Automotive translation services smart case study

It’s a top consideration for automotive companies to translate these materials with quality, but also with efficiency and scalability at reduced costs. Stepes’ automotive localization solutions are designed exactly to meet these requirements. Specifically, we provide technical translation services for owner’s manuals, shop manuals, parts catalogs, diagnostic procedure manuals, which include language translation and multilingual desktop publishing. Our technical manual translation solutions employ terminology management and translation memory to ensure quality and consistency while delivering cost savings to our clients at scale. One of the key challenges in translating automotive terminology is the sheer complexity and technicality of the language used in this industry.  Aqueduct Translations machine translation post-editing  includes a wide range of specialized terms related to engineering, manufacturing processes, vehicle components, and advanced technologies.

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As technology expands, so do the communication touchpoints between a brand and its user. From car manuals and safety warnings to certification documents, translations must be 100% accurate. Language technology, such as translation software and machine translation, can aid in automating certain translation tasks, improving efficiency, and ensuring consistency in automotive translation projects. Common challenges in translating automotive terminology include complex technical terms, jargon, and slang that may not have direct equivalents in other languages. Clear and concise translations for automotive manuals can be created by using simple language, avoiding jargon or technical terms when possible, and focusing on providing clear instructions and explanations.

Transforming the World of Professional Translation

This strategic investment not only drives growth but also solidifies their position as leaders in the automotive industry. Let’s talk about how we can drive your message home, no matter where your audience is. Finally, if you need more information visit 10 common translation errors and how to avoid them.

Scaling Content Across Multiple Markets

While MT can help scale translation efforts, human linguists are irreplaceable when it comes to nuance, safety, and accuracy—especially in regulated content. Now focused entirely on electric mobility, connectivity, and sustainability, smart embarked on a brand transformation aligned with the future of urban transport. As the company evolved into a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Geely Holding, it needed to revamp its global communication strategy. Therefore, clear and reliable translations are vital in every stage of automotive production and service. Ensuring consistency in terminology and style across multiple versions and languages is essential for maintaining coherence and usability.

Ensuring Consistency: Best Practices

Adherence to local laws, standards, and regulations adds another layer of complexity to translation efforts. Technical manuals may include diagrams, charts, and tables that need to be accurately reproduced in the translated version. Translating idiomatic expressions and cultural references requires careful consideration to avoid misunderstandings. Implement a robust review process involving technical experts and native speakers to verify accuracy and quality. Develop comprehensive glossaries of technical terms in both source and target languages. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the automotive industry, influencing not only production, but also aspects related to communication and safety.

Managing Technical Terminology

With a culturally adaptable approach, great flexibilty, linguistic solution mastery, we can help you deliver the right message in the right language to your target audience and achieve your global ambition. Automakers conduct business in many countries, across various markets with different cultures and languages. To achieve global expansion, businesses need clear, specific, and regionally tailored documentation. Whether your cars are sold in Belgium, Taiwan, South Korea, or the US, it’s vital to have manuals that cover both the language and the technical issues of your customers.

The sworn translation process

How can consistency be ensured in automotive manuals translation?

Dealing with industry-specific jargon is a common challenge when translating automotive manuals. These manuals are filled with technical terms, acronyms, and specialized vocabulary that may not have direct equivalents in the target language. As a translator, it is crucial to have a deep understanding of both the automotive industry and the target language to accurately convey the meaning of these jargon-filled passages. Furthermore, it is important to consider cultural differences in terms of driving habits, road regulations, and safety regulations.

• Different regions have different marketing preferences and what may be perceived as appealing and persuasive in one culture may not have the same impact in another.
• Navigating the challenges of automotive translation isn’t easy, but it’s absolutely essential for market expansion, customer satisfaction, and brand reputation.
• Agencies like Langulink offer the expertise and reliability needed to navigate the complexities of automotive translation, helping businesses communicate effectively and achieve their global ambitions.
• Asia, particularly China, remains the largest contributor to global vehicle production, followed by Europe and North America.
• The Mitsubishi Pajero, a popular SUV, had to be renamed “Montero” in Spanish-speaking countries.
• Translating technical content necessitates considering the cultural context and local legal requirements to ensure compliance.
• This can ultimately lead to confusion, frustration, and potentially even accidents or damage to the vehicles.

As cars evolve into digitally enhanced, AI-integrated, voice-controlled experiences, global vehicle brands must speak the language of their customers—literally and figuratively. Automotive translation services have become the unsung heroes of global expansion, enabling manufacturers to sell smarter, safer, and more intuitively designed vehicles worldwide. Consistency in automotive manuals translation can be ensured by using consistent terminology, following established style guides, and implementing quality assurance processes. The automotive industry is experiencing a transformative shift with the development and deployment of autonomous and connected vehicles.

Balancing Machine Translation and Human Expertise

As the automotive industry continues to advance with technological developments and innovation, new terms and concepts are introduced regularly. Translators need to stay updated with the latest industry trends and terminologies to ensure that their translations accurately convey the intended meaning. Moreover, the use of jargon and slang can vary across different regions and sub-sectors of the industry. Taking these regional and contextual variations into account is essential for delivering localized translations that resonate with the target audience. Another technology that has revolutionized automotive translation is machine translation (MT). While MT systems may not always produce perfect translations, they can be a useful tool when used in combination with human translators. With a vast international network of over 80 offices and 3,500 professional translators, we have experts specifically dedicated to the automotive industry. For companies that make yearly updates and models in various areas, being scalable is crucial. Working with professional translators in the beginning helps your company perform better in the long term. Any new translation uses the learning from previous work, whether it’s linguistic or technical.

Top Challenges in Automotive Translation and How to Overcome Them

Below, we outline the most common translation challenges automotive companies face and how to solve them. Below is a glossary of technical terms related to the automotive industry, with a French-English translation of each term. In case you are not convinced, think about the consequences of a poor technical translation, which are far more damaging than the slightly higher production costs. The dangers of mistranslation in the technical area are not merely related to loss in company image, but they may also lead to unforeseen liabilities and a great risk of litigation. They are PDFs that you can interact with, app-built content, advice that pops up while driving, and service teams available through the cloud. Electric vehicle manufacturers and companies developing advanced infotainment systems consider this level of trust essential.