Carl Johann David Oppermann was born on 11 April 1838 in Hamburg, Germany. He died at Barnet, Middlesex, England on 30 April 1916.
Carl Oppermann produced electric cars under his own name from 1898 to 1902, and through Carl Oppermann Electric Carriage Co. Ltd. from 1902 to 1907. His firm made its own batteries to power a variety of vehicles mostly having open body styles, and produced a number of electric taxis. The King of Siam purchased an Oppermann electric in 1905.