"Unfortunately, only a girl again."
From a young age, CƤcilie Bertha Ringer is fascinated by her fatherās work as a master builder in Pforzheim, Germany. But those five words, which he wrote next to her name in the family Bible at her birth, haunt Bertha.
Years later, Bertha meets Carl Benz and falls in loveāwith him and his extraordinary dream of building a horseless carriage. Bertha has such faith in him that she invests her dowry in his plans, a dicey move since they alone believe in the machine. When Carlās partners threaten to withdraw their support, heās ready to cut ties. Bertha knows the decision would ruin everything. Ignoring the cynics, she takes matters into her own hands, secretly planning a scheme that will either hasten the familyās passage to absolute derision or prove their genius. What Bertha doesnāt know is that Carl is on the cusp of making a deal with their nemesis. Sheās not only risking her marriage and their lifeās work but is also up against the patriarchy, Carlās own self-doubt, and the clock.
The Woman at the Wheel is based on the real life of Bertha Benz, whose husband built the first prototype automobile, which eventually evolved into the Mercedes Benz marque. Like so many other women, Bertha lived largely in her husbandās shadow, but her contributions are now celebrated in this inspiring story of perseverance, resilience, and love.