History of Cruise Control in Motor Cars / Automobiles

6.3 Cruise Control

• The first cruise controls fitted to cars were based on the centrifugal governor, a technique invented in 1788 by James Watt and Matthew Boulton (British) for use on locomotives.

• They were first fitted to cars sometime between 1900 and 1910.

• In 1945 Ralph Teetor (American) invented the modern cruise control.

• In 1958 a Chrysler Imperial became the first car to be fitted with his cruise control system.