Automation - The Car Company Tycoon Game
Early access since Mar 2015
Make your dream cars a reality with Automation’s unparalleled car and engine design tools. Gain a competitive edge through smart engineering and business decisions to help you build an automotive empire. Will you become an industry leader, or just a footnote in automotive history?
93% positive · 18K reviews
Not yet
In early access, content still planned
High confidence
Content Planned
Not yet
In early access, content still planned
High confidence
Content Planned
Where to buy
Steam $29.99
Can't confirm — worth a look
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Evaluation
Automation has been in Early Access since March 2015 and remains so today. The game follows a model of large, named milestone updates that progressively build out its systems. The most recent major update — the Al Rilma Update — officially launched on December 3, 2025 after an extended alpha and beta period, bringing superchargers, overhauled campaign mechanics, multiplayer, and sweeping system improvements.
In the January 14, 2026 patch notes, the developer explicitly named and described the next major update: the "Terso Update," calling it "the final massive update that will take the core game to being considered complete." They outlined a list of planned features for the first phase of Terso and confirmed work on it was beginning. A February 18, 2026 bug-fix post reiterated that "we are working on the first bigger features of the next major update." The most recent developer communication was a July 24, 2026 post announcing a new website and dev blog program, confirming the team remains active and engaged with the community.
The developer also announced on June 18, 2025 that native macOS support was ending, citing Apple's planned removal of Rosetta compatibility and technical obstacles with their game engine. This was a deliberate narrowing of platform scope, not a sign of broader development trouble.
All three DLC items (two soundtracks and a V16 engine pack) are released. The game's update cadence — with major named updates arriving roughly every 12–24 months — remains consistent, and the developer's communications about the Terso Update are clear and specific.
Evidence
Bug-fix patch post confirms the team is actively working on the first major features of the next big update (Terso).
Developer announces the 'Terso Update' as the next major development cycle, describing it as 'the final massive update that will take the core game to being considered complete,' and outlines a first set of planned features for it.
Content
3 of 3 released · no outstanding content
Media
Details
Developer
Publisher
Camshaft Software Ltd
Achievements
—
Platform
Windows
Controller
—
Steam Deck
Playable
Players
Single-player · Multiplayer · PvP
About this game
Design the cars of your dreams, and build an automotive business empire with them! Choose to make cars that evoke excitement and set the imagination alight, or cars that are the literal wheels the world’s economy rolls upon; with Automation, the possibilities are limited only by your imagination!
Automation is an automotive design simulator, featuring vehicles and technologies from 1946 to 2020. Use Automation’s unparalleled engine and car design tools to create your perfect car, then build and market them to a car-hungry public in the Campaign Mode! Export your creations to BeamNG.drive (sold separately) with the one-click export tool and share them with others, or experience them for yourself on the road and on track!
In Automation, players use the comprehensive engine and car design tools to turn their ideas into reality; shape, cut, re-shape and adorn thousands of car bodies with a wide variety of lights, mouldings and other parts to achieve the style you want. Design the perfect engine to go in your car; whether it is a large, powerful V12 or a small, efficient inline-3, nearly all common engine layouts are possible!
Automation’s Campaign Mode starts in 1946, where players test their design skills in a deep simulation of the automotive industry. Build factories and equip them with the facilities and equipment they need, and research cutting-edge technologies to turn your fledgling company into a titan of the industry, by catering to the needs and desires of dynamically-simulated market demographics.
Export your creations to BeamNG.drive (sold separately) with Automation’s easy-to-use car exporter to drive, race and crash them yourself!
Compare your lap times against Automation's AI and your friends in BeamNG.drive with the co-developed Automation Test Track featured in both games, and share your creations in the BeamNG.drive Mod Repository.
Automation has a large community of 3D modellers creating mod content for the game, with hundreds of free mods available on the Steam Workshop, and more being added every day. Additionally, the Automation community runs a wide variety of exciting, community-designed and led competitions, where cars are evaluated on styling, performance and other traits. Build a car and join the community today, to see how your creations measure up against your new friends!
Automation is an automotive design simulator, featuring vehicles and technologies from 1946 to 2020. Use Automation’s unparalleled engine and car design tools to create your perfect car, then build and market them to a car-hungry public in the Campaign Mode! Export your creations to BeamNG.drive (sold separately) with the one-click export tool and share them with others, or experience them for yourself on the road and on track!
Realise your dreams with one-of-a-kind car design tools.
In Automation, players use the comprehensive engine and car design tools to turn their ideas into reality; shape, cut, re-shape and adorn thousands of car bodies with a wide variety of lights, mouldings and other parts to achieve the style you want. Design the perfect engine to go in your car; whether it is a large, powerful V12 or a small, efficient inline-3, nearly all common engine layouts are possible!
Test your business skills by selling your designs in Campaign Mode.
Automation’s Campaign Mode starts in 1946, where players test their design skills in a deep simulation of the automotive industry. Build factories and equip them with the facilities and equipment they need, and research cutting-edge technologies to turn your fledgling company into a titan of the industry, by catering to the needs and desires of dynamically-simulated market demographics.
Export your cars to BeamNG.drive.
Export your creations to BeamNG.drive (sold separately) with Automation’s easy-to-use car exporter to drive, race and crash them yourself!
Compare your lap times against Automation's AI and your friends in BeamNG.drive with the co-developed Automation Test Track featured in both games, and share your creations in the BeamNG.drive Mod Repository.
Participate in Automation’s passionate and active community.
Automation has a large community of 3D modellers creating mod content for the game, with hundreds of free mods available on the Steam Workshop, and more being added every day. Additionally, the Automation community runs a wide variety of exciting, community-designed and led competitions, where cars are evaluated on styling, performance and other traits. Build a car and join the community today, to see how your creations measure up against your new friends!
Are these done yet?
Last evaluated Aug 17, 2026
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