In 1894, the trio built one of the first gasoline powered vehicles in the United States, at Apperson's Riverside Machine Works.
In 1902, the brothers had turned a large profit from the enterprise and they decided to split up to form their own companies.
The horizontal-mounted water-cooled flat twin, situated at the rear of the car, produced 11 hp (8.2 kW).
The Tonneau had a similar flat-twin of 17 hp (12.7 kW), situated at the front of the car, and three-speed transmission was fitted.
Since 1977 a race in Kokomo, Indiana, for runners and walkers has been held during the "Haynes-Apperson Festival" in commemoration of the pioneer auto company.