Automotive translations

Automotive translations

Bantelmann Translate offers specialist translations for the automotive industry using native speakers who specialise in the field.

What is translation for the automotive sector?

Translation for the automotive industry is a special type of translation which stands somewhere between technical and commercial. It covers all aspects of production, but also advertising, related to the design, production, marketing, sales and service of motor vehicles, i.e. cars and motorbikes, as well as trucks and tractors.

The automotive industry has become highly globalised, not only in terms of its market, but also in terms of infrastructure, and requires constant communication between sites around the world and with suppliers who communicate in different languages. For smooth operation in the industry, it is therefore essential that the relevant translations ensure the highest possible content accuracy. This requires specific engineering and technical expertise from the translator, in addition to linguistic expertise.

Who requires automotive translations?

Automotive translations are required by all actors in the industry: on the one hand, of course, there are car manufacturers, but on top of that there are all the suppliers, both in terms of technical products (manufacturers of components, engines and electronics needed for a car) and marketing (with the advertising agencies and media centres that promote the car manufacturer).

This varied client pool naturally implies a significant variety not only in the types of documents to be translated for the automotive industry, but also regarding the manner in which they are translated, ranging from strictly technical/engineering documents covering materials, construction and operational processes, to content with purposes purely of marketing.

Which kinds of documents require translations in the automotive field?

Given the magnitude of the automotive market, the variety of documents requiring translation in the sector is huge. This is but a brief overview of the main types of documentation for which translation is required in the automotive industry:

Our method and approach

As highlighted, the technical component is a key component for the validity of translations in the automotive sector. For this reason, the translators employed in this field always possess specific expertise in the field, so that they are able to fully comprehend and assess the content they are working on at a linguistic level in order to transform it optimally.

As automotive translations often concern trade secrets, new models in production, or even corporate strategies that are a key to competition, automotive translators must also offer the most stringent guarantees of confidentiality and discretion.

The translation of marketing materials for the automotive industry is another matter. Whether the content is intended for the web or traditional channels, adaptation to the target culture and language often requires a more complex and elaborate process, one that features a creative component. In these cases, translation no longer accurately describes the process, which can be defined as transcreation.

Available languages

Bantelmann Translate is able to offer specialist translations for the automotive industry from and into a wide range of different languages: