- 1891 — Nikolaus Otto, inventor of the Otto cycle engine common in automobiles today, dies.
- 1938 — Rudolf Caracciola sets a land speed record of 433 km/h (268.9 mph) on the Autobahn outside Stuttgart. Later on the same day, Bernd Rosemeyer is killed attempting to beat this record.
- 1998 — Ford Motor Company announces its acquisition of Volvo Cars
