March is Women’s History Month, a time to pause and give a well-deserved shout-out to the pioneers who made the automotive industry what it is today. While history books often focus on the men under the hoods, the truth is that if it weren’t for the genius of women in the background and the shadows, our driving experience would be unrecognizable.
From the safety features that protect your family to the comfort items that make your commute bearable, women have been the driving force behind the scenes. At our core, we believe in women helping you live life uninterrupted, and these inventors did exactly that—they solved problems so the rest of the world could keep moving forward.
The Pioneers of the Road
For many of these trailblazers, we’ve dived deep into their stories in the past. If you want to learn more about their incredible journeys, feel free to click through to our dedicated archives.
- Bertha Benz (1888): Often called the first "test driver," Bertha took her husband’s invention on the first long-distance trip to prove its practicality. Along the way, she invented brake linings (the ancestor to your brake pads) using leather to improve stopping power.
- Margaret Wilcox (1893): Those cold winter mornings would be a lot tougher without Margaret, who invented the first car heater, directing air from the engine into the cabin to keep drivers warm.
- Mary Anderson (1903): Next time it pours, thank Mary. She patented the first windshield wipers after watching streetcar drivers struggle to see through sleet.
- Dorothy Levitt (1909): A racing pioneer, Dorothy first suggested that women carry a small hand mirror to see what was behind them—effectively "inventing" the concept of the rearview mirror.
- Florence Lawrence (1914): This Hollywood starlet was also a brilliant inventor who created the first mechanical turn signals and brake lights to keep drivers from colliding. [More on Florence’s inventions.]
- June McCarroll (1924): After being crowded off the road by a truck, June took a paintbrush to the pavement, creating the first lane markings to help us all stay in our lanes.
- Hedy Lamarr (1941): While a film icon, Hedy co-invented frequency-hopping technology. Without her, we wouldn’t have the GPS, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi that powers modern navigation
From Walking to Running
As the saying goes, these women walked so the leaders of today could run. The industry has shifted from the "shadows" into a new era of leadership. Today, we see women in positions that were once considered a dream.
Look at Mary Barra, the CEO of General Motors, and Linda Zhang, the Chief Engineer behind the Ford F-150 Lightning. These women aren’t just participating in the industry; they are leading the charge toward a zero-emissions future and the evolution of EVs. They are proof that when women are at the helm of science, design, and engineering, the entire world benefits.
Celebrating the Future
The automotive world wouldn't be utilized to its full capacity today if it weren't for the women who saw a problem and dared to fix it. Whether it was Bertha Benz "stealing" her husband's car to prove it actually worked, or a scientist perfecting the glass on your windshield to keep you safe, their legacy is in every mile you drive.
To the girls and women of today interested in science, technology, and design: the road has been paved for you. This month, we celebrate the women of the past, the leaders of the present, and the innovators of the future. Thank you for helping us live life uninterrupted!
