2006年VOA标准英语-Asian Auto Companies Plan New Investments in In

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
09 September 2006

Top Asian automobile² companies are planning large investments in India to meet growing global demands for compact cars. India has both the consumer demand and production capability³ to attract carmakers.

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Japan's Suzuki Motor Corporation says it will invest $1.5 billion, along with its Indian subsidiary, Maruti Udyog Ltd., to build a new car plant in northern India.  The plant is expected to produce some 50,000 compact cars by 2008. Most of the vehicles will be exported to Europe.  

For its part, Maruti, India's largest carmaker, is also gearing up to boost car production by 50 percent for the domestic market. It plans to churn out nearly one million small vehicles a year by 2010.   

		FIAT4 announced plans to sell FIAT cars through TATA's dealership5 network in India " src="/upimg/allimg/070418/1439500.jpg" width="179" border="0" /> Ratan Tata, left, Chairman of TATA group of companies and Sergio Marchionne, CEO of FIAT announced plans to sell FIAT cars through TATA's dealership network in India

Korean carmaker Hyundai is aiming to double its production capacity in India to meet the rising demand in both the Indian and overseas markets for compact cars.  Other companies planning new investments in auto¹ plants include Tata Motors, and the Indian arm of Japan's Honda Motor Company.

Yogendra Pratap, at auto magazine Overdrive, says India's rising middle class incomes are commanding international carmaker interest. 

"After China, India is one of the fastest growing car markets. It has seen good growth, up to 20 percent at times over the last five, six years," he said.  "All these car companies have been looking at India as having a huge potential."

At the same time, automakers are also tapping India's low-cost manufacturing base for the small car market.  Global automobile companies say stricter emission⁶ rules in Western markets and rising fuel prices will scale up demand in Western countries for small cars, which account for most of the cars produced in India.

The new investments were announced as the Indian government forecast astounding⁷ growth in the sale of cars and auto components⁸ in the coming decade. New Delhi says it expects demand to more than quadruple, from $34 billion at present to $145 billion by 2016.

Such massive growth would means that the auto industry's contribution to India's gross domestic product will double from five percent at present to 10 percent in 10 years.

1 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

2 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。

3 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

4 fiat   

n.命令，法令，批准；vt.批准，颁布

参考例句：

• The opening of a market stall is governed by municipal fiat.开设市场摊位受市政法令管制。
• He has tried to impose solutions to the country's problems by fiat.他试图下令强行解决该国的问题。

5 dealership   

n.商品特许经销处

参考例句：

• The car dealership has a large inventory of used cars. 这家汽车经销商拥有数量庞大的二手车。
• A key to this effort is the experience in the dealership. 达到这个成果的关键是销售的体验。

6 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。

7 astounding   

adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词)

参考例句：

• There was an astounding 20% increase in sales. 销售量惊人地增加了20%。
• The Chairman's remarks were so astounding that the audience listened to him with bated breath. 主席说的话令人吃惊，所以听众都屏息听他说。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 components   

（机器、设备等的）构成要素，零件，成分； 成分( component的名词复数 )； [物理化学]组分； [数学]分量； （混合物的）组成部分

参考例句：

• the components of a machine 机器部件
• Our chemistry teacher often reduces a compound to its components in lab. 在实验室中化学老师常把化合物分解为各种成分。