Business Channel 2007-04-25&27

This hatchback, or something like it, could be the car that saves Chrysler. Unveiled at the Shanghai Auto¹ Show, the subcompact model is the latest by Chery Automobile², a Chinese company Chrysler hopes to partner with in Asia.

The car is small and cheap; exactly what analysts³ believe Chrysler needs to survive.

The small car is crucial to any automaker who wants to compete globally in the next ten years. Chrysler doesn't have it today, Chery offers it.

The American unit of the German-US auto group DaimlerChrysler is now up for sale, hurt by weak car sales and labor⁴ disputes. But despite the problems back home…

We are looking to, to expand Chrysler from being mainly an active producer, to really go much more on global market. China's gonna be one of the big ones obviously for us.

China's car market is already booming, only second to the US. Yet with average income still relatively⁵ low, small cars are popular here.

Chery specializes in these basic subcompact cars, and this one goes for 7000 dollars.

Unlike GM or Ford⁶, Chrysler doesn't have a partner yet to produce a small car. And it hasn't been able to make one on its own, because of high labor costs. It hopes to sell a small car in countries like China, Russia and Mexico, as well as the US, possibly with Chery's help. Yet…

We have heard of Chrysler's troubles.

Analysts say Chrysler's pending⁷ sale is casting a shadow on its tentative deal with Chery. Some say Chery would benefit from Chrysler's know-how⁸, but may try to branch out on its own.

We want Chery to become an international brand.

And possibly another competitor to Detroit's ailing⁹ carmaker.

Eunice Yoon, CNN, Shanghai.

NOTES:

1. hatchback

a car with a door at the back that opens upwards

2. subcompact

a type of very small and inexpensive car

REFERENCE:

big cars : limousine, people carrier British English,
gas-guzzler AmE informal
estate car British English

small cars: compact American English
hatchback British English

other types of car: pickup, van, saloon British English
sedan American English
sports car, convertible, SUV American English
off-roader, four-wheel drive/4x4

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 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 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。

4 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

5 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

6 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。

7 pending   

prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的

参考例句：

• The lawsuit is still pending in the state court.这案子仍在州法庭等待定夺。
• He knew my examination was pending.他知道我就要考试了。

8 know-how   

n.知识；技术；诀窍

参考例句：

• He hasn't got the know-how to run a farm.他没有经营农场的专业知识。
• I don't have much know-how about engines.发动机方面的技术知识我知之甚少。

9 ailing   

v.生病

参考例句：

• They discussed the problems ailing the steel industry. 他们讨论了困扰钢铁工业的问题。
• She looked after her ailing father. 她照顾有病的父亲。