Who invented the Wankel rotary engine?

The Wankel rotary engine was invented by German engineer Felix Wankel. He conceived the idea in the late 1920s, patented key concepts in 1929, and—working with the German automaker NSU—saw the first running prototype (the DKM 54) fire up in 1957, paving the way for later production versions used by NSU and, most prominently, Mazda.

The inventor behind the name

Felix Wankel (1902–1988) was a self-taught German engineer whose lifelong pursuit was a compact, smooth-running internal-combustion engine that replaced reciprocating pistons with a rotor. Born in Lahr, Germany, he began sketching rotary concepts as a young man and secured early patents by 1929. After World War II, he established a development workshop on Lake Constance and, in the early 1950s, entered into a collaboration with NSU Motorenwerke in Neckarsulm to turn his theory into a practical power unit.

From concept to working engine

Early ideas and patents

Wankel’s core insight was that a triangular rotor spinning within an epitrochoid-shaped housing could compress and expand fuel-air mixtures seamlessly, promising fewer moving parts, compact packaging, and smooth power delivery. His prewar patents outlined this geometry and sealing strategy, but the materials and manufacturing precision required for reliable operation would take decades to mature.

NSU collaboration and the first prototype

NSU provided the industrial backing to translate Wankel’s theory into hardware. On February 1, 1957, the first running Wankel prototype—the DKM 54—operated successfully at NSU. The project was led by Felix Wankel with key NSU engineering support from Walter Froede. The DKM’s rotor and housing both rotated, demonstrating the principle but complicating practical use.

Within months, NSU engineer Hanns-Dieter Paschke devised the KKM (Kreiskolbenmotor) layout, which kept the housing stationary and the rotor spinning—an architecture that became the basis for all production Wankel engines. Although Wankel favored the elegance of the DKM, the KKM’s simplicity made it the workable path forward.

What happened next

NSU introduced the world’s first production Wankel car, the NSU Spider, in 1964, followed by the more ambitious NSU Ro 80 in 1967. Licensing agreements spread the technology globally; most consequentially, Mazda refined sealing, materials, and fuel-oil control to produce durable rotary engines, debuting with the 1967 Cosmo Sport and later powering RX-series sports cars.

Key facts at a glance

The following list summarizes the essential details about the Wankel rotary engine’s origin and early development.

• Inventor: Felix Wankel (Germany)
• Initial concept and patents: 1920s–1929
• First running prototype: DKM 54 at NSU, February 1, 1957
• Practical production architecture: KKM, developed at NSU by Hanns-Dieter Paschke
• First production car: NSU Spider (1964)
• Major adopter and developer: Mazda (from 1967, Cosmo Sport, through later RX models)

Together, these milestones show how Wankel’s invention moved from a visionary idea to an industrially viable engine, shaping decades of automotive experimentation and performance culture.

Timeline of the rotary’s emergence

This timeline provides a chronological view of the Wankel engine’s path from invention to production and broader influence.

1. 1929: Felix Wankel files key patents for a rotary combustion engine.
2. Early 1950s: Wankel partners with NSU to pursue a working prototype.
3. 1957: DKM 54 runs at NSU under Wankel’s direction with Walter Froede’s team.
4. 1957–1958: NSU’s Hanns-Dieter Paschke develops the KKM layout (stationary housing), enabling practical applications.
5. 1964: NSU Spider becomes the first production car with a Wankel engine.
6. 1967: Mazda launches the Cosmo Sport, beginning decades of rotary development and motorsport success.

These steps trace the evolution from Wankel’s foundational invention to real-world vehicles that popularized the rotary concept across markets.

Why it matters

Though never mainstream, the Wankel engine delivered an enduring engineering legacy: compact power, mechanical simplicity, and a distinctive driving character. Its challenges—apex seal durability, emissions, and fuel economy—spurred innovations in materials and combustion that continue to inform modern engine development and hybrid-range-extender concepts.

Summary

Felix Wankel invented the Wankel rotary engine. Conceived in the 1920s and first run as a prototype at NSU in 1957, the design matured through the KKM architecture and reached production with NSU and later Mazda, leaving a lasting imprint on automotive engineering despite its niche role in the market.

Did Mazda invent the rotary?

It was Mazda’s engineers who took Felix Wankel’s unique engine design concept to fruition, and commercial success, five decades ago this year. A rotary engine is smaller and lighter than a conventional piston engine, with a superior power-to-weight ratio.

Does anyone still make a Wankel engine?

In 2023, Mazda reintroduced the engine as a generator for the 2023 MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV plug-in hybrid.

Why did the rotary engine fail?

The rotary engine “failed” due to a combination of poor fuel efficiency, high oil consumption, unreliable apex seals, and the inability to meet strict emissions standards, which made them unviable for mass-market vehicles. While successful in specialized sports cars and later adapted as a range extender for electric vehicles, the inherent design flaws made them difficult to compete against the more efficient and reliable piston engines, ultimately leading to their decline in the automotive market.
 
Major Reasons for Failure

• Poor Emissions and Fuel Efficiency: Opens in new tabRotary engines burn oil as part of their lubrication process, which is inefficient and difficult to control, leading to high emissions and terrible fuel economy. The combustion process is also less efficient, leaving unburnt fuel and gases that are difficult to meet stricter emissions regulations. 
• Unreliable Apex Seals: Opens in new tabThe apex seals, critical for sealing the combustion chambers, were prone to wear and failure. Early rotary engines required frequent and costly rebuilds due to these failures, damaging the reputation of the technology. 
• High Oil Consumption: Opens in new tabThe need to inject oil directly into the combustion chamber to lubricate the seals means rotary engines literally “drink oil”. This high consumption was a significant drawback for many owners. 
• High Maintenance and Repair Costs: Opens in new tabDue to their unique design and specialized components, rotary engines were difficult and expensive to repair, requiring specialist knowledge and parts. 
• The 1970s Oil Crisis: Opens in new tabThe rotary engine’s terrible fuel economy made it particularly vulnerable to the economic pressures of the oil crisis, which forced automakers like Mazda to shift focus back to piston engines. 

Despite these failures, the rotary engine continues to have a following:

• Niche Applications: Mazda has found a new use for the rotary engine as a range extender in some of their electric vehicles, like the MX-30, to generate electricity and extend the vehicle’s range. 
• Performance Characteristics: Rotary engines still offer advantages like a compact size, smooth operation, high revs, and a unique sound, which maintain their appeal in certain JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) car culture. 

Who made the first Wankel engine?

Felix WankelWankel engine / Inventor
Felix Wankel designed a rotary compressor in the 1920s and received his first patent for a rotary type of engine in 1934. He realized that the triangular rotor of the rotary compressor could have intake and exhaust ports added, producing an internal combustion engine.