大衆醞釀與中國同行聯合研發電動車

Volkswagen yesterday signed an agreement with China’s Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Co to explore joint development of electric cars, in the latest sign of how the German company is accelerating work in this area after the diesel emissions scandal.

大衆(Volkswagen)與中國安徽江淮汽車股份有限公司(Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Co)昨日簽訂協議，探索聯合研發電動汽車。這是在柴油車尾氣造假醜聞後這家德國公司加速進軍新能源領域的最新標誌。

VW is seeking to consolidate its long-term position as one of the leading overseas carmakers in China by — among other things — evaluating a joint venture with state-owned JAC.

通過評估與國有的江淮汽車合資等方式，大衆正尋求鞏固其長期以來作爲中國領先的海外汽車製造商的地位。

China is VW’s largest market, and the country is tightening regulation of cars powered by petrol and diesel engines, in moves intended to tackle widespread air pollution in towns and cities, and curb vehicles’ contribution to global warming.

中國是大衆最大的市場，同時中國正在收緊對汽油和柴油動力汽車的監管規則，旨在解決城鎮普遍的空氣污染，並遏制汽車對全球變暖的影響。

Collaboration between VW and JAC could involve development and manufacturing of fully electric vehicles and hybrid models, where power is provided by a combination of batteries and combustion engines.

大衆和江淮汽車的合作，可能包含研發和製造全電動汽車和混合動力車型（由電池和內燃機共同提供動力）。

A final agreement on the terms of the partnership is expected to be signed within five months, subject to regulatory approvals, according to a stock exchange filing by JAC.

江淮汽車提交給證交所的文件顯示，有關合作條款的最終協議預計將在5個月內簽訂（如果監管機構批准）。

JAC is China’s ninth-largest carmaker and An Jin, chairman, said: We look forward to a full scope co-operation together with VW group, focus[ed] on new energy vehicles, to provide Chinese consumers with highly cost-effective battery electric vehicle products that promote the development of the Chinese new energy vehicle sector as well as the Chinese auto industry’s transformation and upgrading.

江淮汽車是中國第九大汽車製造商，其董事長安進稱：我們期待與大衆汽車立足新能源汽車領域，開展全方位的合作，爲中國消費者提供高性價比的純電動汽車產品，共同促進中國新能源汽車產業發展，推動中國汽車產業轉型升級。

Beijing has identified electric vehicles as an area of strategic importance for the Chinese car industry and is offering generous subsidies to both consumers and carmakers to support the nascent market.

北京方面認爲電動汽車是對中國汽車產業具有戰略重要性的領域，併爲支持這個新生市場向消費者和汽車製造商提供大量補貼。

Sales of electric and hybrid cars quadrupled in China last year to 330,000 vehicles, overtaking the US as the largest market in the world, according to Wind Information, a financial data provider.

金融數據提供商萬得資訊(Wind Information)的數據顯示，去年中國電動汽車和混合動力汽車的銷量翻了兩番，達33萬輛，超越美國成爲全球最大市場。

But analysts have warned the Chinese electric vehicle market currently offers little or no profits to carmakers, and is being held back due to inadequate battery charging infrastructure.

但分析師警告稱，中國電動汽車市場目前爲汽車製造商提供的利潤微乎其微，並且由於充電設施不足而發展緩慢。

From January through to July this year, VW group sold 2.2m cars in China, accounting for 36 per cent of global unit sales.

今年1月至7月，大衆集團在中國銷售了220萬輛汽車，佔其全球汽車銷量的36%。

Worldwide, VW group sales were up only 1.3 per cent, but in China they rose 8 per cent, making it not only VW’s biggest market but also the fastest-growing.

在全球範圍來看，大衆集團的銷量僅增長了1.3%，但是在中國其銷量增長了8%，這使得中國不僅是大衆最大的市場、而且是其增長最快的市場。