The world’s first single-molecule vehicle has been built using nano-technology. It has a chassis, pivoting axles and rotating wheels. Measuring about three to four nanometers across, it is slightly wider than a strand of DNA. The synthesis and testing of nanocars and other molecular machines are expected to provide critical insights in the investigations of bottom-up molecular manufacturing.

Man would eventually need to move objects and do work in a controlled fashion on the molecular scale and a nanocar is a great test bed for that. It is capable of rolling on its wheels in a direction of right angles to its axles. When tested on a gold surface at room temperature, strong electrical bonds held the wheels tightly against the gold but heating to about 200C enabled them to roll.