VOA标准英语 Japanese Car Sales Slump

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 automobiles¹ 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 affluence³.

But Martin Schultz, senior economist⁴ 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 infrastructure⁵ beyond roads. For younger people, having a car is basically a costly⁶ and cumbersome⁷ 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 lull⁸ in sales, it is that Japanese automakers have emerged at the forefront of new environmental technologies.

"They tried to improve the image of the automobile² to a younger generation as well," Schultz explained. "This is why Toyota is rather early in their hybrid⁹ 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 offset¹⁰ the slump¹¹ 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-time¹² salaried employees.

1 automobiles   

n.汽车( automobile的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• 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》

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 affluence   

n.充裕，富足

参考例句：

• 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。

4 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• 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。

5 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• 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。

6 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• 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。

7 cumbersome   

adj.笨重的，不便携带的

参考例句：

• 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。

8 lull   

v.使安静，使入睡，缓和，哄骗；n.暂停，间歇

参考例句：

• 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。

9 hybrid   

n.(动，植）杂种，混合物

参考例句：

• 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。

10 offset   

n.分支，补偿；v.抵消，补偿

参考例句：

• 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。

11 slump   

n.暴跌，意气消沉，（土地）下沉；vi.猛然掉落，坍塌，大幅度下跌

参考例句：

• 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。

12 full-time   

adj.满工作日的或工作周的，全时间的

参考例句：

• A full-time job may be too much for her.全天工作她恐怕吃不消。
• I don't know how she copes with looking after her family and doing a full-time job.既要照顾家庭又要全天工作，我不知道她是如何对付的。