How many tries before Karl Benz succeeded?

Karl Benz faced numerous challenges and setbacks while developing his motor vehicle, but he ultimately succeeded with the completion of the Motorwagen in 1885. While it's difficult to quantify the exact number of tries, his early experiments in the 1870s and 1880s involved multiple prototypes and iterations. His perseverance through failures and refinements led to the first practical automobile powered by an internal combustion engine. This innovation laid the foundation for the modern automotive industry.