Final answer:
The first workable internal combustion engine that could power a car was created by Karl Benz, not Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, or Nikola Tesla. Karl Benz's invention paved the way for the transformation of transportation and the modern automobile industry.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first workable internal combustion engine that could power a car was created by Karl Benz. This engine generates power by burning fuel in the presence of oxygen to produce a high-pressure gas that exerts force on a piston, rotor, or turbine blade, causing it to move. While Henry Ford is often credited with revolutionizing the automobile industry with his mass production techniques, particularly the assembly line, which significantly lowered the cost of the Model T, thereby making car ownership more accessible to the general public, it was Karl Benz who patented the first gasoline-fueled automobile in 1886.
Prior to Ford's accomplishments, electric cars were more popular because of their silent operation and lack of pollution. However, they were quickly surpassed by gasoline-powered cars due to factors such as superior range and quick refueling. The invention of the gasoline internal combustion engine by Benz created new industries and transformed existing ones, replacing blacksmiths and stables with businesses that sold and repaired cars and increasing the demand for rubber and petroleum.