新奇事件簿 最大汽车召回事件

Authorities in the USA are recalling a record 34 million cars because of safety concerns over the airbags fitted in them. The manufacturer of the airbags has admitted that mechanisms¹ inside the bags are defectiveand thus need to be repaired or replaced. A spokesman from the company Takata said that the airbags open too quickly on impact, which can cause broken glass or shards³ of metal to be propelled into the face of thedriver or passenger. The bags are fitted into 11 different models of car and the recall constitutes the biggest in US history. It follows a string of other recalls, from Japanese manufacturers Toyota and Honda. The faulty airbags have been linked to six deaths and more than 100 injuries.

由于轿车气囊问题，美国有关部门正在召回3400万辆汽车，这也是历史上最大的一次召回事件。气囊生产商承认气囊存在缺陷，需要修补或更换。高田公司发言人称气囊在压力作用下会迅速爆炸，导致玻璃破裂，金属碎片会对司机和乘客的脸部造成威胁。这款气囊已经被配装在了11款汽车上，而这次召回也是美国有史以来最大的一次。这起事件也让其他生产商开始进行召回，有日本的本田和丰田。缺陷气囊与六起死亡事故以及100多人受伤有关。

The US Department for Transportation welcomed the airbag recall. A spokesman said: "Today is a major step forward for public safety. The department…is taking the proactive steps necessary to ensure that defective² inflators are replaced with safe ones as quickly as possible, and that the highest risks are addressed first." Meanwhile, Takata CEO Shigehisa Takada said: "We are pleased to have reached this agreement…which represents a clear path forward." The company will obviously take a huge financial hit. The recall will cost the company and its customers up to $5 billion. Despite this, Mr Takada said he expects the company will still be able to make a profit this year.

美国运输部对此次召回行动表示欢迎。发言人称：“我们向公共安全迈出了至关重要的一步。部门正在采取积极措施来确保缺陷增压泵能够尽快更换，我们必须首先要解决高危问题。”与此同时，高田首席执行官高田茂久称：“我们很高兴达成了协议，这为我们的未来洗清了道路”。很显然，公司将承受巨大的经济损失。这次召回给公司和企业客户带来的经济损失将达到50亿美金。除此之外，高田茂久说他希望今年公司还能够盈利。

1 mechanisms   

n.机械( mechanism的名词复数 )；机械装置；[生物学] 机制；机械作用

参考例句：

• The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms. 这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He explained how the two mechanisms worked. 他解释这两台机械装置是如何工作的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 defective   

adj.有毛病的，有问题的，有瑕疵的

参考例句：

• The firm had received bad publicity over a defective product. 该公司因为一件次品而受到媒体攻击。
• If the goods prove defective, the customer has the right to compensation. 如果货品证明有缺陷， 顾客有权索赔。

3 shards   

n.（玻璃、金属或其他硬物的）尖利的碎片( shard的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Eyewitnesses spoke of rocks and shards of glass flying in the air. 目击者称空中石块和玻璃碎片四溅。 来自辞典例句
• Ward, Josh Billings, and a host of others have survived only in scattered shards of humour. 沃德、比林斯和许多别的作家能够留传下来的只是些幽默的残章断简。 来自辞典例句