Don't think that knowing everything about cars is something only for men. As they get older, it stops being child's play, and girls no longer need to steal Hot Wheels cars from their brothers, friends, and cousins. Now they have their own! They choose, collect, customize, design, and even assemble them.

And we're not just talking about the trend of many factories hiring women because of their care and high level of attention, but also female engineers, designers, etc.

The first woman on record to drive a car was the German Bertha Benz, married to the engineer Karl Benz, who is credited with creating the first vehicle with an internal combustion engine powered by petroleum fuel. Besides being the inventor's wife, she was a great supporter and sponsor of the prototype which, on a daring day, she used to visit her mother in a nearby village.

She knew the car's workings as well as her husband. When planning this trip, she considered the amount of fuel and how she would refuel along the way so that she could reach her destination with her two children. During the journey, some unforeseen events occurred, such as the breakdown of some car components, and Bertha herself took care of fixing them in her own way.

For many years they still lagged behind the success of their husbands and other men. But the fascination with automobiles has accompanied them for centuries. Dorothy Levitt, one of the first British female drivers, wrote a book about women and cars in 1906. She is credited with the idea of the first rearview mirrors, as in that book she writes that women should always have a mirror to see what is happening behind them.

And since mirrors are essential and will always be a part of women's lives, many modifications to cars have been made to meet women's demands. Mirrors in the sun visors, for example, which were initially designed for female co-pilots, were only located on the passenger side.

Today, there are mirrors on both sides, as well as storage compartments, cup holders, multimedia stations for children, special seat belts and seats, child car seats, among other features that have been incorporated into automobiles throughout their history.

Today, the car belongs to them, with custom-designed accessories, spaces conceived for their comfort, and even small luxuries like mirrors. Mothers, homemakers, businesswomen, and self-employed professionals can no longer live without a means of transportation that streamlines their lives and commitments. And, just like men, they take care of, service, and worry about the maintenance of their vehicles.

Wulin Gaowa, from China, is responsible for the General Motors design center in her country. She is the only woman on a list of renowned professionals, according to the portal. UOL Cars.

At a time when the global economy demanded smaller, more comfortable, less polluting, and, above all, more economical cars, emerging countries like India, Brazil, and China have been seeking to expand their markets. Automakers have been betting on the sales potential and design developed in these regions.

The design of cars manufactured in China follows global trends, regardless of whether the designer is a woman or a man; the automobiles from these centers are designed to appeal to all countries, not just Asian ones.

Today, many cars sold worldwide have designs developed by Chinese engineers, both externally and internally. Wulin's global vision and feminine spirit were GM's bet.

Are we beginning to recognize the work of women within the automotive industry, or are we simply acknowledging that they have always influenced the development of motor vehicles?

Passion, the need for a means of transportation to work or take the children to school are part of what women are today and how they live in a world where cars are no longer designed solely for men.

There are many women who work on the factory floor, in workshops, in dealerships, and who buy and collect cars as a hobby. Daniella is a great example. Tired of being ripped off by mechanics, she took a course in automotive mechanics and electrical systems and opened a mechanic shop geared towards a female clientele.

By focusing on transparency (using WhatsApp so that owners can monitor the work) and careful service delivery, she has won over male clients and, especially, female clients.

For many, driving has become a profession. The number of female taxi drivers is 51% of the entire fleet in the city of São Paulo, which can still be considered low. Uber, on the other hand, has an ambitious goal: to have 1 million female drivers worldwide by 2020. Up to two years ago, they represented 141% of the 160,000 registered drivers in the US.

Despite the dangers of big cities, they have been dominating these spaces, and even cooperatives with taxis driven exclusively by women have been created. Many people prefer women behind the wheel because of their attentiveness and care, as do other women who feel safer with a female driver at the wheel.

With the technology and apps available today, it's possible to choose the best mode of transportation and even know who will be driving your ride. It seems the world is opening its eyes to a new horizon, to new paths, now driven by both men and women.

The participation of women in the automotive world is undeniable. Even women who aren't interested in cars have the opportunity to learn more about the subject and find out what's happening with their vehicles. There are many blogs, websites, and social media communities that discuss cars and their maintenance, and women frequently seek them out.