The first automotive speed record is 127 years old and it is electric
- Published on 18/12/2025 11:21
- Modified on 18/12/2025 11:21
More than a century ago, it was a French electric car that first marked the automobile in the history of records.
On December 18, 1898, Count Gaston de Chasseloup-Laubat set what the Guinness World Records recognizes as “the first automobile land speed record.” Behind the wheel of a Jeantaud Duc, he reached 39.24 miles per hour (63.15 km/h) over a kilometer run in Achères, France. For that time, this performance was not only impressive: it demonstrated that the automobile could push the boundaries of technology and speed.
What a long way…
At the end of the 19th century, steam, electric, and combustion cars were still experimenting with their potential. Roads were not designed for speed, and each advancement represented a technical achievement. Chasseloup-Laubat, an aristocrat passionate about mechanics, thus became a pioneer, etching his name in history and paving the way for modern motorsport.
His record did not remain isolated. Quickly, a rivalry emerged with the Belgian Camille Jenatzy, who would surpass 100 km/h as early as April 1899 with his vehicle La Jamais Contente. This speed duel illustrates how, from the very beginning, the automobile was synonymous with performance and innovation.
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More than a century later, land speed records have reached supersonic speeds, exceeding 1200 km/h. Yet, it all began on December 18, 1898, with a French electric car and a visionary aristocrat. Even today, Guinness celebrates this event as the first official milestone of automobile speed, a founding moment that forever changed the course of the automobile.
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This page is translated from the original post "Le premier record de vitesse automobile a 127 ans et il est électrique" in French.
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