<Tr> <Th> Spouse (s) </Th> <Td> Karl Benz (m . 1872; his death) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Children </Th> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <P> Bertha Benz (help info) (née Ringer, 3 May 1849--5 May 1944) was a German automotive pioneer . She was the wife and business partner of automobile inventor Karl Benz . In 1888, she was the first person to drive an automobile over a long distance . In doing so, she brought the Benz Patent - Motorwagen worldwide attention and got the company its first sales . </P> <P> Bertha Ringer was born in 1849 to a wealthy family in Pforzheim, Grand Duchy of Baden . </P>

Who drove the first car in the world