zz 汽车上的电

　　一、本短文只谈汽油发动机小轿车上的电。本短也不谈蓄电池、发电机的养护或出现故障等问题，只是根据自己看到的资料，整理出一些常识性的东西与大家分享。如果你是这方面的高手，也请你帮助补充。

　　二、汽车上的电哪里来？
　　蓄电池和发电机是汽车电力的源泉，至于谁先有电，那不重要，如果讨论这个。反正要明白的是，蓄电池和发电机是相辅相成，互为补充的兄弟关系。缺少任何一方，你的车就无法行动。

　　首先，我们说几句蓄电池的话：

　　1启动发动机时，蓄电池向起动机、点火系统、仪表等用电设备供电，起动机的电流可达上百安培。

　　为此，最好的办法，在起动发动机时，最好的办法是关闭大功率电器，如空调系统中的器件，还有大功率音响等等，这么做的好处是保证起动成功，保护蓄电池不受大电流的冲击。

　　2发动机低速运转时，发电机电压低于蓄电池电压，是蓄电池向点火系统等用电设备供电。

　　所以，长期怠速状态下的发动机，尤其在长时间堵车的时候，最好关闭汽车上大功率的电器。记得有京城有一年年底的大雪，道路成了停车厂，好多车开着大灯，音响等功率大的电器，结果发动机不动了，这是蓄电池电耗没了导致的。

　　3当发电机高速运转时，发电机的电压高于蓄电池的电压，此时由发电机向点火系统供电，并对蓄电池进行充电，蓄电池是以化学能的形式保存电能的。

　　所以，蓄电池要接受发电机的充电，是有条件的，怠速状态下，发电机是很难给蓄电池充电的。怠速状态下，尤其是长期堵车，不仅仅是对发动机本身的一种考验，同时也是对电源的一种考验。

　　4当车载设备的耗电量超过发电机的供电能力范围时，由蓄电池和发电机一道对外提供电力。

　　因此可以看出，如果你的车，增加了大功率电器，如大号音响(类似什么水桶型的低音跑，放大器等)，什么车载冰箱等设备时，一定要向专业人员询问，看看是否可以，是否更换更好的蓄电池或做其他方面的提升。在原车电路系统上，增加电器设备，一定要小心，这不仅仅是耗电，还费油呢。更关键的是车上的电够不够的问题。

　　前几天，我看了一点资料，是个国外网站上的介绍发电机和蓄电池的，上说，发电机和蓄电池更好的匹配，应该是在发动机怠速的时候，尤其是长期怠速的时候，如堵车，当电路系统探测到蓄电池电量用的很多的时候，应该让怠速状态下的发动机起动高转速，让发电机给蓄电池充电。不知道现在高级车上是不是有这样的配置。

　　其次，再简单说几句发电机：

　　1发电机向蓄电池供电的条件是汽车的正常行驶。这是很关键的条件。

　　2现在的汽车基本都是采用硅整流交流发电机。但我们知道，汽车用的是直流电(DC)，发动机出来的是交流电(AC)，这怎么办？没有问题，在这样的发电机上带有整流器，就是这个东西一“整”，就把AC变DC了。

　　3我们也会明白，当汽车发动机高速运转时，发电机的电压一定会很高，就是说，发电机输出的电压与发动机的转速成正比，但汽车的用电设备的使用电压又必须得稳定，这时就需要发动机内装置的电压调解器来解决，是这个东东确保的电压的稳定。

　　三、汽车上的电很重要，任何高级的汽车，电路、油路是永远的话题，他们是车上很关键的部件，有关如何养护他们，请大家自己找资料看看。你要是有这方面的好文，也拿出来让我们分享。谢谢！

需求下降无碍油价飙升

Oil's Surge Defies Lessening Demand

2008年02月20日11:38

尽管有迹象表明世界范围内的石油需求可能正在消退，但周二原油期货结算价仍首次突破每桶100美元大关。

Crude-oil prices finished just above $100 a barrel for the first time yesterday despite signs the world's petroleum thirst may be subsiding.

这一最新走势令许多业内人士大跌眼镜，他们本来预计，随着石油库存量上升、美国经济濒临衰退，能源需求将被削弱，油价将因此开始下行。虽然欧佩克内部不时有要求减产的呼声传出，但油价攀升加大了石油输出国组织（OPEC，简称：欧佩克）保持供应稳定的压力。

The latest surge surprised many in the oil patch who have expected prices to head in the other direction as oil stockpiles increase and the U.S. teeters on the edge of a recession, softening demand for energy. Higher prices put more pressure on the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries to keep supplies steady despite some calls within the cartel to cut output.

如果油价保持在每桶100美元以上，炼油厂和航空公司等能源密集型行业将面临更高成本，消费者也将如此。油价的上涨也让周二股市回稳的行情被逆转。

If prices linger at or above $100 a barrel, energy-intensive industries like oil refiners and airlines could face higher costs, as could consumers. Oil's rise helped reverse a stock-market rally yesterday.

分析师和交易员们指出，油价飙升有一系列原因，但最主要的是由于投机性资金不断注入石油市场以及煤和铂金等其他商品市场。尼日利亚和委内瑞拉的政治动荡、轻质原油市场的紧缩以及炼油行业面临的难题也都是推动油价上涨的因素。

Analysts and traders pointed to a slew of causes for the price surge, but put the main onus on the continued flow of speculative cash into the oil market and other commodities like coal and platinum. Political instability in Nigeria and Venezuela, tightness in the light-crude market and challenges in the refining sector also contributed.

德意志银行(Deutsche Bank)首席能源经济学家亚当?谢明斯基(Adam Sieminski)说，这是许多小事情合力促成的。他认为推动油价上涨的主要力量是流入石油和其他商品市场的大量资金。

'It's a combination of lots of little things,' said Adam Sieminski, chief energy economist at Deutsche Bank, who contends the main driver is 'the huge volumes of money moving into oil and other commodities.'

纽约商交所基准三月轻质低硫原油期货涨4.51美元，结算价报每桶100.01美元，涨幅4.7%。此前原油曾两次上探或超过100美元大关，但均在当天收盘前回落。美国取暖油和混调汽油期货也收高。经通胀因素调整后，最新油价只比1980年4月创下的历史最高纪录低3.09美元。

U.S. benchmark crude yesterday rose $4.51, or 4.7%, to settle at $100.01 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Oil has touched or passed the $100 mark twice before but retreated before the end of the closing day. U.S. heating-oil and gasoline-blendstock futures also finished at nominal highs. On an inflation-adjusted basis, oil is only $3.09 below its record, set in April 1980.

如果最新这波势头继续下去，欧佩克主要产油国在3月5日的部长会议上将很难支持部分成员提出的减产主张。在本月早些时候的一次会议上，成员国部长们指出，美国经济正走向衰退，第二季度有可能出现供应过剩。

The latest price surge, if it holds up, will make it tough for the big producers within OPEC to support an output cut when ministers meet March 5, as some within the group have urged. At a meeting earlier this month, OPEC ministers pointed to the weakening U.S. economy to warn of a possible oversupply of oil in the second quarter.

那之后的大多数关键指标都支持欧佩克的说法。美国能源部预测说美国的石油需求将会降低，石油和汽油库存将增加。包括美国能源部和欧佩克在内的大多数机构现在都预计今年的需求将增长1%左右。去年的需求较2006年增长了1.4%。

Since then, most key indicators have served to buttress OPEC's argument. The Energy Department is forecasting a flattening of oil demand in the U.S. and a buildup in oil and gasoline stockpiles. Most big institutional forecasters, including the Energy Department and OPEC, now predict that demand growth will hover around 1% this year. Demand rose 1.4% last year from 2006.

分析师们仍坚持认为，未来几周石油和汽油库存的增加将导致油价大幅回落。他们表示，要保持供应量稳定，欧佩克最理想的是将日产量减少60万桶左右。

Analysts still contend that increasing oil and gasoline stockpiles in coming weeks could spark a sharp retreat in prices. To keep supplies steady, they said, OPEC would optimally like to trim its output by around 600,000 barrels a day.

欧佩克的原油供应量在全球每天8,600万桶总供应量中占四成左右。周二，美国能源部下属的能源情报署(Energy Information Administration)重申了希望欧佩克增产的要求。

OPEC supplies around 40% of the world's daily needs, running at about 86 million barrels a day. Yesterday, the Energy Department's Energy Information Administration reiterated its call for OPEC to increase production.

华盛顿顾问公司PFC Engergy的合伙人罗杰?迪万(Roger Diwan)说，欧佩克希望减产，但在油价高达每桶100美元的时候他们不可能这样做。

OPEC 'would like to cut output, but they can't possibly do that at $100 a barrel,' said Roger Diwan, a partner at PFC Energy, a Washington consulting firm.

分析师们说，一些市场投机者似乎对炼油厂实际发生和可能发生的故障很关注。去年夏天，一场突如其来的大停产让汽油价格升至创纪录水平。石油天然气市场研究公司Schork Group的总裁斯蒂芬?舒尔克(Stephen Schork)说，投资者担心今年这种情况还会重演。他说：担惊受怕变成了贪婪，投机者将任何有关炼油厂停产的消息都放大成油价将猛涨的信号。

Some market speculators seem to be fixated on refinery snags, both actual and potential, analysts said. Last summer, a bout of unplanned outages drove gasoline prices to record levels. There are fears among investors of a repeat this year, said Stephen Schork, president of Schork Group Inc., a provider of oil- and gas-market research. 'Concern and fear translate into greed, and speculators take [any news of refinery outages] and hype it into much higher prices,' he said.

受得克萨斯一家小炼油厂失火的消息推动，周二纽约商交所再重组混调汽油(RBOB)期货涨4.4%至每加仑2.60美元。该厂是Alon USA Energy Inc.旗下公司，拥有日加工7万桶原油的产能，仅占美国1,740万桶总产能的一小部分。

Reformulated-gasoline blendstock futures yesterday on the New York Mercantile Exchange jumped 4.4% to $2.60 a gallon on news of a fire at a small Texas refinery on Monday. The refinery, owned by Alon USA Energy Inc., has the capacity to process 70,000 barrels of crude oil a day, a fraction of the total U.S. installed capacity of 17.4 million barrels of crude a day.

由于许多炼油厂都在进行季节性维护保养，产能并未全面投入运行。但流向储油库和输送管道的汽油供应仍有所增加。据EIA的数据，自今年初以来，汽油库存增加了1,610万桶，达到2.292亿桶，增幅为8%，远高于每年这个时候的平均数字。

With many refineries in the midst of seasonal maintenance, not all of that capacity is being used. Still, refiners have been adding more gasoline supplies to storage tanks and pipelines. Since the beginning of the year, gasoline stocks rose by 16.1 million barrels, or 8%, to 229.2 million barrels, and are well above average for this time of year, according to data from the EIA.

与此同时，经济减缓和高油价令需求疲软。EIA的数据显示，过去四个星期，汽油平均消耗量比去年低1.2%。

Meanwhile, the economic slowdown and high gasoline prices have kept demand weak. Gasoline consumption has averaged 1.2% below last year's for the past four weeks, EIA data show.

Neil King Jr. / Ana Campoy

http://chinese.wsj.com/gb/20080220/ecb114850.asp

亚洲钢铁企业遭遇铁矿石坐地起价

Iron-Price Surge Hits Asian Firms

2008年02月19日10:44

日本和韩国的钢铁企业与巴西矿业巨头淡水河谷公司(Companhia Vale do Rio Doce)达成协议，同意将铁矿石价格上调65%。这将推动大型矿业公司的利润增长，不过各钢铁企业及其在世界各地的客户却要为此付出代价。

Japanese and Korean steelmakers agreed to a 65% increase in the price of iron ore with Brazilian mining power Cia. Vale do Rio Doce, boosting the fortunes of big mining firms at the expense of steel producers and their customers world-wide.

此次价格上涨表明，虽然市场担心美国可能引发全球经济放缓，但对钢材和铁矿石等原材料的需求仍很旺盛。分析人士预计，在未来几周中，中国及其他国家和地区的钢铁企业达成的铁矿石采购价格会与此相当，甚至更高。

The price increase, which analysts expect to be matched or even topped in deals with steelmakers in China and elsewhere in the weeks ahead, suggests that demand for raw materials like steel and iron ore is holding up well, despite fears of a U.S.-led global economic slowdown.

这也证实了必和必拓(BHP Billiton Ltd.)、力拓股份有限公司(Rio Tinto Plc)和淡水河谷等少数几家大型矿业公司的市场地位在不断增强。上述三家公司的铁矿石供应量超过了全球铁矿石出口总量的70%，而这些公司之间计划进行的并购可能会进一步增强其在大宗商品市场上的影响力。

It also confirms the growing market power of a few big mining companies, including BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto PLC and Vale. Together, those three companies supply more than 70% of the world's exported iron ore, and their efforts to consolidate could magnify their clout in commodity markets in the future.

此前，必和必拓向力拓发出了1,400亿美元的主动收购要约，分析人士认为原因在于必和必拓希望占有更多的铁矿石供应。与此同时，淡水河谷也在寻求与瑞士矿业公司Xstrata PLC进行合并。

BHP Billiton has made an unsolicited $140 billion bid for Rio Tinto, which analysts believe is driven by BHP's desire to lock up even more iron-ore supply. Vale, meanwhile, is pursuing a possible merger with Swiss miner Xstrata PLC.

近年来铁矿石需求一路飙升，其战略地位越来越重要，因此各大矿业公司都在寻求进行并购。铁矿石是炼钢的基本原料之一，用于建造办公楼、高速公路和工厂，它为亚洲的工业化带来了支撑，而其中中国的工业化进程尤其迅猛。

That activity comes at a time of rising strategic importance for iron ore, demand for which has skyrocketed in recent years. As a basic ingredient in steel, it is needed to build the office towers, highways and factories that underpin Asia's industrialization, which is especially rapid in China.

与其他大宗商品的定价方法不同，铁矿石价格是在每年矿业公司与客户秘密进行的会议上敲定的，而不是通过国际交易所定价。2005年铁矿石价格上涨了 71.5%，2006年涨了19%，2007年涨了9.5%，由于钢铁生产商很不情愿接受这样幅度的涨价，近年来定价会议的气氛变得异常紧张。

Unlike pricing of other commodities, iron ore's price is hammered out in top-secret annual meetings between miners and their customers rather than on international exchanges. The meetings have grown unusually testy in recent years, as steelmakers reluctantly swallowed price increases of 9.5% in 2007, 19% in 2006 and 71.5% in 2005.

今年，大部分大宗商品分析人士最初预计铁矿石价格将上涨约30%。不过铁矿石需求的增长仍高于供应的增长，因此近来他们开始预计价格上涨幅度还要大。

This year, most commodities analysts were initially expecting a price increase of about 30%. But iron-ore demand has continued to outpace supply, and more recently the market had started to expect an even more sizable jump.

日本的新日本制铁(Nippon Steel Corp.)和韩国的浦项综合制铁公司(Posco)周一表示，同意对4月1日起发货的铁矿石，以每吨78.9美元的价格支付淡水河谷，较去年上涨了 65%。日本的JFE Steel Corp.也同意将价格上调65%。淡水河谷在一份声明中证实了价格的上涨，并表示2008年的价格反映出全球铁矿石市场上供不应求的局面仍在继续。分析人士预计，这些价格协议将成为2008年全球铁矿石议价的基准，而包括中国钢铁企业在内的钢铁生产商将同意接受类似幅度、甚至更大幅度的涨价。

Yesterday, Japan's Nippon Steel Corp. and Posco of South Korea said they agreed to pay Vale $78.90 per ton, or 65% more than last year, for iron ore to be shipped from April 1. JFE Steel Corp. of Japan also agreed to a 65% increase. 'The prices for 2008 reflect the continuing excess demand in the global iron ore market,' Vale said in a statement confirming the price agreements. Analysts expect those agreements to become the benchmark for all other negotiations world-wide to set prices for 2008 and that other producers -- including steelmakers in China -- will agree to a similar or even greater increase.

力拓周一发表了一份声明，表示还在与客户就2008年铁矿石价格进行谈判，暗示公司打算等待时机达成比淡水河谷价格更高的协议。必和必拓拒绝对此发表评论。

Rio Tinto released a statement yesterday saying negotiations on 2008 ore prices with its customers 'are continuing' and suggesting the company intends to hold out for a higher price than that reached in the Vale agreements. BHP declined to comment.

澳洲银行(National Australia Bank)驻墨尔本的分析师杰拉德?伯格(Gerard Burg)说，毫无疑问这是一个卖方市场，考虑到近来流向中国的产量，日本钢铁公司可能会担心自己必须不计代价地争取供应商。

'There's no doubt it's a seller's market,' says Gerard Burg, an analyst at National Australia Bank in Melbourne. 'Given the volumes heading to China in recent times, there may be some concern among Japanese steelmakers that they just have to have access to supplies' no matter what the cost, he says.

日本股市投资者为这桩交易欢呼雀跃，这或许是因为他们原来担心的结果较之更糟。在东京证券交易所，新日本制铁(Nippon Steel Corp.)的股票价格周一上涨3.2%，至575日圆（合5.33美元）。JFE Steel Corp.的母公司JFE Holdings Inc.上涨6.3%，至4,410日圆。

Japanese stock market investors cheered the deal, perhaps because they feared the outcome could have been even worse. On the Tokyo stock exchange, Nippon Steel's share price rose 3.2% to 575 yen ($5.33) yesterday. JFE Holdings Inc., the parent company of JFE Steel Corp., rose 6.3% to 4,410 yen.

力拓暗示公司无意就此达成协议，而是要从亚洲客户那里争取到更好的价格。该公司认为其有理由比淡水河谷公司要价高，因为比起巴西，澳大利亚的矿产离中国和日本等亚洲客户更近，运输费用因而更低。

Rio Tinto indicated it intends to hold out in hopes of securing bigger payouts from its Asian customers. The company believes it warrants a higher price than Vale because its Australian mines are much closer to Asian customers like China and Japan, resulting in lower shipping costs compared with ore shipped from Brazil.

据知情人士称，中国最大的炼钢企业宝钢集团的董事长徐乐江周日在北京的一次行业会议上向与会者表示，中国打算沿用日本谈判者设定的价格。过去，宝钢曾代表中国钢铁行业与供应商进行铁矿石谈判。宝钢发言人拒绝就此置评。

On Sunday, Xu Lejiang, chairman of Baosteel Group Co., China's largest steelmaker, suggested to attendees at an industry conference in Beijing that China would aim to follow the prices set by the Japanese negotiators, according to a person briefed on his remarks. In the past, Baosteel has represented the Chinese steel industry in iron-ore talks with suppliers. A Baosteel spokeswoman declined to comment.

钢铁企业无疑将会力图把最新的价格上涨转嫁到客户头上，令全球制造厂商的日子更难过。浦项综合制铁公司已经在1月份将热压卷材的价格提高到每吨607美元，涨幅达11.5%；最近几个月，其他炼钢厂也相继提高了价格。

Steelmakers will no doubt try to pass the latest price increases to their customers, making life more difficult for manufacturers globally. Posco had already raised the price of hot-rolled coil steel 11.5% to $607 a ton in January, and other steelmakers have increased prices in recent months.

中国杭州钢铁集团(Hangzhou Steel Group)的区域营销经理李济（音）说，公司绝对会受到近期涨价的影响，因为公司超过90%的原料都来自海外。

Li Ji, a regional marketing manager for Hangzhou Steel Group of China, said his company 'would be definitely affected' by the latest price increases as more than 90% of its raw material comes from overseas.

李济说，这会给工厂带来严重的成本压力，可能会导致产品销售价格上涨20%至30%。由于工厂内部已经没有降低成本的空间，因此唯一能做的就是将上涨的价格转嫁到客户头上，他还预计钢材价格今年将猛涨。

'This will bring serious cost pressure to our factory, probably resulting in an increase of 20% to 30% to selling price of our product,' Mr. Li said. 'Since our factory has no room to reduce costs, the only thing we can do is transfer the price hike to customers. I expect steel prices to be going up sharply this year.'

这样的涨价会不会持续下去将取决于世界经济是否都会受到美国经济减缓的影响。

Whether such price increases can be sustained will depend on whether the global economy hangs together in the face of slowing U.S. growth.

一些分析师认为，2008年将会成为铁矿石价格的一个高峰年。必和必拓和力拓正在增加产能，其他规模较小的公司也筹集了大笔资金开发铁矿与上述两家公司竞争。

Some analysts believe 2008 could wind up being a high-water mark for iron-ore prices. BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto are adding new capacity, and other, smaller companies have raised huge sums of money to launch competing mines. (Please see related article on Page 17)

澳大利亚股票经纪和金融服务公司Ord Minnett在最近的一篇研究报告中指出，澳大利亚上市公司当前所开采新矿的铁矿石供应量可达每年10亿吨。但该公司警告说，这些新的供应量大部分要到2015年才能用上，并指出其中一些开采活动可能会以失败告终。

In a recent research report, Australian stockbroking and financial-services firm Ord Minnett said there could be as many as one billion metric tons of new supply a year under development by listed Australian companies. But the broker warned it could be 2015 before much of that new supply comes online, and added that some of the ventures could fall through.

Patrick Barta / Sebastian Moffett

http://chinese.wsj.com/gb/20080219/ffe100822.asp

zz 轮胎科普知识

（一） 沿革：
轮胎是汽车的重要部件之一，它直接与路面接触，和汽车悬架共同来缓和汽车行驶时所受到的冲击，保证汽车有良好的乘座舒适性和行驶平顺性；保证车轮和路面有良好的附着性，提高汽车的牵引性、制动性和通过性；承受着汽车的重量，轮胎在汽车上所起的重要作用越来越受到人们的重视。
很早以前轮胎是用木头、铁等材料制成，第一个空心轮子是1845年英国人罗伯特·汤姆逊发明的，他提出用压缩空气充入弹性囊，以缓和运动时的振动与冲击。尽管当时的轮胎是用皮革和涂胶帆布制成，然而这种轮胎已经显示出滚动阻力小的优点。根据这一原理，1888年约翰·邓录普制成了橡胶空心轮胎，随后托马斯又制造了带有气门开关的橡胶空心轮胎，可惜的是因为内层没有帆布，而不能保持一定的断面形状和断面宽。
1895年随着汽车的出现，充气轮胎得到广泛的发展，首批汽车轮胎样品是1895年在法国出现的，这是由平纹帆布制成的单管式轮胎，虽有胎面胶而无花纹。直到1908年至1912年间，轮胎才有了显著的变化，即胎面胶上有了提高使用性能的花纹，从而开拓了轮胎胎面花纹的历史，并增加了轮胎的断面宽度，允许采用较低的内压，以保证获得较好的缓冲性能。
1892年英国的伯利密尔发明了帘布，1910年用于生产，这一成就除改进了轮胎质量，扩大了轮胎品种外，还使外胎具备了模制的可能性。随着对轮胎质量要求的提高，帘布质量也得到改进，棉帘布由人造丝代替，50年代末人造丝又被强力性能更好、耐热性能更高的尼龙、聚酯帘线所代替，而且钢丝帘线随着子午线轮胎的发展，具有很强的竞争力。
1904年马特创造了炭黑补强橡胶，大规模用于补强胎面胶是在轮胎采用帘布之后，因为在这之前，帆布比胎面在轮胎使用中损坏得还要快，炭黑在胶料中的用量增长很快，30年代每100份生胶中使用的炭黑也不过20份左右，这时主要在胎面上采用炭黑，胎体不用，现在已达50份以上。胎面中掺用炭黑以前，轮胎大约只行驶6000km就磨光了，掺用炭黑后，轮胎的行驶里程很快就得到显著的提高。现在一组货车轮胎大约可行驶10万km，在好的路面上，甚至可达20万km。
1913-1926年，因发明了帘线和炭黑轮胎技术，为轮胎工业发展奠定了基础。轮胎外缘的标准化，制造工艺的逐渐完善，生产速度比以前提高了，轮胎的产量与日俱增。
随着汽车工业的发展，轮胎技术一直不断地改进与提高，如20年代初至30年代中期轿车胎由低压轮胎过渡到超低压轮胎；40年代开始轮胎逐步向宽轮辋过渡；40年代末无内胎轮胎的出现；50年代末低断面轮胎问世等等。许多新技术的出现都莫过于1948年法国米西林公司首创的子午线结构轮胎，这种轮胎由于使用寿命和使用性能的显著提高，特别是在行驶中可以节省燃料，而被誉为轮胎工业的革命，在这里简略介绍一下当今发展的主要几种轮胎特征。
子午线轮胎：这种轮胎的特点是帘布层帘线排列的方向与轮胎的子午断面一致(即胎冠角为零度)，由于帘线的这样排列，使帝线的强度能得到充分利用，子午线轮胎的帘布层数一般比普通的斜线胎约可减少40—50％。帘线在圆周方向只靠橡胶来联系。
子午线轮胎与普通斜线胎相比，具有弹性大，耐磨性好，可使轮胎使用寿命提高30—50％，滚动阻力小，可降低汽车油耗8％左右，附着性能好，缓冲性能好，承载能力大，不易穿刺等优点。缺点是：胎侧易裂口，由于侧面变形大，导致汽车侧向稳定性差，制造技术要求及成本高。
无内胎轮胎：无内胎轮胎与一般的轮胎不同之处在于没有内胎，空气直接压入外胎中，因此轮胎与轮辋间需有很好的密封。
无内胎轮胎在外观上和结构上与有内胎轮胎近似，所不同的是无内胎轮胎内壁上附加了一层厚约2—3mm的专门用来封气的橡胶密封层，它是用硫化的方法粘附上去的，当轮胎穿孔后，由于其本身处于压缩状态而紧裹着穿刺物，故能长期不漏气，即使将穿刺物拔出，也能暂时保持胎内气压。
无内胎轮胎胎圈上有若干道同心的环形槽，在胎内气压作用下，槽纹能可靠地使胎圈压紧在轮辋边缘上保证密封。安装无内胎轮胎的轮辋是不漏气的，它有着倾斜的底部和平匀的漆层。气门嘴直按固定在轮辋上，其间垫以密封用的橡胶衬垫。
无内胎轮胎有气密性好，散热好，结构简单，质量轻等优点。缺点是途中修理较为困难。宽断面轮胎：随着汽车车速的提高，要求降低整车重心，改善操纵性能，这就要求提高轮胎的侧向稳定性和对路面的附着性能，以确保高速状态下的行车安全，这样低断面轮胎的出现就成为必然趋势。轮胎的断面高(H)与断面宽(B)的比值(H／B)是代表轮胎结构特征的重要参数，称之为轮胎的高宽比，也有人称之为扁平比。从上世纪20年代开始，轿车轮胎的外径减小了25％，轮辋直径减小了35％，轮胎和轮辋的宽度增加了将近一倍，轮胎的高宽比不断减小，轿车达0．5，赛车达0．4，特别是宽宽的轮胎与高级轿车匹配，更为美观大方。
汽车轮胎生产发展的历史表明，前50年主要是解决如何提高轮胎的使用寿命问题，近年来，由于汽车制造和交通运输部门对轮胎的要求日益苛刻，轮胎研究的重点转到轮胎行驶性能、安全性能、舒适性能和经济性能上来，总之，轮胎的发展总趋势是“三化”，即子午线化、无内胎化、低断面化。目前，轿车轮胎已实现了这“三化”，货车轮胎正在向这个方面发展。
（二） 标识：

一般轮胎规格可描述为:
[胎宽mm]/[胎厚与胎宽的百分比] R[轮毂直径(英寸)] [载重系数][速度标识]
或者
[胎宽mm]/[胎厚与胎宽的百分比][速度标识] R[轮毂直径(英寸)] [载重系数]
例如轮胎: 195/65 R14 88H 或者 195/65H R15 88
可以解释为:
胎宽-----------------------195mm
胎厚与胎宽的百分比为-------65% 即胎厚=126.75, 126.75/195*100=65(%)
轮毂直径-------------------15英寸
载重系数-------------------88
速度系数-------------------H
一般来说,[胎宽]/[胎厚与胎宽的百分比] R[轮毂直径(英寸)]了解对更换适合你的车的轮胎有帮助.了解轮胎的[载重系数][速度系标志]对行车安全有帮助.
轮胎速度标识表
　速度标识　最大时速　　　　常用车型
---------- ---------- -------------------------------
　　N　　　　140km/h　　　　备用胎 Spare Tires
　　P　　　　150km/h　　
　　Q　　　　160km/h　　　　雪胎,轻型卡车胎 Winter, LT Tires
　　R　　　　170km/h　　　　轻型卡车胎 LT Tires
　　S　　　　180km/h
　　T　　　　190km/h
　　U　　　　200km/h
　　H　　　　210km/h　　　　运动性轿车 Sport Sedans
　　V　　　　240km/h　　　　跑车 Sports Cars
　　Z　　　　240km/h　　　　跑车 Sports Cars (或大于240km/h)
　　W　　　　270km/h　　　　特型跑车 Exotic Sport Cars
　　Y　　　　300km/h　　　　特型跑车 Exotic Sport Cars
---------------------------------------------------------
注:
1.较常见轮胎速度标识为:P,S,T,H
2.如轮胎无速度标识,除非另有说明,一般认为最大安全速度为120KM/H.
下图是轮胎上一些常见标识,该图为典型北美轮胎标仅供参考.
Tire Size/轮胎尺寸,Loading Rating Index/载重系数, Speed Rating Index/速度标识。
（三） 轮胎的选用：
轿车的车轮一般使用子午线轮胎。子午线轮胎的规格包括宽度，高宽比，内径和速度极限符号。以丰田CROWN3.0 轿车为例，其轮胎规格是195/65R15，表示轮胎两边侧面之间的宽度是195 毫米，65表示高宽比，“R”代表单词RADIAL，表示是子午轮胎。15是轮胎的内径，以英寸计。有些轮胎还注有速度极限符号，分别用P、R、S、T、H、V、Z 等字母代表各速度极限值。
特别要指出的是高宽比，其含义是轮胎胎壁高度占胎宽的百分比，现代轿车的轮胎高宽比多的50至70之间，数值越小，轮胎形状越扁平。随着车速的提高，为了降低轿车的重心和轴心，轮胎的直径不断缩小。为了保证有足够的承载能力，改善行驶的稳定性和抓地力，轮胎和轮圈的宽度只得不断加大。因此，轮胎的截面形状由原来的近似园形向扁平化的椭园形发展。
近几年的轿车已经实现了子午线轮胎无内胎，俗称“原子胎”。这种轮胎在高速行驶中不易聚热，当轮胎受到钉子或尖锐物穿破后，漏气缓慢，可继续行驶一段距离。另外，原子胎还有简化生产工艺，减轻重量，节约原料等好处。因此，装配原子胎已在轿车领域中逐渐成为潮流。
（四） 轮胎冲气注意事项：
1、充气要注意安全。要随时用气压表检查气压，以免因充气过多，使轮胎爆破。
2、停止行驶后，须等轮胎散热后再充气，因车辆行驶时胎温会上升，对气压有影响。
3、检查气门嘴。气门嘴和气门芯如果配合不平整，有凸出凹进的现象及其它缺陷，都不便充气和量气压。
4、充气要注意清洁。充入的空气不能含有水份和油液，以防内胎橡胶变质损坏。
5、充气时不应超过标准过多后再行放气，也不可因长期在外出不能充气而过多地充气，如超过标准过多会促使帘线过份伸张，引起其强力降低，影响轮胎的寿命。
6充气前应将气门嘴上的灰尘擦净，不要松动气门芯，充气完毕后应用肥皂泡水（或口水）涂在气门嘴上，检查是否漏气（如果漏气就会产生小气泡），并将气门嘴帽配齐装紧，防止泥沙进入气门嘴内部。
7、子午线胎充气时，由于结构的原因，其下沉量、接地面积均较大，往往误认为充气不足，而过多地充气；或反之，因其下沉量和接地面积本来就较大，在气压不足时也误认为已充足。应用标准气压表加以测定。子午线轮胎的使用气压应高于一般轮胎0.5－1.5kg/平方厘米。
8、随车的气压表或胎工间使用的气压表均应定期进行校对，以保证气压检查准确。
（五） 如何正确使用轮胎：
轮胎在汽车各部件中的地位十分重要，对汽车行驶性能影响很大，轮胎的使用寿命直接影响运输经济效益。
1、限制行车速度：
提高车辆行驶速度，特别是经常处于快速行驶时，轮胎的使用寿命显著降低。因为车辆快速行驶时，轮胎在单位时间内与地面的接触次数就越多，磨擦也越频繁，使轮胎的变形频率增加。这时胎体周向和侧向产生的扭曲变形也随之加大。当速度达到临界速度时，胎冠表面的振动出现了波浪变形，形成静止波。这种静止波能在其产生几分钟后寻致轮胎爆破，这是由于轮胎变形来不及复原所造成的滞后损失，而它的大小与负荷作用的时间有关，速度越快，时间超短，大部分的动能被吸收转变成热量，从而使轮胎温度升高，橡胶老化加速和帘线层的耐疲劳强度降低，轮胎因而早期脱空或爆破，因此，限制行车速度是非常重要的。
2、根据道路情况行车：
路面的种类及状况对轮胎使用寿命的影响很大，驾驶员应根据道路条件选择路面，掌握适当的行车速度，对增加轮胎的行驶里程具有积极作用。
车辆在平整、宽敞且视野良好的道路上行驶，如高速公路、国道线和省道线等，可根据车辆本身的技术条件和轮胎的性能适当提高车速，但也不宜过高，否则影响行车安全，降低轮胎的使用寿命。在不平整的碎石路和矿区路上行驶，由于尖石裸露或路边石块锐利，极易损坏轮胎，应注意选择路面并在较低车速下行车，以防止轮胎爆破损坏。
在冰雪路面上行驶，由于路面与车轮的摩擦系数较小，要注意防滑；若车轮打滑，应立即停车，试行倒退，另选路线前进，若倒退仍打滑，则应排除车前后和两旁的冰雪，或将后轮顶起，铺上石块、砖头、稻草，以便车辆通行。不要猛踏加速踏板，强行起步，以免轮胎越陷越深，原地空转剧烈生热，防止轮胎胎面及胎侧严重刮伤、划伤，甚至剥离掉块。在转弯频繁的路面上或陡坡上行驶，轮胎受到部分拖曳，即使路面条件较好，也应当在较低车速下行驶，以减少轮胎磨耗，确保行车安全。
3、掌握轮胎的温度变化：
炎热天气行车，由于外界气温较高，轮胎积热散发困难，由于行车速度快、运距长，道路条件恶劣等原因，胎温急剧上升，胎内气压也随之增加，从而加速橡胶老化，降低帘线与橡胶的粘合力，致使帘布层脱空或爆破损坏，故炎热天气行车应注意控制轮胎的使用温度。在酷热时行车，除应适当降低车速外，有条件的情况下可在早晚气温较低时行车，或车辆行驶一定距离后停车休息，防止胎温过高。严禁采用放气降压的做法，因放气后轮胎变形增大，会使胎温升高，最后也会因过热而使轮胎损坏。在气温低的季节，因为轮胎在使用时散热快，不容易产生高热，胎面较为耐磨。在气温低的季节，特别是严寒天气，车辆过夜或长时间停放后重新行驶时，为了提高轮胎温度，最好在起步后头几公里以低速驾驶为宜。因此，掌握轮胎行驶中温度变化是极重要的。
4、采用正确驾驶方法：
（1）汽车起步不可过猛，无论空、重车都应低速平稳起步。避免轮胎与地面拖曳，以减少胎面磨耗。
（2）在良好路面上行驶，应保持直线前进，除会车和避让障碍物外，禁止左右摇摆和急剧转向，以防轮胎和轮辋之间产生横向的切割损伤轮胎。
（3）车辆下长坡时应根据坡度大小，长度和道路情况，适当控制车速。在坡长、路陡、路况复杂的情况下，应挂挡行驶，并利用轻微制动控制车速下坡，这样不但可以避免紧急制动，减少轮胎磨损，而且对安全行车也有保障。
（4）车辆上坡时，应尽量利用惯性行驶，适时变速，及时换挡，上坡时要保持车辆有适当的余力，不要等车停了再重新起步，以减少轮胎的磨损。
（5）行车转弯应根据弯道情况控制车速，不要高速转弯，否则车辆产生较大的离心力，使车载货物倾斜，质心偏移一侧，单边轮胎超载拖曳，加速磨耗，同时还会使轮胎被轮铜横向切割，造成损坏。
（6）在复杂情况下(会车、超车、通过城镇、交叉路口、过铁路)行驶时，应掌握适当的行车速度，减少频繁制动和避免紧急制动，否则造成轮胎与地面之间的滑动摩擦，致使胎面严重磨损。
（7）在不良道路上应减速行驶，并仔细观察，择路通过，通过后应停车检查双胎之间是否夹有石子，如有应及时排除。
（8）车辆途中停车和到场停车，要养成安全滑行的停车习惯。在停车前要选择地面平整、干净和无油污的地面停放，每条轮胎都要平稳落地，尤其是车辆装载过夜，更应该注意选好停放地点，必要时将后轮顶起。
（六） 轮胎不正常磨损原因及解决办法：
轮胎磨损主要是轮胎与地面间滑动产生的磨擦力造成的。汽车起步、转弯及制动等行驶条件的不断变化，转弯速度过快、起步过急、制动过猛，轮胎的磨损就快。另外，轮胎的磨损还与汽车的行驶速度有关，行驶速度愈快，轮胎磨损愈严重，路面的质量也直接影响到轮胎与地面的磨擦力，路面较差时，轮胎与地面滑动加剧，轮胎的磨损加快。以上情况产生的轮胎磨损，基本上是均匀的，属正常磨损。若轮胎使用不当或前轮定位不准，将产生故障性不正常磨损，常见的不正常磨损有以下几种：
1、 轮胎的中央部分早期磨损：
主要原因是充气量过大。适当提高轮胎的充气量，可以减少轮胎的滚动阻力，节约燃油。但充气量过大时，不但影响轮胎的减振性能，还会使轮胎变形量过大，与地面的接触面积减小，正常磨损只能由胎面中央部分承担，形成早期磨损。如果在窄轮辋上选用宽轮胎，也会造成中央部分早期磨损。
2、 轮胎两边磨损过大：
主要原因是充气量不足，或长期超负荷行驶。充气量小或负荷重时，轮胎与地面的接触面大，使轮胎的两边与地面接触参加工作而形成早期磨损。
3、 轮胎的一边磨损量过大：
主要原因是前轮定位失准。当前轮的外倾角过大时，轮胎的外边形成早期磨损，外倾角过小或没有时，轮胎的内边形成早期磨损。
4、 轮胎胎面出现锯齿状磨损：
主要原因是前轮定位调整不当或前悬挂系统位置失常、球头松旷等，使正常滚动的车轮发生滑动或行驶中车轮定位不断变动而形成轮胎锯齿状磨损。
5、 个别轮胎磨损量大：
个别车轮的悬挂系统失常、支承件弯曲或个别车轮不平衡都会造成个别轮胎早期磨损。出现这种情况后，应检查磨损严惩车轮的定位情况、独立悬挂弹簧和减振器的工作情况，同时应缩短车轮换位周期。
6、 轮胎出现斑秃形磨损：
在轮胎的个别部位出现斑秃性严惩磨损的原因是轮胎平衡性差。当不平衡的车轮高速转动时，个别部位受力大，磨损加快，同时转向发拦，操纵性能变差。若在行驶中发现某一个特定速度方向有轻微抖动时，就应该对车轮进行平衡，以防出现斑秃形磨损。
为了避免上述这些不正常磨损情况的发生，我们应该注意一下事项：
1、注意轮胎气压：
气压是轮胎的命门，过高和过低都会缩短它的使用寿命。气压过低，则胎体变形增大，胎侧容易出现裂口，同时产生屈挠运动，导致过度生热，促使橡胶老化，帘布层疲劳、帘线折断。气压过低，还会使轮胎接地面积增大加速胎肩磨损。气压过高，会使轮胎帘线受到过度的伸张变形，胎体弹性下降，使汽车在行驶中受到的负荷增大，如遇冲击会产生内裂和爆破，同时气压过高还会加速胎冠磨损，并使耐轧性能下降。
2、定期检查前轮定位：
前轮定位对轮胎的使用寿命影响较大，而尤以前轮前束和前轮外倾为主要因素。前轮外倾主要会加速胎肩的磨损即偏磨；前轮前束过小过大主要是加速轮胎内外侧的磨损。
3、注意自己的驾驶方式：
司机在行车中除了处理情况外，要选择路面行驶，躲避锋利的石头、玻璃、金属等可能扎破和划伤轮胎的物体，躲避化学遗洒物质对轮胎的粘附，腐蚀。行驶在拱度较大的路面时，要尽量居中行驶，减少一侧轮胎负荷增大而使轮胎磨损不均。一般情况下，超载20%则轮胎寿命减少30%，超载40%则轮胎寿命减少50%；另外急速转弯、紧急制动、高速起步以及急加速等都将对轮胎的损坏产生影响，是司机在行车中要避免的。

克莱斯勒复苏计划主打车型瘦身牌

Chrysler's Turnaround Plan: Less Is More

2008年02月11日14:42

克莱斯勒(Chrysler LLC)提出了一个大胆的复苏计划：减少款式，关注能带来更高利润的车型。

Chrysler LLC is laying out a turnaround plan based on a radical idea: Offering a smaller number of models will lead to bigger profits.

在今后三年左右的时间里，这家少数人持股汽车公司将把目前的大约30种车型减少至多一半，此举起码会在一段时间内导致销量的下滑。克莱斯勒预计，随着这一措施的执行，目前的3,600家经销商网络也会发生大规模的整合。

Over the next three years or so, the closely held auto maker plans to drop as many as half of the roughly 30 models it now produces, a move likely to cut sales at least for a while. Along the way, it expects a substantial consolidation in its network of 3,600 dealers.

克莱斯勒副董事长吉姆?普利斯(Jim Press)在接受采访时表示，我们将成为美国最佳的小规模汽车公司。

'We're going to be the best little car company in America,' Chrysler Vice Chairman Jim Press said in an interview here.

这一计划明显有违汽车业乃至底特律的常规做法。近一个世纪以来，汽车厂家一直在强调汽车生产的规模经济。“越大越好”的信条推动了底特律三大汽车公司和大多数竞争对手在过去几十年中的发展。这催生了多起并购，也是汽车业迄今为止几乎所有重组努力的基础。

The plan defies conventional wisdom in the auto industry and in Detroit. For almost a century, auto makers have been fixated on building greater economies of scale. The notion that bigger is better has driven each of Detroit's Big Three auto makers and most of their rivals for decades. It inspired several mergers and provided the foundation for just about every turnaround effort the industry has seen.

但普利斯说，克莱斯勒新的管理团队及其主要持股公司私人资本运营公司Cerberus Capital Management LP的顾问相信，该行业的旧规则已经不再适用了。

But the new management team at Chrysler and its advisers at private-equity firm Cerberus Capital Management LP, its majority owner, are convinced 'the old rules in this industry no longer apply,' Mr. Press said.

美国已经成为发展缓慢的成熟市场，竞争非常激烈，以至于没有哪家汽车厂家能够寄希望于销量的快速增长。而提高销量曾是以前克莱斯勒复苏努力的重要组成部分，也仍是许多汽车厂家的目标。

The U.S. has become a mature, slow-growth market, and competition is so fierce that no auto maker can count on rapid increases in sales, which were a key component of the previous turnaround effort at Chrysler and are still a goal of many auto makers.

普利斯表示，汽车业现在难以实现销量的大幅增长了，我们不应该再做梦，而要面对现实。

'There's no huge [increase in sales] volume around the corner,' Mr. Press said. 'We need to give up that dream and face reality.'

克莱斯勒去年的轿车和卡车产量约为270万辆。在仍是前戴姆勒-克莱斯勒(DaimlerChrysler AG)的子公司时，它曾计划大大扩大车辆型号，在10年内将轿车和卡车的销量提高到400万辆左右。

Chrysler produced about 2.7 million cars and trucks last year. While it was still part of the former DaimlerChrysler AG, it planned substantial expansion of its model line and an increase in sales to around four million cars and trucks a year within 10 years.

普利斯表示，克莱斯勒能在目前的销量水平下实现盈利。他承认，克莱斯勒调整产品线可能带来销量的下滑，但表示公司希望能通过增加在中国、印度和东欧等海外发展中市场的销量保持产量的稳定。

Mr. Press said Chrysler can be profitable with sales around the current level. He acknowledged that sales volume could slip as Chrysler adjusts its product line but said the company hopes to keep production steady by increasing sales overseas, especially in developing markets like China, India and Eastern Europe.

克莱斯勒“瘦身复苏计划”在业内遇到了一些质疑。上周，前克莱斯勒管理人员杰拉姆?约克(Jerome B. York)表示，克莱斯勒作为一家独立的公司缺乏生命力，尤其是因为其90%的销量都来自于北美。

The idea that Chrysler can survive as a smaller car company has met some skepticism within the industry. Last week, former Chrysler executive Jerome B. York said Chrysler 'is not viable' as an independent company, especially because 90% of its sales come from North America.

约克在芝加哥表示，Cerberus试图拯救克莱斯勒是做了一件正确的事情，但他认为下一步应该是将其卖给外国汽车公司。

Speaking in Chicago, Mr. York said Cerberus is 'doing the right thing' to try to fix Chrysler but said he believes the next step should be selling it to a foreign auto company.

普利斯在旧金山承认，约克的逻辑或许适用于“旧克莱斯勒”。但他说，Cerberus致力于打造能够长期繁荣的“新克莱斯勒”。

In San Francisco, Mr. Press acknowledged that Mr. York's logic could apply to 'the old Chrysler.' But he said Cerberus is committed to creating a 'new Chrysler' that can prosper long term.

支撑克莱斯勒想法的因素之一是：它已经不再属于上市公司。普利斯表示，减少产品种类的过渡期可能会带来销量下降的困难时期。但作为一家非上市公司，克莱斯勒不必每季度公布业绩，也不用担心股票市场的表现。普利斯说，我们的一举一动都不会再受到华尔街的监视。

Underpinning Chrysler's thinking is the fact that it is no longer a public company. Mr. Press said the transition to a smaller product line could result in some difficult times in which sales slump. But as a private company, Chrysler doesn't report quarterly earnings or worry about the stock market. 'We don't have Wall Street looking over our shoulder,' Mr. Press said.

克莱斯勒的主要美国竞争对手通用汽车(General Motors Corp.)和福特汽车(Ford Motor Co.)都难享受到这种待遇。对北美销量的担忧令通用汽车股票不久前创出了20个月来的低点，不过此后该股收复了一些失地。

Chrysler's main U.S. rivals, General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co., don't have that luxury. Concerns about sales in North America helped pushed GM shares to a 20-month low recently, although the stock has regained some ground.

通用汽车的重组就采取了更为常规的做法。在削减成本的同时，该公司也在开发更多具有吸引力的车型，希望借此拉动销售。零售量的增加有望提高其在美国市场的占有率，抵消面向租赁公司的低利润率车型销量的下滑。

GM is taking a more conventional path with its restructuring effort. While slashing costs, the company has been developing more attractive vehicles in hopes they will lift sales. An increase in retail sales is supposed to push its U.S. market share a bit higher and offset declines in low-margin sales to rental fleets.

普利斯说，克莱斯勒计划在今后三、四年的时间里改革其产品，取消一些车型，改进一些车型，并在新领域中增加一些车型。克莱斯勒管理人员在上周同经销商的会议中表示，公司最终将保留15至20款车型，数量少于目前的30种左右。

Chrysler plans to overhaul its products over the next three to four years, dropping some models, improving others and adding vehicles in new segments, Mr. Press said. In meetings with Chrysler dealers in the past week, Chrysler officials suggested the company may end up with 15 to 20 models instead of the 30 or so it offers now.

普利斯在旧金山向记者表示，克莱斯勒将在未来减少车型，但他没有透露具体数字。

Speaking with reporters in San Francisco, Mr. Press said Chrysler will offer fewer models in the future but said it has no specific number in mind.

普利斯表示，公司认为如果将资金用于生产种类更少、品质更好的车型上将会进一步提高利润。目前的产品线包括了车型基本相同的轿车和卡车，不同的仅仅是品牌。普利斯说，公司目前生产克莱斯勒Town & Country和道奇(Dodge) Caravan两种微型客车，而它们争夺的是相同的客户。

The company believes it can be more profitable if it spends money producing fewer, but better, vehicles, Mr. Press said. The current product line includes cars and trucks that are essentially identical products, differentiated only by their brands. It makes two minivans, the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Caravan, that compete for the same customers, Mr. Press said.

预计车型的减少将迫使克莱斯勒的经销商网络进行整合。随着销售车型的减少，部分道奇、克莱斯勒和吉普(Jeep)经销商不会有足够的业务保持独立。许多可能会进行合并，而这也是克莱斯勒一直鼓励的做法。克莱斯勒可能会关闭全部或大部分只经销一种品牌的“独立”商店，它还计划向有意收购其它商家的经销商提供贷款。

The reduction in models is expected to force a consolidation of Chrysler's dealer network. With fewer models to sell, some Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep dealers won't have enough business to remain independent. Many will probably have to merge, something Chrysler has been encouraging. It would like to eliminate all or most 'stand-alone' stores that carry just one of its brands. The company plans to offer loans to dealers who want to buy out others.

产量的下降会给克莱斯勒带来进一步降低工资和关闭工厂的空间，但普利斯称，他希望克莱斯勒不会扩大其裁员计划。该公司已计划裁减8,500到10,000个小时工和1,000个正式职位。

Producing fewer vehicles could leave Chrysler room for further payroll cuts and plant closures, but Mr. Press said he hopes Chrysler won't have to expand the job cuts it has planned. The company is planning to eliminate 8,500 to 10,000 hourly jobs and 1,000 salaried positions.

Neal E. Boudette / Terry Kosdrosky

http://chinese.wsj.com/gb/20080211/ffe144524.asp

马自达第三财季净利润增长7.1%

Mazda 3Q Net Profit Grows 7.1% On Stronger Sales

2008年02月07日10:19

马自达(Mazda Motor Corp.)表示，小型轿车和运动型多用途车(SUV)在北美和欧洲的强劲销售推动了收入增长，公司在10月至12月的第三财季中净利润攀升了7.1%。

Mazda Motor Corp. (7261.TO) said its net profit grew 7.1% in the October-December quarter as stronger compact car and sport-utility vehicle sales in North America and Europe boosted its revenue.

这家隶属福特汽车公司(Ford Motor Co.)的日本企业周三宣布，第三财季盈利159亿日圆，高于去年同期的149亿日圆。公司表示今年没有像上一财年那样计入外汇相关亏损，这也推动了利润的增长。

The Japanese affiliate of Ford Motor Co. (F) Wednesday reported a net profit of Y15.9 billion during the three month period, up from Y14.9 billion a year earlier. The company attributed the gain partly to the absence of foreign exchange-related losses it booked last fiscal year.

在日本汽车厂商和其他出口商都忧心忡忡于日圆走强和美国消费力减弱带来的破坏性影响时，马自达的业绩却依然喜人，这表明公司在提升自己作为运动汽车品牌的认知度方面做得颇为成功，正是这一点带动了它在欧洲、美国和其他海外市场的销量增长。

At a time when Japanese auto makers and other exporters are worried about the damaging impact of a stronger yen and weaker U.S. consumption, Mazda's continued buoyancy reflects its effectiveness in sharpening its brand recognition as a sporty car maker, which has helped boost sales in Europe, the U.S. and other overseas markets.

马自达与福特的合作也为降低成本带来了帮助。

Its alliance with the Ford group has also helped reduce costs.

马自达首席财务官大卫?E.弗莱德曼(David E. Friedman)在一个新闻发布会上表示，虽然商业环境一直不景气，但公司在朝向自己目标的前进过程中取得了稳步进展。

Despite the continued tough business environment, 'we're steadily advancing to achieve (our) targets,' Mazda Chief Financial Officer David E. Friedman said at a press conference.

马自达10月至12月的销售额增长了11%，达到8500亿日圆；营业利润下降了5.8%，为353亿日圆，部分原因在于低利润的车型所占比例提高，同时公司在北美进行销售推广活动的成本有所增加。

During the three month period, Mazda's sales grew 11% to Y850.0 billion. Its operating profit fell 5.8% to Y35.3 billion, partly due to an increase in the proportion of low-margin vehicles in its car lineups and higher sales promotion costs in North America.

马自达预计在截至今年3月底的本财政年度中净利润将达到850亿日圆，营业利润有望达到1600亿日圆，预计销售额为3.320万亿日圆。

For the fiscal year ending March, the auto maker kept its net profit forecast at Y85 billion, operating profit outlook at Y160 billion and expects sales of Y3.320 trillion.

瑞士信贷(Credit Suisse)分析师Koji Endo表示，第三财季营业利润下滑5.8%的结果比他所预期的持平要显得糟糕。

Credit Suisse analyst Koji Endo said that the 5.8% fall in operating profit in the third quarter was worse than his expectations for a flat figure.

不过Endo也指出，虽然马自达调高了日圆汇价均价，但公司仍没有改变本财年的收益预期，这一点也具有积极意义。马自达现预计整个财年美元兑日圆的平均汇率为114日圆，而其之前预计为115日圆。

However, he added it's positive that the company left its earnings forecast unchanged for the fiscal year even as it changed its assumptions for the yen to stronger levels. The company now assumes the dollar will average Y114 for the full fiscal year, compared with its previous assumption for Y115.

Endo说，预期收益未做调整或许表明公司有信心在本财年实现更高利润。

Keeping its forecast unchanged 'is probably a reflection of the company's confidence' for a stronger profit this fiscal year, he said.

位于广岛的马自达是最新一家宣布截止12月的财季利润增长的日本汽车厂商。周二，丰田(Toyota)宣布10月至12月净利润增长了7.5%。

The Hiroshima-based company is the latest among Japanese car makers to post higher profits for the quarter ended December. On Tuesday, Toyota reported a 7.5% growth in net profit for the October-December quarter.

但用全财年预计的数字减去4月至12月的实际业绩得出的结果显示，其他日本汽车厂家对未来几个月显得多少有些小心谨慎，而马自达并没有这样。

But based on its full fiscal year forecast minus the results for the April-December period, Mazda bucks other Japanese rivals who are somewhat cautious about the coming months.

马自达预计第四财季的净利润将比上年增长26%，上年同期，其净利润因远期外汇合约相关的一次性亏损而大幅度缩水。但该公司预计营业利润仅会小幅增长0.6%。按地区划分，由于对CX-7和CX-9等SUV车型的需求强劲，北美销量增长了12.7%，达到8.9万辆。欧洲的销量增长10.3%，为7.5万辆。

For the fourth quarter, Mazda expects its net profit to gain 26% on year after its net profit was squeezed a year earlier by a one-time loss related to its forward exchange contract. However, it expects a more moderate 0.6% gain in operating profit. By region, North American sales rose 12.7% to 89,000 vehicles in the third quarter thanks to solid demand for the CX-7 and CX-9 sport-utility vehicles. Sales in Europe grew 10.3% to 75,000.

不过，由于中国汽车厂商一汽海南汽车(FAW Hainan Motor)停止生产马自达品牌车，中国的销量下降了16.7%，仅为3万辆。如果排除这一影响的话，中国的销量本来可以增长129%。得益于马自达2小型轿车的强劲销售表现，澳大利亚、以色列和拉美等其他海外市场销量猛增了29.6%，达到了7万辆。

But sales in China fell 16.7% to 30,000 vehicle after local car maker FAW Hainan Motor discontinued production of Mazda brand vehicles. Excluding this impact, sales there would have risen 129%. In other overseas markets including Australia, Israel, Latin America, sales soared 29.6% to 70,000 vehicles on robust sales of the Mazda2 compact.

日本本土市场销量增长了2.0%，为5.2万辆。

Sales in Japan were up 2.0% at 52,000 vehicles.

马自达按日本会计标准核算收益，公司在收盘后公布了最新业绩结果。周三，马自达的股票在东京证券交易所下跌了7.2%，收于439日圆，当天日经225指数下挫了4.7%。

The car maker, which reports earnings under Japanese accounting standards, released its results after the closing bell. On the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Mazda's shares ended Wednesday down 7.2% at Y439. The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average was down 4.7% on the day.

Yoshio Takakashi / Hiroyuki Kachi

http://chinese.wsj.com/gb/20080207/ffe102143.asp

新兴市场带动丰田汽车利润增长7.5%

Toyota Oct-Dec Net Up 7.5% On Strong Emerging Mkt Sales

2008年02月06日10:56

在中国、俄罗斯等新兴市场强劲销售的推动下，丰田汽车公司(Toyota Motor Corp.)在10月至12月的财政季度中净利润增长了7.5%，但该公司预计美国经济放缓将使其关键的北美市场销售出现滑坡。

Toyota Motor Corp. (7203.TO) boosted net profit by 7.5% in October-December thanks to strong sales in China, Russia and other emerging markets, but saw sales in its key North American market drop amid growing fears of a U.S. slowdown.

丰田汽车在截至12月31日的财季中在北美市场共销售了75.6万辆汽车，较上年同期减少了1%。公司将全年北美销量预期下调了2万辆，至297万辆。混合动力车普锐斯(Prius)的销售依然强劲，但4Runner这样的较大SUV车型销量有所下降。

Toyota sold 756,000 vehicles in North America during the three months ended Dec. 31, 1% less than a year earlier. The company cut its full-year sales forecast for North America by 20,000 vehicles to 2.97 million. Sales of the hybrid Prius remain strong although the company's larger SUVs like the 4Runner are down.

眼下，在谁是全球汽车行业的老大这一问题上丰田汽车和通用汽车(General Motors Corp.)不分伯仲，而前者的业绩也表明日本汽车企业正日益受到美国市场萧条、油价节节走高以及对美国经济滑坡担忧情绪的打击。丰田上周表示美国市场1月份的销量较上年同期下降了2.3%，至171,849车。当月本田汽车(Honda Motor Co.)和日产汽车(Nissan Motor Co.)在美销量分别下滑了2.3%和7.3%。

The results for Toyota, which is tied with General Motors Corp. as the world's largest auto maker, come as Japanese car makers are increasingly hit by a slowdown in the U.S. market amid higher oil prices and rising concerns of a U.S. recession. Last week, Toyota said sales in the U.S. in January fell 2.3% to 171,849 compared to a year earlier. Honda Motor Co.'s U.S. sales fell 2.3% in January, while Nissan Motor Co.'s U.S. sales dropped 7.3%.

在新兴市场汽车销量快速增长的推动下，丰田和其他日本汽车企业一直都能抵挡美国市场走软的影响。以丰田为例，该公司积极开拓中国和俄罗斯等市场，降低了它对北美销售的依赖程度。在本财年的前三个季度里，北美占丰田汽车海外营运收益的比重从上年同期的57%降到了44%。

Toyota and other Japanese car makers have been able to offset softness in the U.S. market by posting strong results in the fast-growing emerging markets. Toyota's aggressive push into markets such as China and Russia, for example, lessened its dependence in North America. In the first three quarters of this fiscal year, North American sales accounted for 44% of Toyota's operating income outside Japan compared to 57% a year earlier.

不过北美市场仍是公司重要的利润来源，投资者对美国次债危机以及日圆走强致使海外收益缩水的影响也担忧不已。分析师指出，丰田、本田以及日产汽车的股价大幅走软，因为投资者在弄清经济不确定因素的影响之前，均采取了离场观望的姿态。

Still, North America remains a key source of the companies' profits, and investors remain concerned about the impact of the U.S. subprime crisis and the stronger yen, which diminishes the value of its overseas earnings. Share prices in Toyota, Honda and Nissan have fallen sharply this year as investors take a wait-and-see approach until they can understand the impact of the economic uncertainties, analysts say.

瑞银证券日本有限公司(UBS Securities Japan Ltd.)的高级分析师Tatsuo Yoshida表示，大家都不知道情况究竟如何，也没人能做出预言。他认为在这些不确定因素消失前，股票的表现都难有起色，向本田或丰田这样的蓝筹股也不能幸免。

'People don't know what's going on. Nobody has a crystal ball. Until that uncertainty is gone, I don't expect the stocks to perform well, even blue chip stocks like Honda or Toyota,' said Tatsuo Yoshida, a senior analyst for UBS Securities Japan Ltd.

不过丰田汽车的董事总经理铃木武(Takeshi Suzuki)仍对美国经济的长期前景表示乐观。

Nevertheless, Toyota Managing Director Takeshi Suzuki remained optimistic about the long-term prospects of the U.S. economy.

他指出，虽然发展中国家汽车销量的增长，但并不等同于美国市场的实力减弱了，丰田相信美国经济从长期看将会增长，这就是公司增加产能的原因所在。

'While there is an increase in sales in the developing countries, that doesn't mean the strength of the U.S. market has weakened,' he said. 'Over the long term we believe the American economy will grow. That is why we are expanding our capacity,' he added.

丰田在截至12月31日的财季中实现净利润4,586亿日圆，营运利润增长了4.7%，至6,015亿日圆。亚洲市场销量增长了3.7万辆，至24.1万辆；这得益于中国市场销量的强劲增长，以及泰国和印尼产能的扩大。

Toyota's net profit was Y458.6 billion for the quarter ended Dec. 31. Operating profit increased 4.7% to Y601.5 billion. Sales in Asia increased 37,000 vehicles to 241,000 units, lifted by strong sales in China and increased production capacity in Thailand and Indonesia.

丰田汽车在中、南美洲、非洲和大洋洲的销售也出现大幅增长，较上年增加了9.5万辆至43.5万辆。欧洲的销量微幅增加了2,000辆，至30.8万辆。丰田汽车在日本本土的新车销量持平，当季售出了54.1万辆。

Toyota also saw strong growth in Central and South America, Africa, and Oceania, where it sold 435,000 vehicles, up 95,000 from the previous year. In Europe, sales increased a modest 2,000 units to 308,000 vehicles. In Japan, new car sales remained flat with total sales of 541,000 vehicles for the quarter.

丰田汽车维持了本财年（截至3月31日）的盈利预期。公司表示，预计全年销售汽车893万辆，实现净收入25.5万亿日圆，营运利润和净利润将分别达到2.3万亿日圆和1.7万亿日圆。

Toyota kept its forecast for the full year ending March 31, 2008. It said it expects sales of 8.93 million vehicles, net revenues of Y25.5 trillion, operating income of Y2.3 trillion and net profit of Y1.7 trillion.

John Murphy

http://chinese.wsj.com/gb/20080206/ffe110302.asp

通用汽车前路依然坎坷

GM Still Faces Tricky Curves

2008年02月05日17:03

初看上去，通用汽车(General Motors) 2008年的开局相对不错。虽然其他汽车生产商1月份的销售普遍下挫，但该公司销量却逆市上扬。人们对通用汽车可能需出手救援GMAC Financial Services旗下按揭贷款子公司的担心也已缓解。通用目前仍持有这家公司49%的股份。

At first glance, General Motors has gotten off to a relatively good start in 2008. While other auto makers' sales slipped in January, GM bucked the trend and posted a gain. Fears have eased about a possible bailout for the mortgage arm of GMAC Financial Services, of which GM still owns 49%.

其结果是，通用汽车的股价在周一下挫近5%之前的两周时间内跃升了27%。

As a result, GM's stock price had jumped 27% in the past two weeks before declining nearly 5% yesterday.

但投资者们最好还是别急着增持该股，明智的话现在要踩一踩刹车了。

Rather than hit the accelerator, however, investors would be wise to tap the brakes.

通用的核心业务汽车制造在北美地区依然面临严峻局面， 虽然采取了一些大规模的成本削减措施，但这块业务今年要想接近盈亏平衡恐怕仍非易事。

GM still has serious kinks in its core automotive business in North America, and, despite some big cost cuts, it may be challenged to come close to breaking even this year.

通用汽车1月份在北美市场销售上升要部分归因于打折、促销力度的大幅加强，而这势必导致利润率的下降。随着美国经济增长放缓，要继续吸引消费者购车，通用今年全年可能都需将促销力度维持在高水平。

The rise in January sales in the U.S. came in part as a result of a surge in rebates and incentives, which erode profit margins. GM may have to keep incentive levels high through the year to lure buyers into showrooms amid the slowing U.S. economy.

而该公司最赚钱的产品卡车和运动型多用途车(SUV)的销售却在下滑，销售实现增长的是利润较低的轿车。

Sales of its most-profitable products -- trucks and sport-utility vehicles -- are declining, while sales of cars, which generate less profit, are increasing.

通用汽车的轿车业务已出现改观，在这方面该公司重新设计并大力促销的雪佛兰美宜堡(Chevrolet Malibu)轿车堪称代表。通用提高轿车内饰豪华度等改进措施是有代价的，美宜堡等改版轿车的材料成本上升一定程度上抵消了其在节约成本方面取得的成效。

GM has a more attractive lineup of cars, led by the redesigned and heavily promoted Chevrolet Malibu sedan. The improvements that GM has made -- like more-luxurious interiors -- come with a price, and the higher cost of materials on the Malibu and some other redesigned models has offset some of the cost savings the company has achieved.

雷曼兄弟(Lehman Brothers Holdings)汽车业分析师布赖恩?约翰逊(Brian Johnson)说，通用汽车要想使自己的股票对投资者有吸引力，其北美业务不仅要实现盈亏平衡，还要实现2%以上的利润率。约翰逊对通用汽车的评级相当于“持有”。他服务的这家公司与通用汽车有投资业务往来，并持有其股票。

'To be an attractive stock, they've got to get North America above break-even and in the 2% margin range,' said Lehman Brothers Holdings automotive analyst Brian Johnson. He has the equivalent of a 'hold' rating on GM stock. Lehman has an investment-banking relationship with the auto maker and holds its shares.

约翰逊预计通用汽车北美业务第四财季将亏损1.88亿美元，从而使该公司的3年净亏损额至少达到460亿美元。如不包括众多支出项目和一次性项目，通用汽车北美业务自2005年以来的税前营运亏损额将达84亿美元。

He expects GM to lose $188 million in North America for the fourth quarter, bringing its three-year net loss to at least $46 billion. Minus a litany of charges and one-time items, GM's operating pretax loss in North America since 2005 would be $8.4 billion.

通用汽车未对何时能够扭亏为盈作出预测，不过该公司高管已暗示说2010年以后实现盈利的可能性很大。约翰逊估计，通用汽车的北美业务2010年以前扭亏无望，在那以后该公司为其加入工会的员工新设立的一个医疗保健信托将能为公司起到节省成本的功效。

GM hasn't given a forecast of when it will return to profitability, although executives have indicated the Detroit company will be firmly positioned for it by next decade. Mr. Johnson estimates that GM won't hit black ink in North America until 2010, when the company starts realizing the savings from a new health-care trust it is setting up for its unionized workers.

GMAC及其住房抵押贷款子公司ResCap仍是个问题。GMAC周二将公布四季度收益报告，尽管预计业绩数字会比较惨淡，但这可能仅是黎明前的黑暗。

GMAC and its Residential Capital home-mortgage unit, known as ResCap, remain a concern. GMAC reports its fourth-quarter earnings today, and while the numbers are expected to be dismal, there could be light at the end of the tunnel.

在1 月17日召开的分析师会议上，通用汽车首席执行长里克?瓦格纳(Rick Wagoner)和首席财务长弗里茨?亨德森(Fritz Henderson)表示，2008年GMAC将实现盈利，四季度它就已经不需要通用及其联合投资方Cerberus Capital Management注资了。

At an analyst meeting Jan. 17, GM Chief Executive Rick Wagoner and Chief Financial Officer Fritz Henderson made clear that GMAC will be profitable in 2008 and didn't need a capital infusion from GM and its co-investor, Cerberus Capital Management, in the fourth quarter.

这次会议之前，与GMAC有关的担心拉低了通用股价。1月16日通用股价为21.34美元，处于20个月低点，只有10月份水平的一半。会议以来，该股已有所上升。周一该股在纽约证交所收于27.57美元，跌1.41美元。

Before that meeting, fears related to GMAC had dragged down GM's stock price. On Jan. 16, it traded at $21.34, a 20-month low and about half of where it was in October. Since the meeting, the stock has shot up. In 4 p.m. composite trading yesterday on the New York Stock Exchange, GM's shares were down $1.41 to $27.57.

通用将在下周公布四季度业绩。市场预计通用四季度及2007年全年将出现亏损，且因三季度发生的390亿美元亏损，全年的亏损额会相当可观。通用汽车目前的总市值为160亿美元左右。

GM reports its own fourth-quarter results next week. The auto maker, with a market value of about $16 billion, is expected to report a loss for the quarter as well as a huge shortfall for all of 2007, stemming from a $39 billion loss in the third quarter.

瓦格纳在会上表示，由于去年9月通用汽车已与汽车工人联合会(UAW)达成协议，预计未来三年该公司可再节省50亿美元资金。目前通用坐拥300亿美元现金。瓦格纳还表示，相信2009年美国市场的汽车销售将大为改观。

In his presentation, Mr. Wagoner said GM, which is sitting on a $30 billion cash pile, expects an additional $5 billion in cost savings during the next three years thanks largely to September's United Auto Workers contract and forecasts for a rebound in U.S. auto sales in 2009.

不过，预计2008年美国的汽车销售将创下10年低点，为刺激销售，通用提高了促销力度。1月份通用平均为每辆售出的汽车支付了2,927美元促销费用，比2007年1月增加了31%。

But U.S. auto sales in 2008 are expected to hit their lowest level in a decade, and to prop up sales GM has been lifting incentives. In January, it spent an average of $2,927 in incentives for each vehicle it sold, according to Autodata Corp. That is 31% more than it spent in January 2007.

通用每年通过美国经销商销售近300万辆汽车，因此，促销费用较行业平均水平每高出500美元，就意味着它要损失15亿美元的税前利润。通用1月份每辆车的平均促销成本较行业平均水平高365美元。

GM sells nearly three million vehicles a year through its U.S. dealers, so every $500 of incentives above the industry average represents $1.5 billion in lost pretax profit. In January, GM's incentives were $365 higher per vehicle than the industry average.

通用说，为使卡车和SUV的需求继续保持上升势头，那些折扣手段基本都是必须的。它指出，公司的轿车业务蕴藏着活力，自从推出新款雪佛兰美宜堡之后，轿车零售量上升了11%。

GM said the discounts are primarily needed to keep demand rolling on trucks and SUVs. It points to momentum on the 'car side of the business,' where retail sales jumped 11% thanks in part to the introduction of the new Malibu.

通用1月份售出了14,000辆美宜堡轿车，这是一个很不错的数字，但只有丰田凯美瑞(Camrys)销量的一半左右。

GM sold more than 14,000 Malibus in January, a strong showing but about half the number of Camrys sold by Toyota.

与此同时，通用的卡车和SUV业务却在勉力维持。通用即将推出4款标准尺寸SUV混型车，它们的燃油效率更高。

Meanwhile, GM's trucks and SUVs are gasping for breath. GM is in the midst of unleashing four full-size crossover SUVs that are better on fuel economy.

John D. Stoll

http://chinese.wsj.com/gb/20080205/hrd171050.asp