If personifying something means we worship it in a religious context then people have been worshipping our mode of transportation since the dawn of time, plus slot machines and a whole host of other things.
I would say people definitely worship cars. Ask the average American to live without a car and see what response you get. Tell them it’s destroying the earth, their community, and their health and see what happens.
Or even just ask them to change “denominations” from an ICE car to an electric car.
I think that's more addiction enabled by infrastructure that supports it and provides little viable alternative (in most places in the U.S.) than it is religion.
That is definitely why it is so prevalent, but people take it a step beyond this. The vehicle becoming part of their personality. Taking offense at the notion of not using a vehicle or not wanting to use a vehicle. Driving trucks around empty, with covered beds all the time. Not wanting electric because they love the concept of the internal combustion engine.
Or even just ask them to change “denominations” from an ICE car to an electric car.