Electrified Paris looks towards China, India
Glamorous women draped themselves over gleaming vehicles and technicians plugged in electric cars as the world’s auto industry met in Paris to showcase dozens of new models. The car models showcased at the auto show had a global look and were focussed on emerging markets like China and India.
“In 2010 we are dealing with a two-speed world,” PSA Peugeot Citroen boss Philippe Varin said on Thursday as he presented the French firm’s new models at the Paris Motor Show.
While automakers are showcasing car models hoping that places like China, India and Brazil will snap up the models displayed at the show that opened to the public on Saturday, a major feature of this year’s exhibition is a range of electric cars — with the French automaker Renault leading the pack — ready to hit the road.
High glamour comes in the form of sports cars from Ferrari, Porsche and Lamborghini, Renault and Citroen add a touch of fashion by showcasing cars they built in partnership with fashion brands Lacoste and Miss Sixty.
Among those who are creating a lot of buzz are ready-for-production electric concepts like the Kia’s three-seater electric “Pop” concept car, featuring “butterfly-wing” doors, Citroen’s Survolt electric concept, Venturi America.
“We have now moved from electric concept cars to cars you can actually buy,” said Carlos da Silva of IHS Global Insight. “Paris is the first car show in the world where there really are five or six cars you can choose from.”
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