Geneva Motor Show seeks green light out of gloom
Monday, 2 March 2009
GENEVA, March 1 (AFP): The auto industry will put ecology and economy on display when the Geneva Motor Show opens to the public Thursday, to try to reverse plunging sales, plant closures, lay-offs and threatened bankruptcies.
The first European rendezvous of the year, in neutral territory-Switzerland has no major car maker-from March 5 to 15 is still expected to attract 700,000 visitors, according to the organisers.
Some 120 new or modified models are due to be presented in the western Swiss city as car companies from around the world woo reluctant buyers.
"What is striking is that every car maker is presenting ecological and economical models," said show spokeswoman Silvia Blattner.
From being a "marginal" albeit growing component of the show in recent years, cars with a more environmental flavour are now taking centre stage, she added.
For the first time, Geneva has turned one of its seven exhibition halls into a dedicated showcase for green technology.
Carlos da Silva, analyst at Global Insight, said: "The rise in oil prices at the beginning of 2008 made manufacturers aware of the need to prepare for the future."
The first European rendezvous of the year, in neutral territory-Switzerland has no major car maker-from March 5 to 15 is still expected to attract 700,000 visitors, according to the organisers.
Some 120 new or modified models are due to be presented in the western Swiss city as car companies from around the world woo reluctant buyers.
"What is striking is that every car maker is presenting ecological and economical models," said show spokeswoman Silvia Blattner.
From being a "marginal" albeit growing component of the show in recent years, cars with a more environmental flavour are now taking centre stage, she added.
For the first time, Geneva has turned one of its seven exhibition halls into a dedicated showcase for green technology.
Carlos da Silva, analyst at Global Insight, said: "The rise in oil prices at the beginning of 2008 made manufacturers aware of the need to prepare for the future."