From VOA Learning English, this is the Technology Report.

这里是美国之音慢速英语科技报道。

The Ambassador automobile is the most famous and longest made Indian car. Hindustan Motors released the first one to the market in 1958. The car soon became known as the King of Indian Roads. But now the long-time car leader will take a back seat. Hindustan Motors says it has suspended production of the Ambassador. Many Ambassador supporters fear it will never return.

大使牌汽车是最著名、生产最久的印度汽车。印度斯坦汽车公司于1958年向市场推出了首台大使牌汽车。该车很快被称为印度公路之王。但现在这一历史悠久的汽车领跑者将退居二线。印度斯坦汽车公司表示已经停产大使牌汽车。许多大使牌汽车的支持者担心，该款汽车将一去不复返。

The box-shaped car was based on a car design by Britain's Morris Oxford. Indians call the car the "Amby". The Amby has a strong steal body. The car makes it through very hilly areas and bad roads with ease.

这款盒子形状的汽车是基于英国的莫里斯牛津(Morris Oxford)牌汽车的设计。印度人称该车为Amby。该车有着强壮的钢铁之躯，这使得它通过丘陵地区和烂路轻松自如。

Singh is a taxi driver. He says he would not use any other vehicle in his work. He says everyone likes it, it is a very comfortable car. He has driven only the Ambassador for 50 years. Mr. Singh was very sad when Hindustan Motors announced the end of production for the Ambassador. The company says its decision is the result of low demand and lack of money.

辛格是一位出租车司机。他说他不会使用任何其它汽车当出租车。他说大家都喜欢这款车，该车非常舒适。他50多年来一直开大使牌汽车。当印度斯坦汽车公司宣布停产大使牌汽车时，辛格先生非常难过。该公司表示，做出停产决定是由于该车需求不振以及资金短缺。

The auto market in India did not get seriously competitive until the middle of 1980s. Japanese car maker, Suzuki, joined within an Indian company to produce a small, low cost vehicle. But the Ambassador remained the car of the rich and the powerful.

在上世纪80年代中期以前，印度汽车市场并未得到充分竞争。日本铃木汽车公司同一家印度公司合作生产一种体型小，成本低的汽车。但大使牌汽车仍然是权贵阶层的首选之车。

However, in 1991, India further opened its economy to foreign investors. Many international auto companies began to offer buyers newer, more fuel-efficient vehicles. Other companies offered sport utility vehicles to a rising Indian middle class. The Ambassador maker found it increasingly difficult to find buyers.

然而到了1991年，印度向外国投资者进一步开放经济。许多国际汽车公司开始向买家推出更新更节油的汽车。还有些公司向不断崛起的印度中产阶级推出了运动型多功能车（SUV）。大使牌汽车制造商发现越来越难以找到买家。

Diksha Pande is a young professional in New Delhi. She remembers an orange and brown Ambassador her grandfather owned. But she has never thought of buying an Ambassador for herself.

迪克沙·潘德（Diksha Pande）是新德里的一位年轻专家。她还记得她祖父拥有过的一台橙棕色大使牌汽车。但她从未想过自己买台大使牌汽车。

"They are a bit retro, so they feel a little outdated, and I don't think they will have the same amount of power and swiftness that you want in a car in today's day and age. I like SUVs because they are big powerful cars. And power is important in a car," said Pande.

她说，“大使牌汽车有点复古，所以有点过时了。而且我认为该车不具备如今汽车的动力和迅捷。我喜欢越野车因为它们动力强劲。而动力对汽车非常重要。”

Hindustan Motors made few changes to the Ambassador design since its beginning. The Indian government continued using the car until ten years ago. Many taxi drivers like the Ambassador because repairs are generally low-cost. It was even rated the best taxi by the British television show Top Gear.

印度斯坦汽车在大使牌汽车推出后对该车改动甚少。印度政府十年前一直使用该车。许多出租车司机喜欢大使牌汽车，因为维修一般都很便宜。该车甚至被英国电视节目Top Gear评为最佳出租车。

But Amby's sales records are not good. Last year, dealers sold only 2,200 of them out of 1.8 million car sales. There are reports about search for new Amby investor. But auto experts say they do not believe India's Ambassador will return.

但该车的销售记录不太好。去年，在180万汽车的销量中，经销商只卖出了2200辆大使牌汽车。有些报道谈到了为该车寻找新的投资者，但汽车专家表示，他们认为印度的大使牌汽车将一去不复返。

And that's the VOA Learning English Technology Report. For more technology stories, go to our website 51voa.com. I'm Jonathan Evans.