What wheeled invention did Leonardo da Vinci design to move without a horse?

Leonardo da Vinci designed a self-propelled cart intended to move without a horse.

Leonardo’s self-propelled cart used springs as its energy source. The springs were wound before operation, then released through a system of gears and mechanisms to turn the wheels. Steering and movement could be set in advance, making the machine an early example of programmable mechanical motion rather than a vehicle controlled continuously by a driver.

The cart was probably conceived for court entertainments or theatrical events, where an apparently autonomous object could move across a performance space. Its surviving drawings do not provide every construction detail, so modern reconstructions have helped test interpretations of the mechanism.

Calling it a car is convenient but potentially misleading. It had no combustion engine, electric motor, or modern suspension system. The important innovation was its stored mechanical energy and prearranged motion. It is therefore more accurately described as a clockwork or spring-powered self-propelled cart.