Press Day Opens the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show

The Frankfurt Motor Show was opened to the press last Tuesday, September 11, 2007. And as expected, environmental protection, preservation and all other adjectives pertaining to the welfare of the ecosystem was the obvious theme of the Motor Show. Almost all of the automakers who joined the Show have an eco-friendly version to present.

Most of the vehicles on display at the show boast of improved fuel efficiency and engines that either run on batteries or on hydrogen. General Motors, the world’s largest automaker has introduced new designs that rely on sustainable mobility.

In line with the show’s theme “See What Will Move Your Future” sustainable mobility was interpreted by automakers to mean a cut in fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.

This was agreed on by GM European President Carl-Peter Foster who said that automakers would not only rely on one but on several solutions to make vehicles that are environment compatible.

Foster has also told reporters that he is seeing competition to arise among automakers especially in terms of technologies and usefulness. He also said that alternative fuels would play a larger role in the coming years.

The Japanese automaker, Toyota has paved the way for the green revolution with the introduction of its Prius hybrid which has become the leader in the industry. The Prius makes use of a combination of electric motor with a gas engine.

Porsche the German automaker renowned for its luxury sports car has also made a hybrid version of its Cayenne SUV which was put on display at the Frankfurt. Other German manufacturers have also joined the green bandwagon. Both Volkswagen and DaimlerChrysler had presented clean cars at Frankfurt.

BMW another German automaker famous for its elegant vehicles have unveiled its X6 which is a new sports utility vehicle with a hybrid engine that is scheduled to hit dealerships by 2009. Chief Executive Norbert Reithofer has told AP news agency, "We're not just talking about cutting CO2 emissions… we're doing it."

BMW the producer of BMW floor mats has also commented on China’s copycats cars. It can be remembered that the German automaker has called the attention of the Chinese automaker Shuanghaun since its four-wheel-drive CEO looks more like a replica of BMW’s X5 model.

But according to Karl Schössl head of China Automobile Deutschland, the company that imports Shuanghaun’s cars he is not at all bothered by pressure from BMW. He even told AFP at the Frankfurt Show that he is absolutely not worried about the cars being seized by officials.

Last Friday, BMW has launched legal proceedings against the importer due to copyright infringements. But despite such, there were two different versions of the Shuanghaun car that went on display at the Frankfurt. BMW has stated that it has no plans whatsoever of confiscating the models.

Mr. Schössl has accused the German automaker as wanting to keep Chinese companies away from the European market.

BMW is not the only German automaker that has issue with Shuanghaun, DaimlerChrysler has also complained about its Smart city car being copied in the form of the Noble. The display of the said Chinese copycat car in Frankfurt was halted.