英語学習

英語ニュース教材:China bans hidden car door handles, a design popularized by Tesla(Intermediate レベル)

🎧 Audio

📖 Script

China has announced new regulations concerning car door handles that will take effect in 2027. These regulations require that all car doors must be able to open manually from both the inside and outside. This means that electric door handles, which have become popular in recent years, especially in electric vehicles like those made by Tesla, will need to be redesigned or replaced. The main reason for this change is safety. Electric door handles can sometimes fail during an accident or if the car’s battery loses power. This can make it difficult or even impossible for people to get out of the car in an emergency.

The decision by China is significant because it is the world’s largest car market, and changes in its regulations can influence car manufacturers globally. Many car companies will need to adjust their designs to meet these new requirements. For consumers, this change may provide peace of mind, knowing that they can always open the car doors in an emergency.

Electric door handles have been a part of the sleek and modern design trend in electric vehicles. They offer a futuristic look and are often flush with the car’s body, reducing drag and potentially increasing the car’s efficiency. However, the potential risks associated with their malfunction have led to this regulatory change.

As manufacturers work to comply with these new rules, we might see a return to more traditional designs or the development of new technologies that combine safety with modern aesthetics. This change highlights how safety considerations can drive innovation and influence design trends in the automotive industry.

📝 Vocabulary

  • regulation: a rule or directive made and maintained by an authority(規則)
    例文: “The new regulation will affect all car manufacturers.”
    Collocations/日本語の意味を見る
    • strict regulation
    • government regulation
    • safety regulation
  • malfunction: fail to function normally or satisfactorily(故障する)
    例文: “The electric handles may malfunction during a crash.”
    Collocations/日本語の意味を見る
    • equipment malfunction
    • cause malfunction
    • detect malfunction
  • influence: have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something(影響を与える)
    例文: “China’s decision will influence car designs worldwide.”
    Collocations/日本語の意味を見る
    • strong influence
    • influence decision
    • influence policy
  • efficiency: the state or quality of being efficient(効率)
    例文: “The design improves the car’s efficiency.”
    Collocations/日本語の意味を見る
    • energy efficiency
    • improve efficiency
    • efficiency rating
  • emergency: a serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation requiring immediate action(緊急事態)
    例文: “In an emergency, quick action is essential.”
    Collocations/日本語の意味を見る
    • emergency situation
    • emergency exit
    • emergency services

✏️ Grammar Point

Future Simple Tense – “China has announced new regulations concerning car door handles that will take effect in 2027.”

文法の日本語補足を見る
未来の出来事を説明する際に使われます

💡 使用場面

未来の出来事や計画を話すときに使われます。例えば、ビジネス会議で今後の計画を説明する際に使います。

📝 使用例文

“例: In a business meeting, you might say: ‘If we cut costs now, we can increase our profit margin next quarter.’”

❓ Listening Questions

  1. True/False: The new regulations in China will take effect immediately.
  2. MCQ: Why is China changing the regulations for car door handles?
    a) To make cars look more futuristic.
    b) To reduce manufacturing costs.
    c) To improve safety in emergencies.
    d) To increase car efficiency.
  3. MCQ: Which car manufacturer is mentioned as having popularized electric door handles?
    a) Ford
    b) Tesla
    c) Toyota
    d) BMW
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
  1. False
  2. c)
  3. b)

📚 Reading Questions

  1. What will car manufacturers need to do because of China’s new regulations?
  2. Why might China’s decision influence global car manufacturers?
  3. What is the meaning of “malfunction” in the context of the script?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
  1. Redesign or replace electric door handles.
  2. Because China is the world’s largest car market.
  3. Fail to function normally or satisfactorily.

🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説

中国の新しい規制は、2027年からすべての車のドアが手動で開けられることを求めています。これは、安全性を考慮したもので、事故やバッテリーの故障時に電動ハンドルが機能しない可能性があるからです。中国は世界最大の自動車市場であるため、この規制変更は世界の自動車メーカーに影響を与えるでしょう。メーカーは、これに対応するために設計の変更が必要になります。安全性がデザインのイノベーションを促進し、業界全体に影響を与える可能性があります。

Source: https://www.npr.org/2026/02/03/nx-s1-5698224/china-electric-car-door-handles