not a motor vehicle in the modern sense.

A reconstruction built for a 2006 television program demonstrated that the basic mechanism could work. Scholars still distinguish between Leonardo’s original drawing, later interpretations, and modern replicas. Calling it the first car overstates the connection, but calling it an important early self-propelled vehicle design is well supported.