提升電車競爭力
Nikkei business newspaper reported on Dec. 18 that Japanese carmakers Nissan Motors and Honda Motors may form an auto group together.
日本經濟新聞在12月18日報導，日產汽車和本田汽車可能會共同組成一個汽車集團。
form(v.)形成、組成、成立create(v.)創建possible(adj.)可能的possibility(n.)可能性alliance(n.)合作、同盟
The paper said the two companies are looking to join their businesses to become more competitive in the electric vehicle market.
報導指出，這兩家公司希望結合業務，以在電動車市場中提升競爭力。
look to打算、尋求look for尋找look down upon鄙視、歧視look up to尊重competitive(adj.)具有競爭力的compete(v.)競爭、對抗、媲美compete against(with)…和～競爭competent(adj.)能幹的incompetent(adj.)無能力的incapable(adj.)無能力的、不能勝任的
Some believe this move would be the next logical step for both Nissan and Honda.
有些人認為，這對日產和本田來說是合乎邏輯的下一步。
collaboration(n.)合作logical(adj.)合乎邏輯的reasonable(adj.)合理的unreasonable(adj.)不合理的logic(n.)邏輯、推理、道理
In March of this year, they started a partnership to produce parts for EVs.
今年3月，兩家公司已經開始合作生產電動車的零件。
partnership(n.)合作關係
This new auto group could also include another Japanese carmaker — Mitsubishi Motors.
這個新的汽車集團也可能包括另一家日本汽車製造商——三菱汽車。
involve(v.)包含、牽涉
CNBC says this may be possible because Nissan owns a large part of Mitsubishi.
根據CNBC的報導，這樣的合併有可能實現，因為日產擁有三菱的大部分股權。
potentially(adv.)可能地hold(v.)掌握ownership(n.)所有權
If the companies follow through with the deal, the Nissan-Honda-Mitsibushi group would combine for eight million vehicle sales per year.
如果三家公司達成協議，日產、本田和三菱的集團每年將達到800萬輛汽車的銷售量。
follow through完成proceed(v.)持續進行combine(v.)結合、合併combination(n.)結合combo(n.)組合
As a result, this new group would become the third-largest in the world.
如此一來，這個集團將成為全球第三大的汽車集團。
therefore(adv.)因此as a consequence因此
Despite this news, experts have said forming an auto group may be difficult for several reasons.
儘管有此消息，但專家表示，組建汽車集團可能會面臨一些挑戰，原因有幾個。
despite(prep.)儘管=in spite of／regardless of
First, the Japanese government might not approve a deal between the companies because it could lead to job losses.
首先，日本政府可能不會批准這兩家公司之間的合併，因為這可能會導致失業。
approve(v.)批准、通過disapprove(v.)不贊成disagree(v.)不同意approval(n.)認可、批准、贊成lead to導致
In addition, Nissan already has a business deal with French carmaker Renault, which could make it hard for the company to join with Honda.
此外，日產已經與法國汽車製造商雷諾達成業務協議，這可能會讓日產難以與本田結盟。
Due to these possible issues, some believe the two carmakers may only be looking to develop a stronger partnership instead of forming an official auto group.
由於這些可能的問題，有些人認為這兩家汽車製造商可能只是希望發展更密切的合作關係，而非組成正式的汽車集團。
because of因為、由於obstacle(n.)阻礙instead of…取代～