Driving Change: Celebrating Women in the Motor Industry

The motor industry has always been a field of innovation, ingenuity, and determination. While it has historically been male-dominated, women have made (and continue to make) powerful contributions, shaping the way we design, build, and enjoy vehicles. From pioneering inventors to modern-day leaders, women have driven change at every turn.

Some of the earliest women in the automotive world challenged norms and opened doors for generations to come.

Bertha Benz took the first long-distance car journey in 1888, travelling 66 miles from Mannheim to her mother’s house. Along the way, she navigated rough roads, refuelled at local pharmacies, and even fixed mechanical issues herself. Her journey proved her husband Karl Benz’s invention was practical and introduced the first brake lining, a simple but revolutionary innovation born on the road.

Mary Anderson patented the first operational windshield wiper in 1903 after noticing drivers struggling to see through rain and snow. Her invention, initially met with skepticism, is now standard in every car worldwide, keeping drivers safe in all weather.

Dorothée Pullinger designed the Galloway car in the 1920s and created employment opportunities for women in manufacturing, decades before workplace equality became mainstream. She also advocated for women in technical roles, showing that automotive innovation was not limited by gender.

Other trailblazers who paved the way in engineering, design, and industry activism include Beatrice Shilling (innovated aviation carburetors during WWII), Margaret Wilcox (patented an early car heating system), Dorothy Levitt (Britain’s first female racing driver), and the sewing machinists at Ford Dagenham (1968 strike led to the UK Equal Pay Act).

The legacy of early innovators continues with women at the helm of global automotive brands.

Mary Barra became the first woman to lead a major global automaker, General Motors, in 2014. She has driven GM’s electric vehicle strategy and ambition sustainability goals, showing how leadership can shape the future of mobility.

Linda Jackson, former CEO of Peugeot and Citroën, has steered major European brands through electrification and innovation, providing that women’s leadership is transforming the industry at every level.

Engineers like Rachel Skinner represent a new generation shaping transport, infrastructure, and mobility. As a civil engineer and advocate for gender diversity in engineering, transport, and infrastructure, she demonstrates that the next breakthroughs in automotive technology are open to all.

Here at SERE Motors, we’re proud to continue this legacy every day. Women are an integral part of our team, driving excellence across sales, service, marketing, finance, and leadership. Their dedication, skill, and passion not only keep our dealership thriving but also inspire the next generation of women to see the automotive world as a place of innovation, opportunity, and growth.