The Tokyo Motor Show 2009.
Are today's auto shows all that representative of what people want and how people drive? And what do they mean for electric cars? We can get a good sense form the Tokyo Motor Show today.
The gist is with falling attendance and fewer car makers able to afford the heavy fees involved in showing products at an auto show, we wonder if these massive undertakings have outlived their usefulness.
Big Shows vs Small Shows. Smaller venues where one-on-one talks and hands-on experience are easier than the less personal, gigantic auto shows. With the Tokyo Motor Show opening today, the question is: "Why bother?" The Japanese-centric show mirrors others where the local dominance does not portray wat is happening worldwide. So what is becoming of these big shows? Are they truly representative?
Who Will Be There With What. While the list is not exhaustive, it should give an idea of who will be doing what in Tokyo:
- Toyota will obviously be there showing off its electric FT-EV II.
- Honda will show its futuristic, 6 wheel Skydeck hybrid, HEV as well as its much anticipated other HEV CR-Z and its EV-N concept.
- Nissan will show its Land Glider as well as its new hybrid Fuga and of course the famous Leaf.
- Suzuki will unveils its hybrid Swift as we mentioned before.
- Mitsubishi will show off its plug-in hybrid PX-iMiEV crossover concept as well as its iMiEV CARGO.
- An interesting venture by Subaru that will showcase a hybrid Tourer Concept.
- According to Centercaps, Huyndai was the last foreign company to back out.
Again, this auto show confirms the trend that they are becoming geographically representative and less global. Are the glory days of over the board marketing and lavish parties over? What happened to a global representation of what car companies had to offer at such shows? It mostly is a sign of the economy.
Thankfully, the small, niche shows are thriving, such as the AltCarExpos.
For more info: Tokyo Motor Show, Electricnick.
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