Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
"automotive" vs "automobile"
English answer:
do not mean the same thing
Added to glossary by
Angela Arnone
Feb 25, 2007 18:03
17 yrs ago
20 viewers *
English term
United Kingdom
"automotive" vs "automobile"
English
Tech/Engineering
Automotive / Cars & Trucks
I'm translating some pieces about suppliers to the car (sic) industry, and since there seems to be a running theme today in KudoZ about differences between apparent synonyms, I thought I'd better check if there is a difference between the two following terms:
"automotive industry"
"automobile industry"
Thanks for easing my uneasiness,
Craig
"automotive industry"
"automobile industry"
Thanks for easing my uneasiness,
Craig
Responses
| 4 +4 | take your pick |
Buck
|
| 5 +4 | they aren't synonymous |
Angela Arnone
|
| 5 +1 | automotive industry (by a nose) |
airmailrpl
|
Responses
+4
21 mins
English term (edited):
automotive vs automobile
Selected
take your pick
Hi. Although technically, automotive includes all self-propelled vehicles, I think you will find that the two terms are used interchangeably with regard to cars.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks for a clear answer with a clear reference to the context."
+1
1 hr
airmailrpl
Brazil
Brazil
Native in English
&
English
Specializes in field
Brazil
Technical - Fast - good price - accurate
Native in: English (Variant: US) 
, Portuguese (Variant: Brazilian)
Works in: English to Portuguese, Portuguese to English, English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
44
+4
4 hrs
Angela Arnone
Native in English
&
English
Italian by name ... English by nature!
Native in: English 
Works in: Italian to English, English, Italian
they aren't synonymous
If your texts are technical - I'm presuming they are if they are for suppliers - then I wouldn't swap them around.
If the context is "cars" and only "cars", then automobile is sufficient.
If you use "automotive", then you are suggesting to the reader that the parts are suitable for all engine-driven wheeled vehicles. So if the supplier makes gears for cars, it's not making automotive gears in general - car gears are vastly different to truck gears or motorcyle gears - but you would be suggesting otherwise.
HTH
Angela (who used to work for a gear manufacturer...)
If the context is "cars" and only "cars", then automobile is sufficient.
If you use "automotive", then you are suggesting to the reader that the parts are suitable for all engine-driven wheeled vehicles. So if the supplier makes gears for cars, it's not making automotive gears in general - car gears are vastly different to truck gears or motorcyle gears - but you would be suggesting otherwise.
HTH
Angela (who used to work for a gear manufacturer...)
Note from asker:
| Thanks very much for taking the trouble to add this very clear answer. I would divide the points in two, but I can't!! |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
ErichEko ⟹⭐
4 hrs
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Thanks
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| agree |
Peter Skipp
10 hrs
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Thanks
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| agree |
writeaway
: this is actually the (only) right answer here because they are not synonymous and 'take your pick' isn't the way to go.
6 days
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Thank you - nice to see someone taking this seriously.
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| agree |
CJG (X)
6 days
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Thanks
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