Geneva, Switzerland (Genevalunch) – The Geneva Motor Show has come and gone, but it leaves in its wake a sense that environmentally friendly “green” cars finally matter to manufacturers.
An equal amount of spectator buzz surrounded the less glamorous green cars’ stands as the flashy Ferrari and Lamborghini displays. Many of the manufacturers used g/km CO2 emissions ratios (grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre driven) as their key advertising strategy, splashing the information across the hoods, doors, and roofs of their cars.
The motor show has been showing signs of a green trend in recent years but this year the trend was positively everywhere. Most carmakers were showing at least one if not several models of hybrids or electric cars. Among them: Lexus, Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Volkswagen, Peugeot, Renault, and several others.
The green models ranged from futuristic prototypes to more realistic and functional hybrids. One extreme is the e’mo, a prototype created by the University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland in Rapperswil. The Honda Insight sits at the other end of the spectrum. Honda boasts that its newest hybrid consumes very little fuel and and emits a low level of CO2. It is also affordably priced at less than CHF30,000, which undercuts the price of even the popular Toyota Prius.
The greenness of the Geneva show speaks volumes about changing market trends. The focus has gone from maximum horse-power, gas-guzzling machines to ecologically friendly, fuel-efficient cars. Many stands provided Interactive computer stations to help educate people on the benefits of owning vehicles that are ecologically friendly.
A sense of continued commitment to research and development of the green trend presented itself throughout the show, leaving the impression on visitors that the automobile industry is putting forth its best effort in 2009 to reduce the automotive carbon footprint.