World motor show
It was in 1898 that the first international exhibition devoted exclusively to the automobile was held in Paris. The end of the 19th century marked the start of the automobile adventure and its array of mechanical innovations. Dion-Bouton's new internal combustion engines took Renault cars to nearly 30 km/h and the 100 km/h barrier was broken by an electric vehicle, the "Jamais-Contente", in 1899. The first great races were also held, such as the Tour de France Automobile and the Gordon Bennett Cup. During the first world war Parisian taxi drivers carried French troops to the front where they won the Battle of the Marne. Industrial production grew steadily during the 20th century.
