Pioneering automaker
I believe the answer is:
benz
'pioneering automaker' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for benz that I've seen before include "German engineer who built the first petrol-engined car" , "German engineer, builder of first car with internal combustion engine" , "German engineer, first to build a patented car, d. 1929" , "Motor man" , "German pioneer of the internal-combustion engine, associated with Mercedes" .)