March is International Women’s Month, and at BeSpoke Motor Union, we’re tipping our hats (or should we say helmets?) to the trailblazing women who have left their mark on the automotive world. From racing legends to engineering masterminds, these women have defied expectations, shattered stereotypes, and paved the way for future generations of car enthusiasts and industry leaders.
So, buckle up—we’re taking a joyride through history and into the future with some of the most influential women in the automotive industry!
Bertha Benz: The Original Road Trip Queen
Before there were road trips with carefully planned snack stops and Spotify playlists, there was Bertha Benz. In 1888, she made history by taking the world’s first long-distance automobile journey—without telling her husband, Karl Benz, the man credited with inventing the modern car. Talk about a power move!
Bertha drove 66 miles from Mannheim to Pforzheim in her husband’s three-wheeled Benz Patent-Motorwagen to prove that cars weren’t just an engineering marvel—they were practical. Along the way, she bought fuel (essentially launching the first gas station), unclogged a fuel line with her hairpin, and used her garter as insulation material. If that’s not innovation, we don’t know what is. Without her daring spirit, the automotive industry might not have taken off the way it did.
Madam C.J. Walker: Driving Independence and Success
While Madam C.J. Walker is best known as America’s first self-made female millionaire in the early 1900s, she was also a pioneer in another way—she was one of the first Black women to own and drive her own car. At a time when automobiles were a rare luxury, Walker used her car as a powerful symbol of independence, success, and modernity.
As she traveled across the country promoting her haircare empire, her automobile became a statement of empowerment, breaking racial and gender barriers. Walker’s love for cars represented much more than transportation—it was about freedom, progress, and redefining what was possible for women of color in business and beyond.
Danica Patrick: A Trailblazer on the Track
No list of influential women in the automotive world is complete without Danica Patrick. Love her or hate her, she changed the face of motorsports forever. As the most successful woman in American open-wheel racing, Patrick became the first female driver to win an IndyCar Series race in 2008.
She didn’t stop there. She became the first woman to clinch pole position at the Daytona 500 in 2013, proving that women could hold their own in the high-stakes, high-speed world of racing. Her presence in motorsports opened doors for more women to take the wheel—literally and figuratively.
Mary Barra: The CEO Steering General Motors to Success
Think the auto industry is a boys’ club? Mary Barra would like a word. As the CEO of General Motors (GM) since 2014, Barra is the first female CEO of a major global automaker. And she didn’t just inherit the title—she earned it, working her way up through GM over the span of decades.
Under her leadership, GM has made bold moves toward an electric future, investing heavily in EV technology and sustainability. Barra has proven that women aren’t just here to drive the cars; they’re here to run the companies making them.
Lyn St. James: The Fearless Racer Who Defied Expectations
Lyn St. James wasn’t just racing cars—she was racing against gender norms. She became the first woman to win the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year award in 1992 and competed in seven Indy 500 races, proving that women belonged in motorsports just as much as men.
St. James has also worked tirelessly to mentor young female racers, helping more women break into professional driving. Her impact goes far beyond the checkered flag—she’s shaped the future of women in racing.
Brehanna Daniels: Breaking Barriers in NASCAR
Brehanna Daniels made history as the first Black woman to work as a tire changer in NASCAR’s pit crew. Breaking into the fast-paced, male-dominated world of NASCAR wasn’t easy, but Daniels proved that she belonged on pit road.
She joined NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program in 2016 and quickly made a name for herself with her speed, precision, and strength under pressure. Daniels’ success has inspired more women of color to pursue careers in motorsports and has shown that talent—not gender or race—determines who succeeds on the track.
Jessi Combs: The Fastest Woman on Four Wheels
Jessi Combs was a force to be reckoned with in the world of speed. A metal fabricator, racer, and TV personality, she was known for her work on MythBusters, Overhaulin’, and All Girls Garage. But her most jaw-dropping accomplishment? Setting the world land-speed record for a woman in 2019, reaching 522.783 mph.
Combs was a fierce advocate for women in motorsports and fabrication, proving that no wrench was too big and no speed was too fast. Her legacy continues to inspire women to push the limits of what’s possible in the automotive world.
Women in Automotive Design: Shaping the Cars We Love
Beyond the racetrack and the boardroom, women have played a critical role in designing some of the most iconic cars in history. Ever heard of the Chevrolet Corvette? You can thank Suzanne Vanderbilt, among other women, who worked as a designer at GM in the 1950s and helped shape the brand’s aesthetics.
More recently, Michelle Christensen became the first woman to lead the exterior design of an Acura NSX, blending power and beauty into one of the most celebrated supercars of the modern era.
Women aren’t just driving cars—they’re designing the ones that make our hearts race.
The Future: More Women, More Innovation
The automotive industry still has work to do when it comes to gender diversity, but the tide is turning. More women than ever are pursuing careers in automotive engineering, design, and racing. Organizations like Women in Automotive and the FIA’s Girls on Track initiative are working to ensure that the next generation of women in the industry is bigger, bolder, and faster than ever.
At BeSpoke Motor Union, we celebrate every woman who has ever taken the wheel—whether that’s on the open road, in the boardroom, or at the design table. We believe that cars are for everyone, and the more diverse voices we have in the industry, the better it will be.
So, here’s to the women who have shaped the automotive world and to those who will continue to redefine it. Happy International Women’s Month!