VOA标准英语 Japanese Car Sales Slump
时间：2019-01-13 作者：英语课 分类：VOA标准英语2009年(四月)
In spite of some signs the recession in Japan could be easing, the important export market is down nearly 46 percent, compared to a year ago. At the center of the downturn, are Japan's car manufacturers - heavily dependent on foreign markets. It is not only a lack of demand from abroad that has hurt these companies, but growing disinterest in car ownership at home, too.
A visitor inspects Toyota's compact car " IQ" at Toyota Motor Corp.'s showroom in Tokyo, Friday, 6 Feb. 2009
The Japan Automotive Manufacturers Association forecasts that, for the first time in almost three decades, less than five million automobiles 1 will be sold domestically, this year.
This is not only because of the recession, but a change in the way Japanese consumers regard owning a vehicle.
A generation ago, car ownership in Japan was seen as a sign of wealth and affluence 3.
But Martin Schultz, senior economist 4 at the Fujitzu Research Institute in Tokyo, says that mindset is a thing of the past.
"For younger people in Japan, the car is simply not a status symbol anymore. It is a tool," Schultz said. "Japan has wonderful infrastructure 5 beyond roads. For younger people, having a car is basically a costly 6 and cumbersome 7 affair."
New mindset
Surging gas prices and parking lot fees that put drivers back hundreds of dollars a month are just some of the reasons why young Japanese would rather spend their money elsewhere.
Japanese automakers have seen this trend coming for a while. And, in part, that is why they focus so much attention on foreign markets.
But, as Schultz points out, dried up demand from overseas during the global downturn, has created a perfect storm.
If there is one positive outcome from this lull 8 in sales, it is that Japanese automakers have emerged at the forefront of new environmental technologies.
"They tried to improve the image of the automobile 2 to a younger generation as well," Schultz explained. "This is why Toyota is rather early in their hybrid 9 car strategy and their eco-car strategy, Honda as well. So they are quite ahead of many of their competitors internationally, but its not enough however."
To offset 10 the slump 11 in sales, manufacturers have laid off hundreds of thousands of short-term contract workers. There is concern here that, if the production does not pick back up soon, companies may have to resort to letting go of full-time 12 salaried employees.
- When automobiles become popular,the use of the horse and buggy passed away. 汽车普及后，就不再使用马和马车了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Automobiles speed in an endless stream along the boulevard. 宽阔的林荫道上，汽车川流不息。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- He is repairing the brake lever of an automobile.他正在修理汽车的刹车杆。
- The automobile slowed down to go around the curves in the road.汽车在路上转弯时放慢了速度。
- Their affluence is more apparent than real.他们的富有是虚有其表。
- There is a lot of affluence in this part of the state because it has many businesses.这个州的这一部分相当富有，因为它有很多商行。
- He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
- He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。
- We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
- We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。
- It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
- This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。
- Although the machine looks cumbersome,it is actually easy to use.尽管这台机器看上去很笨重，操作起来却很容易。
- The furniture is too cumbersome to move.家具太笨，搬起来很不方便。
- The drug put Simpson in a lull for thirty minutes.药物使辛普森安静了30分钟。
- Ground fighting flared up again after a two-week lull.经过两个星期的平静之后，地面战又突然爆发了。
- That is a hybrid perpetual rose.那是一株杂交的四季开花的蔷薇。
- The hybrid was tall,handsome,and intelligent.那混血儿高大、英俊、又聪明。
- Their wage increases would be offset by higher prices.他们增加的工资会被物价上涨所抵消。
- He put up his prices to offset the increased cost of materials.他提高了售价以补偿材料成本的增加。
- She is in a slump in her career.她处在事业的低谷。
- Economists are forecasting a slump.经济学家们预言将发生经济衰退。