To automobile people, it means something like "pink" (9)
I believe the answer is:
carnation
'pink' is the definition.
(carnation is a kind of pink)
'to automobile people' is the wordplay.
'to automobile' becomes 'car' (synonyms).
'people' becomes 'nation' ().
'car'+'nation'='CARNATION'
'it means something like' is the link.
This may not be correct. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for carnation that I've seen before include "Flower like pink" , "Feature of many a wedding" , "Showy flower" , "Pink/white/red flower" , "Anoint car with the strange flower" .)