productioncar

A production car is a motor vehicle manufactured for sale to the general public in serial production, intended to be road-legal and supported by warranty and a dealer network. It differs from concept cars, show cars, or prototypes, which are built for testing, demonstration, or limited interest and are not offered for general sale. Production cars are built on standardized platforms with common components, designed to be sold in defined model ranges, and must meet applicable safety, emissions, and consumer-protection regulations.

Most production cars are produced in large volumes, though many makers also offer limited-edition or boutique models with small unit counts. The manufacturing process typically combines automated assembly lines with skilled labor, standardized parts, and stringent quality control. Production involves design validation, tooling and supply-chain setup, mass production, testing, and distribution through dealer networks or direct sales.

In racing contexts, production cars may be subject to homologation rules requiring a minimum number of road-going examples to be sold to the public to qualify in a given class, though there are also purpose-built race cars that are not sold for street use.

Historically, mass production transformed the auto industry in the early 20th century; the Ford Model T is frequently cited as a milestone in affordable, widely available transportation. Modern production cars span a wide spectrum, from economical compact cars and family sedans to luxury vehicles and high-performance sports cars, with powertrains including internal combustion, hybrids, and electric propulsion.