The New York Auto Show opened this week, and the New York Times reports that tough economic times hang over the festivities. “Automakers sputtered into Manhattan this week, hoping that mortgage-challenged Americans will soon cut loose and buy cars— and still have garages to park them in,” the Times says. New York “caps a tough show season for the industry, whose American sales could drop below 15.5 million this year, analysts say, a bruising plunge from the 17 million that had became almost routine.” A series of auto shows have “left many automakers played out, with little new or remarkable to unwrap in New York.”
The Los Angeles Times agrees, saying “the shadow of the worsening economy has cast a pall over the doings” in New York. Automakers “have been steadily trimming production in preparation for a drawn-out slump.” And, “On the floor of the Javits Center, where the auto show is held, buzz was notably absent. Few important cars were unveiled, and many carmakers chose to avoid the glitz.”
The AP adds, “After an influx of introductions in Detroit, including the 2009 F-150 and Dodge Ram pickups and 2009 Toyota Venza crossover, most automakers seemed to have little left over. Toyota Motor Corp. unveiled no new products at the Chicago auto show in February and introduced only a Scion concept this week. Chrysler got some extra mileage from its Dodge Challenger muscle car, introducing the 2008 model in Chicago and the 2009 model in New York.”
The Detroit News reports, “Small cars took on starring roles at the New York Auto Show this week as automakers jockeyed to show their tiny vehicles are not just easy on gas, but big on features, comfort and style.” Big debuts included a new Honda Fit, Scion’s unusual Hako concept, and the Hyundai Genesis Coupe. “Every major unveiling at this week's New York show was of a car, with the exception of the Pontiac G8 Sport Truck -- and it is based on a sedan platform.”
The Detroit Free Press reports that, even as the market slumps, “Honda Motor Co., Nissan Motor Co. and Mazda Motor Corp. say they expect their U.S. sales to rise this year, bucking an expected industry wide drop in demand amid a slowing economy.” The three are counting on their reputation for building solid small cars, and “a reputation for higher-than-average fuel efficiency to help insulate them from a contracting market and near-record gasoline prices.”
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