Tokyo Motor Show 2007: 37 Models Premieres by Toyota,other Automakers

Posted by autospider

September 22, 2007

Sept. 20 (Bloomberg) — Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co. and other automakers will unveil a total of 37 car models at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show, aiming to stem drop in sales in the world’s third-largest auto market.

The number of world-premiere vehicles was released in a statement by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association today.

Japanese carmakers plan to use the exhibition to stimulate auto demand in their home market, where sales slumped for 17 months through August. The Tokyo Motor show, one of the five biggest international auto exhibitions, will feature both passenger cars and commercial vehicles at the same time for the first time in 10 years.

Domestic sales of cars, trucks and buses may fall 1.9 percent to 5.63 million units this year from 5.74 million in 2006, the auto group forecasts. That’s down 28 percent from an all-time high of 7.78 million in 1990. The tally fell 7.4 percent to 3.63 million for the first eight months of this year, according to the Japan Automobile Dealers Association.

Nissan Motor Co., Japan’s third-largest automaker, plans to show the Pivo2 electric car concept on Oct. 5. The first version of the model, shown at the Tokyo Motor Show two years ago, rotated completely on its wheel base to eliminate the need for reverse parking. Instead of backing up, the driver of the three- seat Pivo can swing the bubble-shaped pod 180 degrees.

Mitsubishi Motors Corp., which expects to more than double net income this business year, plans to unveil two new concept models. The i MiEV Sport, a cocoon-shaped electric minicar, is equipped with an auxiliary photovoltaic generator on the roof and a power-generator fan inside the front grille in addition to its lithium-ion batteries. The Concept ZT sports sedan features a 2.2-liter diesel engine and an aluminum frame.

Hino Motors Ltd., 50 percent owned by Toyota Motor Corp., will unveil two tour buses and a truck as its concept models.

Other automakers have not released details about their lineups for the show.

The 2007 Tokyo Motor Show will be open to the public from Oct. 27 to Nov. 11 at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, the organization said.

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