英國車廠產量驟降
UK car production plummeted to its lowest July level since 1956, according to a trade group.
一個貿易組織指出，英國7月份汽車產量重挫到1956年以來同期最低。
plummet(v.)暴跌;急遽下降=slump
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said that UK carmakers built just 53,438 vehicles in July, down 38% from a year ago.
汽車製造商和貿易商協會表示，英國汽車製造商7月份僅生產53,438輛汽車，比去年同期減少38％。
society(n.)社會;組織、協會
A global semiconductor shortage, factory shutdowns and worker absences amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic all contributed to wreaking havoc on the auto industry, SMMT said.
汽車製造商和貿易商協會表示，全球半導體短缺，工廠關閉，以及在新冠肺炎疫情期間缺工問題都對汽車行業造成嚴重打擊。
contribute to~導致;促使=lead to~wreak havoc on對…造成嚴重破壞;摧毀wreak(v.)造成;引起(災禍等)havoc(n.)毀壞;混亂
While July was a particularly bad month, overall car production in the year to date is up 18.3% compared to 2020, when people couldn’t go to work due to Covid-19 restrictions.
雖然7月特別糟，但今年以來整體汽車產量比2020年成長18.3％，去年大家因為疫情限制措施而無法上班。
“These figures lay bare the extremely tough conditions UK car manufacturers continue to face,” Mike Hawes, SMMT CEO, said in a statement. “While the impact of the ‘pingdemic’ will lessen as self-isolation rules change, the worldwide shortage of semiconductors shows little sign of abating.”
SMMT執行長Mike Hawes在聲明中說，這些數據暴露出英國汽車製造商持續面臨非常艱辛的情況。雖然隔離通知的影響將隨著自我隔離規則的改變而減輕，但全球半導體短缺幾乎沒有減弱的跡象。
lay bare sth.揭露;公佈;暴露lay bare the truth公布真相pingdemic隔離通知ping(n.)簡訊通知pandemic (n.)流行病lessen(v.)減少;降低;減輕=reduceself-isolation(n.)自我隔離abate(v.)減少;減弱;減輕
The so-called “pingdemic” refers to people being advised on their phones to self-isolate for several days if they have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19.
所謂「隔離通知」是指民眾在手機上收到通知，如果他們跟新冠肺炎檢測陽性的人有密切接觸，就要自我隔離幾天。
refer to…指的是;提到self-isolate(v.)自我隔離
New vehicles include dozens of microchips to control everything from power steering to electric windows. But the chip crunch has battered the auto industry, which is competing directly with tech companies and the consumer electronics sector for supply.
新型汽車包括幾十個微晶片，控制所有東西，從動力輔助轉向到電動車窗不等。但晶片短缺重創汽車業，這個產業與科技公司和消費電子業直接競爭搶晶片供應。
dozens of 幾十個a doze of…一打power steering動力輔助轉向chip crunch=chip shortage晶片短缺crunch(n.)嘎吱作響;緊要關頭;缺少資金a cash crunch現金短缺batter(v.)毆打;毒打;重擊;嚴重破壞
At the beginning of the pandemic, many automakers scaled back orders on concern over a long downturn in sales. However, as demand started to pick up, companies found themselves at the back of the queue for chips.
疫情剛開始爆發時，許多汽車製造商擔心銷售長期低迷，紛紛縮減訂單。但是隨著需求開始回升，企業發現自己購買晶片落後了。
scale back縮減downturn(n.)衰退;漸入低迷economic downturn經濟低迷at the back of the queue落在隊伍的最後面queue(v.)(n.)排隊;隊伍
The car industry is a vital part of the UK economy with a turnover in excess of £78.9 billion. Approximately 180,000 people work in car manufacturing while 864,000 are employed in the wider supply chain.
汽車工業是英國經濟重要的一部分，營業額超過789億英鎊。大約18萬人在汽車製造業工作，86.4萬人在更廣泛的供應鏈工作。
vital(adj.)必不可少的;極其重要的turnover(n.)營業額;成交量employ(v.)雇用employee(n.)員工employer(n.)雇主