1902 – Britain Gets One of Its First Car Magazines
As automobiles slowly shifted from curiosity to obsession, Britain saw the debut of one of its earliest enthusiast publications on this day in 1902 when Car Illustrated first appeared. Covering racing, engineering, touring, and the rapidly evolving motor industry, the magazine helped document an era when cars were still experimental and ownership remained a luxury. Long before YouTube channels, enthusiast forums, or automotive influencers, publications like Car Illustrated helped shape car culture by connecting readers to the newest machines and biggest personalities of the motoring world.
1937 – Volkswagen Is Founded Under Nazi Germany
One of the world’s largest automakers traces its origins to a complicated and deeply political beginning. On May 28, 1937, Volkswagen was founded by the German Labor Front under orders from Adolf Hitler, who envisioned an affordable “people’s car” for ordinary Germans. Engineer Ferdinand Porsche led development of what would eventually become the Volkswagen Beetle, one of the best-selling cars in history. Though the company’s early years were tied directly to Nazi Germany and wartime production, Volkswagen later transformed into a global automotive giant and one of the defining manufacturers of the postwar era.
1962 – Volvo Cofounder Assar Gabrielsson Dies
Swedish industrialist Assar Gabrielsson died on this day in 1962 at age 70, leaving behind one of the automotive world’s most safety-conscious brands. Gabrielsson cofounded Volvo in 1927 alongside engineer Gustaf Larson with the belief that Sweden’s rough roads and cold climate demanded sturdier, safer automobiles. That philosophy eventually helped Volvo become synonymous with durability and occupant protection, pioneering safety features that influenced the broader industry for generations. MORE: Automotive biographies
2013 – Infiniti Founder Bill Bruce Dies
The luxury ambitions of Nissan lost one of their key architects on this day in 2013 when Bill Bruce died. Often credited as a founding force behind Infiniti, Bruce helped create Nissan’s premium division in the late 1980s as Japanese automakers increasingly challenged European luxury dominance. Infiniti entered the market with bold marketing and unconventional models like the Q45, helping launch a luxury-brand battle that reshaped the premium automotive landscape.
2014 – Google Reveals a Car With No Steering Wheel or Pedals
The future suddenly looked strange on this day in 2014 when Google unveiled a prototype autonomous car with no steering wheel, pedals, or traditional controls, imagining a world where passengers simply entered a vehicle and let software do the driving. The tiny pod-like concept, part of Google’s self-driving car project that later became Waymo, seemed futuristic—even unrealistic—at the time. While fully private consumer cars without controls never became mainstream, the idea did partially materialize: today, fully autonomous robotaxis operate in several cities through Waymo, carrying passengers without a driver behind the wheel. Dedicated no-steering-wheel vehicles have also entered limited testing and deployment, though regulation, safety concerns, and public trust mean the steering wheel is not disappearing from everyday cars anytime soon.
