Auto pioneer Ransom E. OLDS was an American inventor and businessman who founded the OLDS Motor Vehicle Company in 1897. He is credited with the invention of the first mass-produced automobile, the Oldsmobile Curved Dash, which was released in 1901. He also developed the first gasoline-powered engine and the first assembly line for automobiles. OLDS' innovations revolutionized the auto industry and helped to make cars more affordable and accessible to the public.