[慢速VOA]高油价影响运输业(1) [080614]

Automakers, Airlines Hit by Sky-High Fuel Prices (1/2)

There was more evidence this week of the effects of high oil prices on the transportation industry.Automakers reported further drops in sales of trucks and SUVs, sport utility vehicles, in the United States. Big, fuel-hungry vehicles brought in big profits -- until Americans faced big costs for fuel. Now they want smaller and more fuel-efficient cars.

The head of General Motors, Rick Wagoner, says the prices are changing consumer behavior, maybe permanently. G.M. sales in the United States in May dropped thirty percent from last year. The Ford Motor Company had a nineteen percent drop.

Toyota sales in the United States were down eight percent. But another Japanese maker, Honda, reported an eleven percent increase on strong sales of cars.General Motors announced it will close four truck factories in North America and expand car production. It may also sell its Hummer division. Hummers are military-like vehicles.

But Rick Wagoner said G.M. will go forward with plans to make the Chevy Volt, a car powered mainly by electricity. He says it will be available no later than the end of two thousand ten.

参考译文：

本周，更多的证据证实了高油价对运输产业的影响。汽车制造商公布数据表明美国卡车及运动型多功能车（SUVs）销量进一步下滑。耗油量大的大型汽车带来了巨大利润，到美国人面对巨大的燃料成本为止。现在他们需要更小，油耗更低的汽车。

通用汽车公司总裁里克•瓦格纳说价格正在改变消费者的（消费）习惯，这也许是永久的。通用汽车从去年到今年五月，其在美国的销售量下滑了30%。福特公司（销售额）下降了19%。

丰田在美国的销售额下降了8%。但是，另一家日本制造商本田，报道表明其强劲的汽车销售量增加了11%。通用汽车宣布将关闭北美的4个卡车工厂，并且会扩大汽车生产。而且，该公司也将卖掉其悍马分部。悍马是军用型汽车。

但是里克•瓦格纳说通用汽车将开展制造一款主要以电力为能源的Chevy Volt汽车计划。他说，这款车将最晚在2010年底推出。