As early as in the 1890s, Siegfried Marcus presented the first vehicle world-wide provided with a four-stroke gasoline engine and an electromagnetic ignition system that he built at Vienna University. The first car with front-wheel drive was also invented by the Viennese Gräf brothers whose company now is a subsidiary of the German M.A.N. group.

Austria has been active in the automotive supplier industry for a long time and is the world-wide leader in several fields. The first electric starter was designed by Bosch in 1913. With the development and production of direct-injection diesel engines, Austria has become a leading player world-wide.

Opel Austria Powertrain, based in Vienna-Aspern, employs 2,300 persons and produces one million transmissions per year; around half of all new Opels world-wide operate with engines and/or transmissions from Vienna.

At the Vienna University of Technology, the Institute for Internal Combustion Engines and Automotive Engineering makes efforts to optimise combustion processes, injection systems and emission reduction systems as well as to develop new measurement methods.

The Automotive Cluster Vienna Region (ACVR) is a technology-spanning network for innovative auto industry supplier enterprises. Its paramount objective is to concentrate automotive expertise in the Vienna region, establish close contacts among the participating companies and to initiate innovative projects and partnerships.