Automotive industry starts from 1806. It started from Siegfried Marcus' liquid filled internal combustion and progressed to fuel efficient engines of today.
The history of the automotive industry starts in 1806. The year saw fuel gas powered internal combustion techniques being introduced for mass vehicle propulsion. The gasoline powered internal combustion engines were introduced in 1885. Automotive history can be empirically divided into number of development stages or eras:

Steam era
Veteran era
Edwardian or brass era
Vintage era
Pre-War era
Post-War era
Modern era

Steam era (1806 - 1887)
The Austrian inventor Siegfried Marcus put a liquid filled internal combustion engine in a cart and became the first individual in the world to drive a gasoline fueled car. Gasoline powered international combustion engines were invented simultaneously by Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach, and Karl Benz circa 1885. Daimler and Maybach also invented the world's first motorbike in 1886. Disc brakes were invented by the Englishman Frederick William Lanchester in 1895.

Veteran era (1888 - 1904)
This era saw the popularization of motor vehicles as a means of personal transportation. The French company Panhard et Levassor invented the first four-cylinder engine. The Olds Motor Vehicle Company (Oldsmobile as it was popularly known) started selling vehicles from 1902. The two-stroke automobile engine was invented by George B. Selden in the veteran era. He patented his invention on 5th November, 1895.

Edwardian or brass era (1905 - 1918)
Notable technological developments during the brass era were electric ignition by Robert Bosch in 1903. Transmission and throttle controls were invented during this time. Leaf springs also came into popular usage.

Vintage era (1919 - 1929)
This era is dominated by the front-engined car. Overhead cam and multi-valve engines were produced in this period. This era started in 1919 and continued until 1929.

Pre-War era (1930 – 1948)
The era of classic cars. Sedan cars with a trunk for storage at the rear began to be sold. Front wheel drive became popular during this period. Iconic cars like Bugatti Type 57 and Ford V-8 were made and sold during this time.

Post-War era (1949 – 1969)
Engine power and vehicle speeds rose in the post-War period. Japan began to emerge as a major car manufacturing nation. Fuel injection and independent suspensions began to be used in automobiles.

Modern era (1969 – present)
This era is characterized by computer-aided design. Vehicle design variations like minivan, sport utility vehicle, and hatchback became commonplace. Engines became fuel efficient and show greater output.