VOA标准英语2009年-India Becoming Production Hub for Compact

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
25 September 2009

 
Maruti-Suzuki executive poses at unveiling of A-Star concept car
India's exports of automobiles² have surged as global automakers turn the country into a production hub for compact cars. A host of companies such as Suzuki, Ford³ and Toyota plan to spend millions of dollars in the coming years to build auto¹ plants in India. 

 When exports of automobiles crossed a quarter of a million in the first seven months of the year, India's auto industry had two reasons to cheer.

Although India exported fewer cars compared to other Asian countries such as Thailand and South Korea, it saw a rise in exports, whereas these countries witnessed a drop. Also, for the first time, India exported more cars than China.

All the cars exported from India were compact cars produced by global automakers such as Suzuki and Hyundai.

The surge in exports comes as India turns into a production hub for cheap, fuel efficient cars.

Yogendra Pratap, editor of Auto Bild India, says automakers first began making compact cars in India to cater⁴ to a booming domestic market, where three out of four cars sold are small cars. But as worldwide demand for compact cars began growing due to rising fuel costs and stricter controls on emissions⁵, manufacturers began to export cars from India. 

"Companies like Hyundai and Suzuki are basing production of some of their models only in India, which gives them volumes, so helps reduce cost for domestic sales and exports as well," Pratap said. "We give them a huge market here, and on top of that if cars can be exported, there are great economies of scale, something that could not be achieved in Thailand for example where the domestic market is really small. "

European countries such as Britain and Germany are popular destinations for small cars made in India.

American automaker Ford is the latest to announce plans to launch a compact car in India next year. Ford will double capacity at its car plant in southern India to make the "Figo," which it also plans to export. Ford has said small cars represent the future for automakers, and expects sales of these cars to double over the next decade.

Other companies such as Suzuki, Nissan, Toyota, and Honda have already announced plans to spend about $5 billion to make small cars in India or increase production at their existing plants over the next three years. 

Their entry is not surprising. India is home to the world's cheapest car, the $2,055 Tata Nano, a car which auto analysts⁶ say showed the world that India had the engineering skills and low cost facilities needed to make a small, contemporary car.

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 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》

3 Ford   

n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过

参考例句：

• They were guarding the bridge,so we forded the river.他们驻守在那座桥上，所以我们只能涉水过河。
• If you decide to ford a stream,be extremely careful.如果已决定要涉过小溪，必须极度小心。

4 cater   

vi.(for/to)满足，迎合；(for)提供饮食及服务

参考例句：

• I expect he will be able to cater for your particular needs.我预计他能满足你的特殊需要。
• Most schools cater for children of different abilities.大多数学校能够满足具有不同天资的儿童的需要。

5 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。

6 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。