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Move over Ox - this is the Year of the Car

By Patrick Whiteley (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-04-20 13:15

This month, organizers of the British International Motor Show cancelled the 2010 event because the economic crisis has made it impossible for exhibitors to commit to showing up. The prestigious show is held every two years and is one of the main car industry events in Europe. Australia's annual motor show will now operate every second year.

Earlier this month at the New York Motor Show, there were 35 new models on debut, about five fewer than last year and the typical bells-and-whistle displays of the big companies were also toned down. General Motors normally mounts its shiny new Cadillacs on thick, raised glass flooring but this year opted for budget aluminum frames.

Related readings:  Shanghai auto expo: showdown for global automakers  Challenges reshape domestic auto market  GM China to display 37 vehicles at Shanghai Auto show  2010 Audi Q7 to debut at Shanghai auto show

Shanghai's motor show is a different story. Thirteen new cars will be unveiled, five more than last year. About 1,500 enterprises from 25 nations and regions will show up - 200 more than last year - and exhibition areas actually expanded.

Volkswagen plans to outdo other exhibitors by setting up a 3,000 sq m display area, the largest at this year's show.

VW has come along way since it released the humble Santana, the most successful car in Chinese history, now in its 26th year of production.

Mercedes-Benz and BMW are also each boasting more than 2,500 sq m of display area.

The Shanghai show's theme is the Art of Innovation, which is where China's automobile makers are headed - and electric is the buzzword.

In late January, the government launched a program to subsidize hybrid, fuel cell and electric vehicles. At the Chery Automobile company sparks are already flying.

Chery moved quickly in February to roll out its first pure electric car, which came off the assembly line in its Wuhu plant. A full charge takes about four hours and that will power it for 150 km. This little beauty can also hit speeds of 120 km per hour.

In recent months, we have been watching the US motoring industry meltdown and seeing the ripple affect spread around the world.

The industry has hit one the biggest speed humps in 133 years of automobile history. Never since Karl Benz christened his Motorwagen (motor car) in 1886 has there been so much drama.

But in this time of great change, we are also seeing a changing of the guard, driven by the demand of the Chinese motorist.

In 2009, the motor vehicle has raced past the oxcart.

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