Detroit Car Show 2010
The world automotive industry came to the Detroit Car Show 2010 with renewed optimism, hoping to forget the 2009, which was the worst year for the sector and it returned to levels that were 30 years ago. Back 30 years “The phrase ‘a year makes a difference’ was never more appropriate,” the president of the exhibit, Doug Fox.
General Motors (GM) and Chrysler had to go through a judicial restructuring in 2009 after invoke the Bankruptcy Act, a period in which vehicle sales in the U.S. fell more than 20% to their lowest levels since 1980. “Nobody wants to think in the year ended, so look to the current year,” agreed Tony Swan, one of the organizers of the Auto Show, before presenting the awards, Auto and Truck of the Year to Ford for the Fusion Hybrid and Ford Transit Connect your truck.
After a very quiet 2009 edition, the show got some shine. Although no constructor expects a broad recovery in year 2010, the market should begin a slow recovery. “There is no doubt that in the last year [the U.S. industry] somehow hit bottom,” admitted Bob Lutz, vice president of General Motors (GM). “This year we become much optimism.”
The world market will not be “substantially different from 2009″ and “much will depend on economic recovery,” according to Christian Klingler, Volkswagen board member. But gains are expected in China, currently world’s largest market and the U.S., he estimated. Analysts agree a modest increase in U.S. sales in 2010, providing between 11 and 12.5 million against 10.6 million vehicles in 2009.
Organizers say this year will be presented about 50 new models, but many are just revamped versions of existing ones. And in a sign that times are tough, some major brands and names will not be present, including Aston Martin, Nissan, Infiniti and Porsche.
Moreover, signal the interest of public authorities on the future of the sector, after billions of dollars in public funds spent to rescue him, many political leaders announced their support, especially the chairman of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and delegate the administration of Barack Obama for the recovery of the automotive sector, Edward Montgomery.
The members of the administration include the changes introduced by General Motors and Chrysler, which groups became the majority shareholder. “Today we see a new game for the automotive industry,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood press conference. “When people see the new products manufactured and exposed, ascertain that the car industry makes cars that people want to lead,” he said before the opening of the exhibition.
Efficient vehicles, which operate with new energies and small cars focus attention on the lounge, which features about 60 new models, including several “concept vehicles” Cadillac (GM group), BMW and Toyota. Ford unveils the new version of its Focus small, designed and marketed globally and that the second constructor bet U.S. priority, particularly in Asia, which is aimed at China and India.
Following the crisis, and spectacular futuristic vehicles will be the exception this year, but cutting-edge models of Cadillac and BMW are expected. Toyota plans to introduce a new hybrid car that could start being produced in Japan in 2011 and the United States in 2012.
Honda in Detroit could also occur with another hybrid, the CR-Z, a sportier model which currently sells the Insight Japan manufacturer. With these presentations, the 2010 is revealed as a year of fighting for smaller segments of the market and the emerging hybrid-electric market with the launch of 2011 shortly before the Chevrolet Volt from GM.
The fight will be tough and American manufacturers have long way to recover. With the disappearance of over 20% of the market in 2009, when 10,430,000 vehicles were sold only in America, the industry is at the same levels as in 1983. The difference is that Asian companies now rule the roost.
For the first time ever, manufacturers in Japan and South Korea sold more cars than GM, Ford and Chrysler, with 47.4% of demand. Detroit’s Big Three had to settle for 44.2% of the market (the rest stayed in European hands), a shade over 70% of which were in the 90s.
