由于國內市場已近飽和，韓國最大的汽車制造商現代汽車(Hyundai Motor)計劃擴大在華投資，以便在這個全球增長最快的市場上加速滲透。

Hyundai Motor, South Korea's biggest carmaker, is set to expand investment in China to accelerate its penetrationsintosthe world's fastest- growing market, as the domestic market has approached saturation.

現代汽車是全球增長最快的汽車制造商之一，近年來，它在美國和歐洲的市場份額已急劇擴大。為滿足中國日益增長的需求，現代汽車打算在北京建設第二個工廠。這是該公司11億美元投資計劃的一部分，這一計劃的目標是，到2007年在中國生產60萬輛汽車。

Hyundai is one of the world's fastest-growing carmakers,shavingssharply increased its market share in the US and Europe in recent years. To meet the growing demand from China, it is planning to build a second plant in Beijing as part of a .1bn investment plan designed to produce 600,000 units in China by 2007.

現代汽車的目標是，在2010年前躋身世界汽車業前五名，因此中國對它而言已越來越重要。

The country has become increasingly important for Hyundai, as the carmaker aims to join the ranks of the world's top five in the industry by 2010.

“中國市場增長如此之快，將成為我們的主要增長動力，”現代汽車的Jake Jang說。

"The Chinese market is growing so fast. It will become our main engine of growth," says Jake Jang of Hyundai.

在未來三到四年里，中國人對新汽車的需求很可能仍保持強勁，因此，其它一些汽車制造商也紛紛搶灘中國，以求在這個全球第四大市場中奪得一席之地。

Several other carmakers have also rushed to China to grab a piece of the world's fourth largest market, as Chinese demand for new cars is likely to remain robust for the next three to four years.

現代汽車進入中國市場相對較晚，但增長迅速，部分原因在于中國中產階級對該公司索納塔(Sonata)中型轎車情有獨鐘。自2002年12月在華業務開始以來，它已在中國賣出5.3萬輛汽車，市場份額增加到了3%。現代打算今年把在華銷量提高到15萬輛。

Hyundai entered the Chinese market relatively late but has grown rapidly, partly as a result of the middle class's fondness for the Sonata mid-sized saloon. It has sold 53,000 cars in China since it began its Chinese operations in December 2002, increasing its market share to 3 per cent. Hyundai intends to increase its Chinese sales to 150,000 this year.

“現代雖然是個遲到者，但它對中國市場的滲透非常成功，這要歸功于它積極的銷售推廣活動，”三星證券(Samsung Securities)分析師金學株(Kim Hak-ju)說。他指出，日本的本田汽車(Honda)花了三年時間才達到5萬輛的銷售水平。

"Despite being a late comer, Hyundai's penetrationsintosthe Chinese market has been very successful, thanks to its aggressive campaign," says Kim Hak-ju, an analyst at Samsung Securities, noting that Japan's Honda took three years to hit a sales level of 50,000.

金學株把現代在中國的進展歸因于公司的先進技術，這些技術讓現代得以在中國迅速組建生產設施。現代的索納塔和伊蘭特(Elantra)緊湊型轎車以10%到15%的折扣價銷售，但公司仍有很高的運營利潤，這主要得益于公司較低成本的部件供應，它們來自11家在中國經營的韓國合作伙伴，其中就包括現代摩比斯(Hyundai Mobis)。

He attributes Hyundai's progress in China to its advanced technology, which allows it to set up production facilities quickly. Its Sonatas and Elantra compact cars are sold at a 10-15 per cent discount but it enjoys a high operating margin, thanks to the lower costs of parts supplied from its 11 South Korean partners operating in China, including Hyundai Mobis.

在中國，現代的品牌形象相對較好，而在西方國家，人們認為，現代總是生產廉價的小型汽車，迄今為止，公司仍在為改變這種形象而艱苦努力。

Hyundai's brand also has a relatively good image in China, whereas in the west it is still battling to overcome the perception that it is a maker of cheap, small vehicles.

分析師表示，現代的策略是引進價格相對較低的車型，這讓它在中國市場得以流行。這種策略得到了它與北京汽車工業公司合資企業的幫助，該合資企業生產索納塔伊蘭特型車。現代計劃到2007年在中國生產六款車型，其中包括Santa Fe多功能賽車。

Analysts said Hyundai's strategy of introducing models at relatively low prices had helped its cars gain popularity in China, aided by Hyundai's joint venture with Beijing Automotive Industry which produces the Sonata Elantra models. Hyundai plans to produce six models in China by 2007, including the Santa Fe sports utility vehicle.

現代集團的成員起亞汽車(Kia Motors)也在增加對華投資。起亞計劃到2007年在中國投資6億美元，建立第二個生產工廠，該工廠的年產能將達40萬輛。現代和起亞的年產能合計將達到100萬輛。

Kia Motors, a Hyundai affiliate, is also increasing its investment in China. It plans to invest m by 2007 to build a second plant that could make 400,000 cars a year. Hyundai and Kia together would have the capacity to make 1m vehicles annually.

不過，現代目前仍遠遠落后于它最大的競爭對手，比如大眾(Volkswagen)和豐田(Toyota)。大眾是中國市場的主導供應商，擁有45%的市場份額，豐田擁有9%。

However, Hyundai still lags far behind its bigger rivals such as Volkswagen, which is the dominant supplier in China with a 45 per cent market share, and Toyota, which has a 9 per cent share.

分析師警告說，由于爆發價格戰的可能性大大增加，現代今年的盈利能力可能下滑。

Analysts caution that Hyundai's profitability may fall this year, as a likely price war intensifies.

“預計隨著營銷成本增加，公司2004年的運營利潤將會下降，”金先生說。

"Its operating margin is expected to fall in 2004 as marketing costs increase," says Mr Kim.

“真正的較量還沒開始呢，現代將如何在市場大戰中存活下來，我們還得走著瞧。”

"The real game hasn't started yet. We have to wait and see how Hyundai survives the war."

譯者/李功文