Hot Wheels: The Growth of Car Sales in China 热滚滚的行业：中国大陆的汽车销售业
- 详细资料
- 创建于 2004年7月19日
- 最后更新于 2024年5月25日
- 发布于 2011年7月07日
- 作者：Mike Lee
- 点击数：362
课文朗读
课文讲解
In 1984, American automobile manufacturer AMC took a big risk and started the first joint-venture in China – Beijing Jeep. Despite the uncertainty created by the events surrounding Tiananmen Square and the sale of AMC to DaimlerChrysler, Beijing Jeep proved that there was big money to be made selling cars in China. Following AMC’s example, manufacturers like Volkswagen and GM have invested billions in their manufacturing plants in China in expectation of huge volumes of car sales.
1984年美国汽车制造商AMC公司甘冒大险，成立中国大陆第一家的合资企业──北京吉普汽车公司。尽管天安门事件和AMC转卖戴姆勒克赖斯勒的事件带来了不确定的因素，北京吉普证明了在中国大陆销售汽车确实大有赚头。汽车制造商像是德国的福斯和美国的通用，也效法AMC的榜样，都投下数十亿美金在中国大陆的制造厂上，冀望汽车销售业绩长红。
The automotive industry’s optimism seems well-founded. Car sales are up by 61 percent this year, including an increasing number of private, first-time buyers. Young professionals increasingly view cars as a necessity, and improved credit-tracking mechanisms have ushered in an era of car financing and credit purchasing. Chinese automotive firms have also introduced several lines of domestically designed passenger vehicles, including the Chery and the Zhonghua.
汽车业者的乐观似有十足的理由。今年汽车的销售量成长了百分之六十一，包括愈来愈多的个人首购族。年轻的专业人士益发认为车子是生活必需品，而且金融征信机制日益进步，开启了汽车贷款和信用卡购车的年代。中国大陆的车厂也推出了几款自行研发设计的车系，像是奇瑞和中华等。
Positive market indicators notwithstanding, some analysts are leery about the future. With more and more players entering the profitable Chinese market under WTO regulations, increased competition will thin profit margins and drive some manufacturers out of the market.
虽然市场指针显示利多，有些分析家却对未来前景持怀疑态度。有愈来愈多业者在世界贸易组织的规范下，进入中国大陆这块有利可图的市场，但日趋激烈的竞争会使利润变薄，而迫使有些车商退出这个市场。
Of course, all of this is dependent on whether or not the driving force of the car market – China’s economy – continues to boom.
当然，这一切都要看车市荣景的原动力──中国大陆经济──是否继续成长而定。
Vocabulary
单词发音
joint-venture【商】合资企业；合营企业
uncertainty [ʌnˋsɝtntɪ] n. 不确定的事物；难以预料的事物
optimism [ˋɑptəmɪzəm] n. 乐观；乐观主义
well-founded [ˋwɛlˋfaʊndɪd] adj. 有充分根据的；理由充足的
track [træk] v. 跟踪；追踪
usher [ˋʌʃɚ] v. 开辟，创始[（+in）]
passenger [ˋpæsndʒɚ] n.〔车辆﹑飞机﹑船舶等的〕乘客﹐旅客
notwithstanding [ˋnɑtwɪθˋstændɪŋ] adv. 尽管
leery [ˋlɪrɪ] / [ˋˈlɪərɪ] adj. 猜疑的; 【非正式】怀有戒心的﹐不信任的
profitable [ˋprɑfɪtəb!] adj. 有利的，赢利的
profit margin 利润之百分比；利润率
margin [ˋmɑrdʒɪn] n. 幅度; 利润；赚头
boom [bum] v. 使迅速发展；使兴旺
Sentence of the Day
Whether or not China’s economy will continue to boom is anyone’s guess.
中国大陆的经济还会不会继续成长没有人敢断言。
anyone’s guess 谁也说不准
课文讲解
Jocelyn, visiting Beijing from Los Angeles, is having coffee with her friend from Beijing, Li: 裘丝琳从洛杉矶到北京来玩，正在和她的北京朋友小李一起喝咖啡：
L: You’ve bought a car before, having you?
妳买过车子，对吧？
J: Oh, sure! To survive in LA, you need one.
当然，在洛杉矶过日子，要有车子才行。
L: Well, I’ve decided to buy a car. I just can’t decide on the model. There are so many choices.
我决定要买辆车子了，只是无法决定要买什么车款。现在有那么多款式可以选。
J: Are there ever! When I was in Beijing four years ago, there were only a handful of models to choose from.
真的是很多！四年前我在北京时，可选的款式还很有限。
L: And now there are dozens! How to decide ….?
现在有数十种车款，究竟该怎么决定…
J: First, consider your budget.
首先，考虑自己的预算。
L: Well, car price have really fallen, so an affordable Chinese-made car is my price range. But I want something flashier! Maybe a Volvo or BMW!
嗯，车价确实跌了，所以我的财力可以负担得起国产车。但是我想要比较炫丽亮眼的车子，或许一辆富豪或是宝马吧！
J: Have you saved enough for something like that?
你存的钱够买那种车吗？
L: No, but financing is much easier to get nowadays. I’ll just take out a loan.
不够，但最近要融资容易多了。我贷款就可以了。
J: Do you really need a high-class car? I don’t think I would go into debt if I could buy an inexpensive car with the money I already had.
你真的需要高档车吗？我想如果我自己手头上的钱能买一辆便宜的车，为什么要贷款买高档车。
L: True, but a really snazzy car would make me look successful. You know what they say about looking the part.
的确，但是一辆时髦漂亮的好车让我看起来比较有身价。妳晓得一般人都说，外表要讲求体面。
J: Americans have another saying: The only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.
美国人还有另外一句话：男人和男孩的差别就在于他们玩什么价格的玩具。
－by Will Thelin
Vocabulary
单词发音
handful [ˋhændfəl] n. 少数，少量[C][（+of）]
dozen [ˋdʌzn] n. 几十，许多
flashy [ˋflæʃɪ] adj.【非正式】俗艳的﹐ 华而不实的
financing [ˋfaɪnænsɪŋ] n. 融资
go into 进入
snazzy [ˋsnæzɪ] adj.【美】华丽而俗气的; 一流的；很时髦的
look the part 在什么场合就有什么扮相 to look suitable for a particular situation
Sentence of the Day
Luxury cars made Li think about the sweet smell of success.
豪华汽车使得李联想到成功所带来的甜蜜滋味。