7th Osaka Motor Show opens featuring concept vehicles

The 7th Osaka Motor Show, the biggest motor event in Western Japan, opened on Friday at Index Osaka,a major Japanese exhibiton hall. With its theme of "Car can change, Widening the world and Shining earth", the motor show which features concept vehicles from Japan and foreign countries is participated by 10 brands of Japan plus 10 foreign companies, mainly from Europe, while a total of 250 vehicles including passenger cars, commercial vehicles, motorcycles are being displayed. Amid growing concern over the global environment and energy resources, the manufactures are rather emphasizing lifestyle with eco-friendly cars than showing the latest models in high street. Each Japanese auto-maker, in particular, is trying to differentiate its newest model from rivals by providing added value, strongly appealing electric vehicles, hybrids, and conventional autos that offer improved fuel efficiency. Osaka Motor Show Executive Committee, the organizer, is even actively offering a new visiting zone which suggests expected scenes of our future lifestyle with eco-friendly cars. For example, some model houses equipped with generator by solar power or natural gas are shown just next to a recharged car which can serve as a source of home electrical power. The organizer told Xinhua that after the earthquake and tsunami and nuclear power plant meltdown last March in northern Japan, the importance of conserving energy was particularly made clear stressing the auto makers need to tell us not only examples of next-generation automobiles but also car as social system or the public infrastructure with which they interact to highlight the roles and responsibilities of the motor industry. The organizer expects more than 300,000 visitors to see the motor show over this weekend.