| At this year's International Auto Show, auto | | | | |
| giants unveiled vehicles that mirror the | | | | GM head honcho said that the Detroit-based |
| industry's color - GREEN. Green for | | | | automaker would likely have its E-Flex |
| environment-friendly vehicles. Also, green | | | | platform serve as a base for future |
| for profitability. | | | | development. The system, used in its |
| | | | just-debuted Flextreme concept car, has a |
| Automakers introduced improved fuel | | | | small diesel engine generator to charge a |
| efficiency and engines that run on hydrogen | | | | lithium-ion battery pack. |
| or batteries. The goal is to enhance mileage | | | | |
| and respond to the increasing global warming | | | | GM hybrids such as the Saturn Vue, Saturn |
| concerns. At present, improving gas mileage | | | | Aura and the Chevrolet Malibu are expected to |
| is one of the hot issues tackled by the | | | | reach 10,000 sales by the end of the year and |
| lawmakers. Moreover, it is expected that the | | | | will continue to play a crucial function in |
| industry should comply with the stricter | | | | the automaker's growth. The Saturn window |
| standards after the passage of such | | | | motors could be pulling some positive |
| legislation. | | | | shopping energy. |
| | | | |
| Another focus of the automakers is to return | | | | Ford Motor Co., meanwhile, said that it will |
| to profitability. After the debilitating | | | | have three models with lower CO2 emissions |
| sales doldrums, who would not strive to be | | | | available in Europe by the end of 2008. The |
| back into the black? Amid the strong European | | | | Dearborn-based automaker is working on diesel |
| and global economies, most of the auto giants | | | | versions of the Focus, Mondeo and a new |
| have posted sales declines. This is why they | | | | subcompact with innovative technology to |
| are making the most of every effort to push | | | | lessen emissions. All three vehicles will |
| their company into profitability. | | | | carry the ECOnetic badge of the automaker. |
| | | | |
| Whether it's the threat of government | | | | Renault SA Vice President Michel Gornet, |
| regulation on both sides of the Atlantic or | | | | however, said that consumers have a limited |
| growing consumer interest, auto companies | | | | appetite for paying extra for environmentally |
| have given the show an environmentally | | | | friendly technology. "The consciousness is |
| conscious flavor, even when it comes to | | | | there," he said. "Renault is focusing on |
| larger vehicles such as BMW's X6 SUV-car | | | | designing more environmentally efficient |
| crossover, reported International Herald | | | | engines across all its models." |
| Tribune. | | | | |
| | | | Nissan Vice President Carlos Tavares said |
| "We're not just talking about cutting CO2 | | | | that the automaker is not concentrating on |
| emissions, we're doing it," said BMW Chief | | | | any specific environmental system. "We won't |
| Executive Officer Norbert Reithofer, after | | | | bet the future of the company on a single |
| the Bavarian automaker unveiled the X6, a | | | | technology," he said. |
| 'sport activity' vehicle with a hybrid engine | | | | |
| that will be on sale in 2009. "This isn't | | | | In the midst of the environmental drive, |
| just a quick, halfhearted effort. We've been | | | | automakers also touted improved sales. |
| leading the way for years. We got an early | | | | According to the report, DaimlerChrysler AG |
| start and it's not at all the case that we're | | | | CEO Dieter Zetsche said that the chance of a |
| being pushed into this by politicians." | | | | fatter shareholder dividend was better than |
| | | | before. Audi AG, on the other hand, said that |
| For other auto giants, the notion is taking | | | | it hopes to sell a record 950,000 cars this |
| root deeper into future planning and | | | | year and also hopes to beat last year's net |
| execution. General Motors Corp. Vice Chairman | | | | profit. Additionally, Porsche AG said that |
| Bob Lutz said that the American automaker | | | | its sales increased 3.4 percent during its |
| aims to develop an entire line of electric | | | | recently ended fiscal year, pushed up by |
| cars that could share parts used by | | | | rising demand for its luxury cars. |
| gasoline-powered counterparts. | | | | |