Geneva Motor Show

Monday, 14 March 2011

The 81^st Geneva International Motor Show took place from 3 to 13 March at the Geneva Palexpo in Switzerland. Each year the exhibitions get more exciting in terms of green vehicle technology (Joule was showcased last year), with forty-four new vehicles incorporating eco-friendly technologies on display at the 2011 showcase.

Due to the success of the Green Pavilion at last year’s convention, organisers gave the star attraction a prime location at the 2011 event. The Green Pavilion was placed near one of the show’s main entrances, giving the sustainable models fantastic exposure to the crowd of around 700 000.

At a press conference held on 1 March at the autoshow, three finalists were named for the World Green Car award – the Nissan Leaf, the Chevrolet Volt, and the BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Edition. Three experts, specially appointed by the World Car Steering Committee, selected these finalists. The judges will carefully review each aspect of the energy efficient vehicles, and winners will be announced on 21 April at the New York International Auto Show.

Nissan’s Leaf is also a top three finalist for the coveted World Car of the Year title, marking the first time an electric vehicle has appeared in this category, a major milestone for green technology.

There were many other notable green vehicles that appeared at this year’s show. The Rolls-Royce’s Phantom Experimental Electric is the most expensive battery-electric vehicle the world has ever seen. At $1.6 million, the car is not intended for production, but rather to spark discussion and dialogue amongst eco-conscious millionaires.

Nissan unveiled its ESFLOW electric sports car and Opel premiered its Ampera, which will be available by the end of 2011. Jaguar Land Rover, Toyota, Honda, Volkswagen, Ford and Daimler all had their own unique energy efficient models.

It’s clear that major manufacturing brands are feeling pressure to present consumers with a green product due to climate change, but also in light of oil prices which have recently surged. The Geneva Motor Show is considered one of the most important annual motoring events, with nearly all major internal combustion engine models in the history of the automobile having been showcased there since the first show in 1905. The fact that green vehicles have an increasingly strong presence at the prestigious event speaks volumes about their significance in the automotive industry of today.