特斯拉起落如比特幣
Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman used a recent New York Times column to take aim at Tesla, criticizing both the company’s brand power and owner Elon Musk.
諾貝爾經濟學獎得主克魯曼投書《紐約時報》專欄，對特斯拉的品牌影響力與老闆馬斯克提出批評。
column(n.)縱列、欄目、專欄columnist(n.)專欄作家take aim at…瞄準～、以～為射擊目標
According to Krugman, Tesla lacks the “network effects” of other Big Tech companies, like Apple and Microsoft, and with the increasing number of electric vehicles available, buyers gain no clear advantages from choosing a Tesla over a rival brand’s car.
克魯曼表示，特斯拉欠缺像蘋果、微軟等科技巨頭的「網路效應」，而且隨著市面上電動車款不斷增加，跟對手品牌的電動車款相比，選購特斯拉的車款並無明顯的優勢。
lack(v.)缺乏(a) lack of sth.缺乏某事物advantage(n.)有利因素、優勢disadvantage(n.)不利因素、劣勢give sb. an advantage (edge)讓某人佔有優勢
Therefore, it may be hard for Tesla to dominate the market.
因此，特斯拉可能難以在市場獨佔鰲頭。
dominate(v.)主宰、主導
This has been shown by Tesla’s stock enjoying a 13-fold increase between the beginning of 2020 and its peak in November 2021, before going on to lose 73% of its value—falling to $350 billion of market capitalization as of December 27.
儘管特斯拉股價在2020年年初至2021年11月創下新高這期間翻長了13倍，但後繼無力下跌73％，12月27日當天市值更跌至3,500億美元，這點即說明特斯拉龍頭地位難保。
-fold(suf.)~倍a record high新高、空前的高點market capitalization市值
Krugman compares this dramatic rise and fall to that of Bitcoin.
克魯曼認為這種大起大落的現象跟比特幣有相似之處。
dramatic(adj.)驟然的、急遽的、顯著的compare A to B將A比作Bcompare A with (to) B將A與B作比較
Additionally, Krugman points out that one of Tesla’s new problems is that Elon Musk’s “cool guy” image, which helped the brand become popular, has been hurt by the billionaire’s mishandling of Twitter since becoming its new owner.
此外，克魯曼也指出特斯拉的其中一個新的問題是，馬斯克「很酷」的形象原有助於讓品牌變得受歡迎，卻因他在推特收購案一事上處理不當而受損。
mishandle(v.)對～處理不當
On this topic, Krugman even takes a dig at Musk’s abilities as a leader, saying, “I wouldn’t trust him to feed my cat, let alone run a major corporation.”
克魯曼甚至就這點譏諷馬斯克的領導能力，他表示：「我都不敢讓馬斯克幫我餵貓了，更何況是管理一間大公司」。
take a dig at sb.挖苦或奚落某人