Amid Optimism, Automakers Pack Geneva With What’s Next
Whenever the international auto show circuit arrives in Frankfurt, Tokyo or Detroit, the exhibition halls brim with national pride as the host nation’s automakers assemble elaborate displays. But when the industry convenes to introduce its newest offerings in Geneva each year, there are no native brands to lay claim to a home-court advantage.
This unusual circumstance — neutral territory in a sophisticated multilingual city — confers a special character on the Geneva International Motor Show, which opens to the public on Thursday after two days of press previews. The show runs through March 18 at the Palexpo convention center.
Swiss prosperity, so evident in Geneva, sets the tone, and for the show’s 88th edition there is plenty of cause for optimism. Passenger vehicle sales in the European Union increased by 3.4 percent in 2017, topping 15 million for the first time since 2007, and the trend continued into 2018. The year started with a 6.8 percent gain over year-ago sales in January and 3.5 percent in February, the increases coming largely from demand for sport-utility vehicles.
The challenge of stricter carbon dioxide regulations is evident in a flood of new fully electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, as well as a change in attitude by the public toward diesel power. The advance of electrification to crossover vehicles, luxury sedans and even spinoff brands will be apparent to visitors throughout the Palexpo arena.
This unusual circumstance — neutral territory in a sophisticated multilingual city — confers a special character on the Geneva International Motor Show, which opens to the public on Thursday after two days of press previews. The show runs through March 18 at the Palexpo convention center.
Swiss prosperity, so evident in Geneva, sets the tone, and for the show’s 88th edition there is plenty of cause for optimism. Passenger vehicle sales in the European Union increased by 3.4 percent in 2017, topping 15 million for the first time since 2007, and the trend continued into 2018. The year started with a 6.8 percent gain over year-ago sales in January and 3.5 percent in February, the increases coming largely from demand for sport-utility vehicles.
The challenge of stricter carbon dioxide regulations is evident in a flood of new fully electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, as well as a change in attitude by the public toward diesel power. The advance of electrification to crossover vehicles, luxury sedans and even spinoff brands will be apparent to visitors throughout the Palexpo arena.
Source: nytimes
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