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New trends on Detroit Auto Show
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CNTV, January 16, 2012
At the Detroit auto show this week, there is plenty to smile about after the US auto industry boasted its best year since 2008, and all three American car giants increased their market share. Nathan King reports from Detroit on the upbeat mood in Motor City.
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The 2013 Ford Fusion. |
Its a carnival atmosphere in Detroit.
The US car market is back.
The new Ford Fusion is the biggest product launch in the company's history.
Hints of a BMW show European influence, and as the big 3 are back they say they are learnt lessons from the past.
Bill Ford, executive chairman, Ford Motor Company said: "We are not going to go back to the days of shoving Vehicles out the door with huge incentives just to try and artificially inflate market share That is not a winning recipe "
The US car industry is back to pre crisis levels, but based not on the hulking SUVs of the past, this concept car from Chevrolet is influenced by Batman but it is models for lesser mortals like the Malibu which General Motors is hoping will get it back to pole position in global sales.
A Chrysler more European influences as Fiat increases its stake in the car giant.Even Dodge, known for its Suvs is getting in on European act the Dart is based on the alfa romeo Julietta.
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The Ford introduces the new Fusion range. |
This small car strategy makes sense for several reasons. The fragility of the US economy means more focus on gas mileage, a new younger generation of budget conscious car buyers is entering the market? And now as the US car giants are increasingly global and small compact cars sell better in emerging markets so what about electric.
Sherif Marakby, director of electrification of Ford Motor Company said: "Not really I think this is the beginning of a long journey I think there is going to be a lot of Hybrids, a lot of plug in Hybrid electrics and pure EV's in three future and the world needs them, we are getting ready for them and I think it is only going to grow."
A big advocate of electric cars Nobel Prize winner US energy Secretary Steven Chu was here in Detroit. It was obvious the US governments relief that after 80 billion dollars in bailout money he US car industry has turned around.
Steven Chu, US Energy Secretary said: "They are rebounding tremendously, I mean who could have thought at the end of 2008, 2009 we would see these type of models, these type of cars a competitive quality product worldwide so this is all good "
The US carmakers resurgence is down to hard work but also luck, Japan's automakers were hit hard by last year Tsunami and European manufacturers have been distracted by the crisis in Europe, but the US has learnt valuable lessons, build cars people want to buy and the rest is a little easier.
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