Washington, Feb. 25 : President Barack Obama, it seems, requires a refresher course as far the history of the American automobile industry is concerned.

During the course of his address to the joint session of the US Congress, Obama erroneously said that America had invented the automobile industry.

Obama said his administration won''t protect automobile makers from their own bad practices but is committed to a retooled auto industry, saying, "I believe the nation that invented the automobile cannot walk away from it."

He should have known that the credit for internal combustion engines generally is given to German engineer, Karl Benz, who designed and built the world''s first practical automobile in 1885.

French inventor Nicolas Cugnot invented a steam-powered car in 1769.

Americans, on the other hand, are given credit for the mass production of cars.

Nevertheless, Obama said millions of jobs and scores of communities depend on saving the industry. (ANI)