Car symbol on iPad

The car icon, at top-right of the screen, indicates that you have enabled the “Driving” Focus. You select the current Focus mode from the iPad Control Centre. Swipe down from the top-right corner to expose the Control Centre - then tap the Focus button:

More information about selecting Focus modes can be found here:

Turn a Focus on or off on iPad – Apple Support

I recently noticed this symbol too. If you search "focus" in settings you will see it is actually a bed symbol for the sleep settings. I thought it was a car too.

That sounds like the Control Centre switch. What happens when you pull downward on that little symbol?

This one?

Symbols are shown here. Perhaps you're referring to a Hotspot symbol.

Learn the meaning of the iPad status icons - Apple Support