VOA慢速英语2018--大众宣布甲壳虫汽车将停产

Volkswagen to End Production of Famous Beetle¹

German automaker Volkswagen will stop producing its famous Beetle model next year.

The Beetle has been one of America’s most recognizable vehicles for nearly 70 years.

The first Beetle was introduced in Germany in 1938 when the Nazi² party controlled the country. The vehicle was first developed by Ferdinand Porsche.

The company began as a state-operated company called Volkswagenwerk, or "The People's Car Company," under the control of Nazi leaders including Adolf Hitler. After World War II, the allied³ nations decided⁴ to support Volkswagen to help restart Germany’s automobile⁵ industry.

The Beetle came to the U.S. in 1949, where it became known as a simple car with a very unusual look. Unlike most vehicles, its engine was in the back of the car.

During the 1960s, it was especially popular with America’s hippies. The Beetle also was popular with members of the baby boom generation who were born and grew up after World War II.

The Beetle sold in the U.S. for about 30 years before the company halted sales in America in 1979. The company continued production of the model in Mexico and Latin America.

But the car made its return to the American market in 1998 in an attempt to increase Volkswagen sales. This time, the car was launched as the “New Beetle.” This model kept the same basic shape, but had a more modern look and came with the latest technology.

The vehicles were available in new, brighter colors and the designers created playful elements, such as a flower holder⁶ in the front seat.

This new design appealed mainly to female buyers. Volkswagen redesigned the Beetle for the 2012 model year in an effort to make it appeal more to men. This model had a flatter top, less rounded body and increased storage space.

The change resulted in five times more U.S. sales – a total of 29,000 vehicles - during the first year. Sales kept rising to reach 46,000 in 2013, but then saw a major drop. Industry data shows that Volkswagen sold just 15,166 Beetles⁷ in 2017.

The end of the Beetle comes at a turning point for Volkswagen. The automaker was hurt in recent years by a scandal in which it was forced to admit some of its cars were equipped with devices that cheated on diesel⁸ emissions¹⁰ tests.

Volkswagen is now preparing to launch a series of electric vehicles to appeal more to a new generation of environmentally-concerned buyers.

Hinrich Woebcken is President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America. In a statement, he said the loss of the Beetle will likely produce a lot of different emotions for the vehicle’s many fans.

He announced that to celebrate the Beetle’s rich history, the company is launching two final models of the car in 2019. These final Beetles will get several new features inside and out.

The Volkswagen chief said as the company moves forward, there are “no immediate¹¹ plans to replace” the Beetle.

However, Woebcken noted¹² that the company did announce last year it was bringing back a new version of its popular Volkswagen Bus. That new vehicle, the electric I.D. Buzz, is expected to go on sale in 2022 in the U.S., Europe and China.

Because of that decision, he said it is best to “never say never” about the Beetle.

I’m Bryan Lynn.

Words in This Story

hippie – n. usually a young person from the 1960s and 70s who rejects established social customs

baby boom – expression. a time when there is a great increase in the number of babies born

emission⁹ – n. something released into the air, such as a chemical or gas

scandal – n. an occurrence in which people are shocked and upset because of behavior that is morally or legally wrong

1 beetle   

n.甲虫，近视眼的人

参考例句：

• A firefly is a type of beetle.萤火虫是一种甲虫。
• He saw a shiny green beetle on a leaf.我看见树叶上有一只闪闪发光的绿色甲虫。

2 Nazi   

n.纳粹分子，adj.纳粹党的，纳粹的

参考例句：

• They declare the Nazi regime overthrown and sue for peace.他们宣布纳粹政权已被推翻，并出面求和。
• Nazi closes those war criminals inside their concentration camp.纳粹把那些战犯关在他们的集中营里。

3 allied   

adj.协约国的；同盟国的

参考例句：

• Britain was allied with the United States many times in history.历史上英国曾多次与美国结盟。
• Allied forces sustained heavy losses in the first few weeks of the campaign.同盟国在最初几周内遭受了巨大的损失。

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 automobile   

n.汽车，机动车

参考例句：

• 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。

6 holder   

n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物

参考例句：

• The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
• That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。

7 beetles   

n.甲虫( beetle的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Beetles bury pellets of dung and lay their eggs within them. 甲壳虫把粪粒埋起来，然后在里面产卵。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This kind of beetles have hard shell. 这类甲虫有坚硬的外壳。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 diesel   

n.柴油发动机，内燃机

参考例句：

• We experimented with diesel engines to drive the pumps.我们试着用柴油机来带动水泵。
• My tractor operates on diesel oil.我的那台拖拉机用柴油开动。

9 emission   

n.发出物，散发物；发出，散发

参考例句：

• Rigorous measures will be taken to reduce the total pollutant emission.采取严格有力措施，降低污染物排放总量。
• Finally,the way to effectively control particulate emission is pointed out.最后，指出有效降低颗粒排放的方向。

10 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

11 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

12 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。