First, the intended use is completely different. A forklift has only one purpose in life --- to lift heavy loads up on a shelf or carry them around a warehouse. An automobile's intended use is to carry the driver and passengers to various destinations safely and quickly. Because of the use, the interior accommodations are different. Automobiles have heating and air conditioning along with a roof to protect people against the elements. A forklift has no covering and is open air, since it's mostly used indoors.
Automobiles are usually designed to carry two or more people. This includes the driver and the passengers. Some automobiles, called "vans," are designed to carry many people since they have two front seats and two sets of back seats. A forklift is designed for only one person, the driver.
An automobile is designed to carry a limited load, namely the weight of the passengers. It may have a trunk to carry a small amount of cargo. A forklift, on the other hand, is designed to carry very heavy loads. It derives its name from the configuration. It has two prongs, called "forks," sticking out from the front. The prongs are slid under a fully loaded pallet. The driver moves a knob, attached to hydraulic cylinders. The prongs lift up, lifting the cargo off the ground. The lift driver can drive the cargo around and place it where its needed. One forklift, the Versa-Lift Model 100/140, can lift 140,000 lbs. An average car weighs about 3,500 pounds. This forklift can lift about 40 automobiles.
Both a forklift and an automobile have a driver's seat and a steering wheel. The similarity, however, ends there. An automobile has a turn signal lever and a single gearshift knob. Forklifts have a multitude of levers. First, it may have two or more gearshift levers, depending on the model. Second, it has levers to control the up-and-down movement of the forks. Third, it has more levers to control the tilt angle of the forks. Sometimes, the ground is not level. The driver has to tilt the forks backwards or forward to compensate. Furthermore, all forklifts have backup beepers, so others in the general area are warned the forklift is backing up. Automobiles do not have back up beepers.