You save up around €3000 to buy a second hand car, such as a 2010 Peugeot 207. After a while, you save up another €3000 and trade in the Peugeot 207 for a 2012 Renault Laguna. You repeat that a couple of times until you are able to afford a new car or until you are no longer able to upgrade to something better.
That is how hundreds of millions of people do it here in Europe.
(Yes, I'm a secondhand car person myself, but heavy car commuters tend to buy new or even lease because the quality of car affects the quality of life for hours a day)
That is how hundreds of millions of people do it here in Europe.