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Will Small and Green Cars Steal the Show in Geneva?
The Geneva motor show will be opened to the press on 1th March 2010 and the scene may surprise them. The little ones that are green too will be using most of the space at the Geneva auto show. Compact models are now making their way into the car market. The smaller green ones like Fiat's 500 and the 3.8 metre long, two seat-convertible the Renault Wind, are surely going to be the ones in demand. Growing urbanization, ageing population, demand from first-time buyers in emerging markets and the squeeze from carbon-cutting regulators around the world have made the smaller cars more beautiful. Emissions legislation has tightened and drivers look for greater fuel efficiency. So, the smaller cars are the ones that will stay firmly in focus.
At the auto show, Europe and faster growing nations like Brazil, Russia, India and China will be closely inspected. Observing these would provide some clues about the next few months' sales. The current economic crisis and the diminishing scrapping schemes are making forecasting sales trends difficult. The government has now thought of supporting car makers with incentive schemes to enhance sales. At the Geneva show, everybody is definitely going to focus on the green cars. This is only going to make the auto show more interesting as plenty of new models will be showcased. These little green ones are going to be very important for a possible recovery in demand. This year, the attention is going to be shifted on to the zero-emission technology.
French car sales showed a 17.8% rise in February. But it is still uncertain as to what will happen this year end. The European car market is even more complex compared to France. This is why the Geneva auto show will help car makers predict the car sales destiny to some extent. The demand for electric cars seems to be rising. Electric cars like the Peugeot iOn, and the Citroen C-Zero, based on Mitsubishi's iMiEV, and the Opel Ampera will come into the European market sometime this year. Nissan too, along with its alliance partner Renault is heavily focusing on zero-emission electric vehicles and has already invested a lot into the project.
Coming to hybrids, they are believed to switch from thought to truth at the Geneva auto show. Peugeot will be showcasing its diesel hybrid which will go into production in 2011. It goes to show that hybrids are no longer niche, they are now mainstream. Production-ready hybrids from European manufacturers may be seen in large numbers this year at the Geneva motor show. For the car manufacturers, the smaller cars do not bring in too much profit. These small cars come with so many luxury features and an extra list of optional features that the price becomes too much to afford. The prices rise along with the features. The Audi A1 is one such little car which will come with a navigation system with a high-resolution display and interior trim offered in a range of colours. The car's most basic version will carry the price of a luxury car.
At the auto show, Europe and faster growing nations like Brazil, Russia, India and China will be closely inspected. Observing these would provide some clues about the next few months' sales. The current economic crisis and the diminishing scrapping schemes are making forecasting sales trends difficult. The government has now thought of supporting car makers with incentive schemes to enhance sales. At the Geneva show, everybody is definitely going to focus on the green cars. This is only going to make the auto show more interesting as plenty of new models will be showcased. These little green ones are going to be very important for a possible recovery in demand. This year, the attention is going to be shifted on to the zero-emission technology.
French car sales showed a 17.8% rise in February. But it is still uncertain as to what will happen this year end. The European car market is even more complex compared to France. This is why the Geneva auto show will help car makers predict the car sales destiny to some extent. The demand for electric cars seems to be rising. Electric cars like the Peugeot iOn, and the Citroen C-Zero, based on Mitsubishi's iMiEV, and the Opel Ampera will come into the European market sometime this year. Nissan too, along with its alliance partner Renault is heavily focusing on zero-emission electric vehicles and has already invested a lot into the project.
Coming to hybrids, they are believed to switch from thought to truth at the Geneva auto show. Peugeot will be showcasing its diesel hybrid which will go into production in 2011. It goes to show that hybrids are no longer niche, they are now mainstream. Production-ready hybrids from European manufacturers may be seen in large numbers this year at the Geneva motor show. For the car manufacturers, the smaller cars do not bring in too much profit. These small cars come with so many luxury features and an extra list of optional features that the price becomes too much to afford. The prices rise along with the features. The Audi A1 is one such little car which will come with a navigation system with a high-resolution display and interior trim offered in a range of colours. The car's most basic version will carry the price of a luxury car.
Nissan will produce its Micra only in India, Thailand, China, and Mexico but will sell it in 160 nations. This car too is very far from being called an economical car. Nissan will also manufacture a sedan and compact van based on Micra's "V" platform and it plans to sell 1 million units of the three models by 2013. Right now, Micra is made at Nissan's plants in Oppama, Japan and Sunderland, north-east England. The freed-up capacity is being used to produce higher-value-added compact SUVs like the Qashqai and new Juke.
BMW was the first to think of making smaller cars filled with luxury and price tags that matched. The BMW 5 series which received a facelift is one of its most profitable models and this car wins maximum bread and butter for the company. Ford Motor's Fiesta, Fiat's 500, and Hyundai's i10, are other small cars that have followed BMW's footsteps. They are now offering standard and optional features ranging from state-of-the-art telematics to custom paint trim and parking assistance. Fiat's Alfa Romeo brand will also be presented at the Geneva motor show. This car, the Giulietta would be a key model for Fiat's recovery.
By 2016, A, B and midsized C cars will be in maximum demand in the global market. Audi A2, the company's earlier smallest car looked a little unusual. The car, however, received very good reviews since its first appearance in 2000. The aluminum body made the car a little expensive. But Audi had stopped A2's production only after selling over 176,000 units in just five years. BMW and Daimler too have been working hard to make small car packages filled with luxury and are looking to price them competitively.
Everybody is anxiously waiting to see which car segment steals the spotlight at the Geneva motor show. Everybody assumes it is going to be the small green cars. Will the little ones really make it to the hearts of the spectators? Which green technology car will make it to the top? We need to wait and watch.
BMW was the first to think of making smaller cars filled with luxury and price tags that matched. The BMW 5 series which received a facelift is one of its most profitable models and this car wins maximum bread and butter for the company. Ford Motor's Fiesta, Fiat's 500, and Hyundai's i10, are other small cars that have followed BMW's footsteps. They are now offering standard and optional features ranging from state-of-the-art telematics to custom paint trim and parking assistance. Fiat's Alfa Romeo brand will also be presented at the Geneva motor show. This car, the Giulietta would be a key model for Fiat's recovery.
By 2016, A, B and midsized C cars will be in maximum demand in the global market. Audi A2, the company's earlier smallest car looked a little unusual. The car, however, received very good reviews since its first appearance in 2000. The aluminum body made the car a little expensive. But Audi had stopped A2's production only after selling over 176,000 units in just five years. BMW and Daimler too have been working hard to make small car packages filled with luxury and are looking to price them competitively.
Everybody is anxiously waiting to see which car segment steals the spotlight at the Geneva motor show. Everybody assumes it is going to be the small green cars. Will the little ones really make it to the hearts of the spectators? Which green technology car will make it to the top? We need to wait and watch.
