考研英语阅读英文原刊《经济学人》：日本汽车制造商

Japanese carmakers

在长年累月的亏损期过后，目前这些制造商正赚着十分可观的利润，而这确实能让他们缓一口气。来自证券分析公司斯坦福伯恩斯坦(Sanford C. Bernstein)的Max Warburton表示，日元的走弱差不多等同于日本车商正全力发动马达印制钞票。斯巴鲁和马自达是五家公司里出口贸易量最大的两家，他们在北美市场的销售量取得了纪录新高。现在斯巴鲁在当地的销量还超过了德国大众。同时，这些日本第二梯队成员的盈利状况要比产业中大多数公司要好得多。

That may not last. A succession of lean years means the smaller firms lack cash to invest heavilyin new technology. But they are finding smart ways to turn weaknesses into strengths. Theindustry admires Mazdas decision some years ago not to develop costly hybrid or fullyelectric powertrains in favour of pioneering its SkyActiv technology, which greatly improves theefficiency of petrol and diesel engines.

这些好日子或许不能持续太久。连续的市场不景气，意味着较小的公司会缺乏现金对新技术的研发进行大量投资。但他们找到了一条聪明的路，能够将缺点转化成优点。目前，业界对马自达数年前所做出的决定倍加推崇。马自达公司没有选择去研发成本高昂的混合动力或纯电动系统，而是全力开发已有的创驰蓝天(SkyActiv)技术。这一技术能够极大地提高汽油机和柴油机的工作效率。

SkyActiv is typically pragmatic engineering from the Japanese, and just what the market wantsnow, says Mr Warburton. In the coming years, however, meeting tighter emissions standardswill require more capital spending. It may also be difficult for the smaller firms to invest intechnologies that support autonomous driving, should it prove popular.

Warburton先生表示，创驰蓝天技术是来自日本务实工程的典范，这正是目前市场所需要的东西。然而，为了在未来数年应对日渐严苛的废气排放标准，加大研发资本的投入势在必行。与此同时，对于较小的制造商而言，想要投资于能够支持自动驾驶系统的车辆也是一件困难的事情，而自动驾驶系统应该会成为十分受欢迎的技术之一。

Another explanation for the small firms endurance is the tacit support of Japansgovernment. In the case of Suzuki, Mitsubishi and Daihatsu this support is visible in the formof longstanding tax breaks to miniature kei cars. Much loved by women and the old, the tinycars and trucks now account for around two-fifths of new-vehicle sales in Japan. Nissan andHonda manufacture kei cars, but the three smaller makers rely on them more.

对于小公司能够坚持至今的另一种解释，就是他们接受了来自日本政府的隐性支持。就铃木、三菱和大发三家厂商来说，政府的支持是摆在台面的，他们都在微型轻型车的生产销售方面享受到了长期的税收减免优惠。轻型车受到广大女性群体和长者们的欢迎，目前这些迷你轿车和迷你货车的销售量已经占了日本新车市场的五分之二。虽然日产和本田也在生产轻型车，但那较小的三家制造商要比两大巨头更为依赖轻型车。

The government now seems to have heeded the warnings of the largest carmakers, that makingkei cars diverts attention and funds from the development of models with export potential. Adecision earlier this year to raise taxes on the category bodes ill for their manufacturers. WhileSubaru and Mazda are successful outside Japan, and Suzuki is envied for making big profitsselling small cars, the weakest of the second tier may soon face fresh difficulties.

现在，日本政府似乎已经注意到了汽车巨头们的警告，后者认为大力制造轻型车，会减少在其他具有出口潜力车型的开发方面所需的精力和资金投入。今年早些时候日本政府决定提高轻型车的税率，这也预示着生产该车型的厂商前景趋于黯淡。当斯巴鲁和马自达在海外市场大获成功之时，铃木汽车旗下轻型车的巨额利润也同样令人眼红。然而，这第二梯队里最弱的一家制造商或许马上就要面临新的困难。

The underlying problem faced by all Japans carmakers is a declining and largely unprofitablehome market, says John Harris, a consultant. Yet for Mitsubishi, probably the weakest of thefive, the problem is eased by support from the huge industrial group it belongs to and Daihatsuwill continue to enjoy Toyotas protection. With this level of help it is unsurprising that noneof the small carmakers has yet run off the road.

咨询师约翰哈里斯(John Harris)表示，全日本的汽车制造商都有着一个共同的潜在问题，那就是持续萎缩和基本上无利可图的国内市场。然而，就三菱汽车而言，这家几乎是五家公司实力最弱的成员，一直从自己所属的巨型集团当中得到支持。大发汽车也将持续地受到丰田的保护。在这种程度的帮助之下，我们就不难预测到，这批小型制造商都会活得好好的。译者：颜士竣