经济学人:房车走俏 中国市场成主要推动力(下)

 　　A decade ago the average age of an RV-owner was 49, and over 90% were white, says Kevin Broom of the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) , an industry body. 房车行业协会(RVIA)的Kevin Broom说，十年前，RV车主的平均年龄是49岁，超过90%是白人。

　　That didn't bode¹ well for the future. But stereotypes² are being dented³. 这对未来而言并不是好现象，但如今已不是老样子了。

　　Anecdotal reports suggest that ethnic⁴ minorities now make up around a sixth of all new customers, says Mr Broom. Broom先生说，非正式报告显示，少数民族现在占全部新客户的六分之一。

　　The fastest-growing customer demographic is 35- to 44-year-olds. 增长最快的客户群体是35岁至44岁的车主。

　　Another boost comes from affluent⁵ immigrants, who are keen to experience long, self-planned road trips in America. 另一块增长来自于富裕的移民家庭，他们想要在美国进行长途自驾游。

　　Mr Troiano's most recent big sale was to a rich Asian family. Troiano先生最近的一笔大生意就来自一个富裕的亚洲家庭。

　　The industry hopes that its poor record with foreign sales—last year less than 1% of RVs produced domestically were shipped to foreign markets (excluding Canada) —may improve, too. 产业经营者希望国外销量同样也能增加，去年国内生产的房车只有不到百分之一的出口额(不包括加拿大)。

　　China's government, for example, has pledged to build 2,000 campgrounds by 2020, up from an estimated 300 today, in a bid to promote domestic tourism, particularly to remote rural regions. 例如，中国政府承诺到2020年将建成2000个露营地，而目前估计为300个，以促进国内旅游发展，尤其是偏远乡村地区。

　　Chinese firms such as Yutong Bus make RVs, but not of the quality that many Chinese want. 宇通巴士等中国企业也生产房车，但其生产的性能并不符合大多数中国人的要求。

　　The country imported 1,000 vehicles last year, over half of them American. 去年，中国房车进口量为一千辆，其中超过一半是美国制造。

　　RV manufacturers are also marketing⁶ the notion that their motor homes can be commercial as well as leisure vehicles. 房车制造商也在推销这样的观念：房车可以是商务车，同样也可以是休闲车。

　　They can allow travelling salesmen, businessmen and university-admissions officers to save on food and hotel costs, for example, when they hit the road trying to recruit prospective⁷ new clients and students. 而且房车能够节省饮食和住宿的开销，比如，当旅行推销人员、商人和大学招生办人员在外寻找潜在的顾客和学生这种时候。

　　The office, as well as home, can be wherever you park it. 房车可以是你的办公室，也可以是你的家，它能够停留在任何你想停留的地方。

1 bode   

v.预示

参考例句：

• These figures do not bode well for the company's future.这些数字显示出公司的前景不妙。
• His careful habits bode well for his future.他那认真的习惯预示著他会有好的前途。

2 stereotypes   

n.老套，模式化的见解，有老一套固定想法的人( stereotype的名词复数 )v.把…模式化，使成陈规( stereotype的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Such jokes tend to reinforce racial stereotypes. 这样的笑话容易渲染种族偏见。
• It makes me sick to read over such stereotypes devoid of content. 这种空洞无物的八股调，我看了就讨厌。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 dented   

v.使产生凹痕( dent的过去式和过去分词 )；损害；伤害；挫伤（信心、名誉等）

参考例句：

• The back of the car was badly dented in the collision. 汽车尾部被撞后严重凹陷。
• I'm afraid I've dented the car. 恐怕我把车子撞瘪了一些。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

5 affluent   

adj.富裕的，富有的，丰富的，富饶的

参考例句：

• He hails from an affluent background.他出身于一个富有的家庭。
• His parents were very affluent.他的父母很富裕。

6 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

7 prospective   

adj.预期的，未来的，前瞻性的

参考例句：

• The story should act as a warning to other prospective buyers.这篇报道应该对其他潜在的购买者起到警示作用。
• They have all these great activities for prospective freshmen.这会举办各种各样的活动来招待未来的新人。