What is the meaning of "automatic" in the context of cars?

The term "automatic" refers to a car with an automatic transmission, also known as an automatic transmission or an automatic gearshift. An automatic transmission is a type of vehicle that can automatically change gear without the need for a driver to manually shift. It uses a planetary gear system to achieve this, and can adjust the gear based on the depth of the accelerator and the speed of the vehicle. The engine's power is transmitted through the transmission, which is also a key factor in determining fuel consumption. In general, automatic transmissions consume more than 10% more fuel than manual ones, and the more gear ratios a transmission has, the more fuel-efficient it is.