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际奢侈品牌在中国有个"肮脏小秘密"：中国人已经成为它们最好的顾客，但它们却一直多收中国人的钱。WEI GU
随着中国人对于从豪华车到高价手提包的兴趣开始缩减，那些把中国当成最大成长市场的公司可能不得不做他们之前无法想象的事情──开始降价。
The dirty little secret among luxury-goods companies is that they have been persistently overcharging their best customers in China.
比较一下奔驰、奥迪和宝马三个型号的车的价格可以看到，豪华轿车在中国的价格平均要比同类型车在美国的价格高64%。这有点让人感到匪夷所思，因为"中国制造"本是廉价的代名词。
With Chinese appetite for everything from expensive cars to handbags is starting to moderate, companies that count on the country as a big growth driver may have to do the unthinkable and lower their prices.
奔驰C级车在中国的售价是5.7万美元，比美国同类车的价格高62%。根据美国研究机构Bernstein的研究，在中国本土制造的奥迪A4和宝马三系比美国卖的同类车的价格要分别高出54%和76%。如果是进口车的话，那价差会更大。
A comparison of three models from Mercedes-Benz, Audi NSU.XE and BMW BMW.XE shows that, on average, listed prices of luxury sedans in China are 64% more expensive than similar vehicles sold in the U.S. This looks counterintuitive, considering goods made in China are supposed to be cheaper.
汽车公司称，在中国卖的车价格更高是因为配置更齐全。中国的汽车价格还包括了消费税和增值税等税收，而美国卖的车没有这两样税。但就算把这些税都刨掉，这三辆车在中国的售价也还是比在美国高37%，这不能完全用更好的配置来解释。
The listed price of a Mercedes C-Class in China starts at $57,120, or 62% higher than in the U.S. Similarly, locally made Audi A4 and BMW 3-Series are 54% and 76% more expensive in China, according to Bernstein Research. The gap is even bigger when it comes to imported vehicles.
在中国加入世界贸易组织和在国内生产合资车以前，车价更高，外国车商也没什么动力降价，因为过去需求实在是太旺盛了。消费者过去要想早点拿到车，还要给加急费。
Prices in China already include consumption taxes and value-added taxes, while the ones sold in the U.S. don't. But even stripping out all the taxes, those three vehicles are still an average of 37% pricier in China.
但现在这个情况有所变化。市场上有更多的车型，而需求开始疲软。今年可能就是转变的开始。今年一季度，奥迪、宝马和奔驰在中国的销量增长6%，比去年四季度的25%明显放缓。宝马公司在上海车展时表示，在去年大增40%后，预计今年中国区的销售增长在5%-10%之间。
The makers of the three cars argue vehicles in China include more features. But that alone may not explain the price difference.
Bernstein的汽车分析师Max Warburton认为：一场中国价格战正在酝酿之中，太多公司依赖中国市场，如果销售继续按照现在的速度增长，价格竞争会更激烈。
The high base factor
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