In this Dec. 23, 2010 file photo, customers open a car's engine hood to check interior parts at a used car market in Beijing. Global automakers are bringing their flashiest SUVs, luxury sedans and electric concept cars to Auto Shanghai, the country's biggest auto show of the year opening on April 21, 2011, as the industry reels from disruptions caused by Japan's tsunami. (AP)HONG KONG: Global automakers are bringing their flashiest SUVs, luxury sedans and electric concept cars to Auto Shanghai, China's biggest auto show of the year, as the industry reels from disruptions caused by the massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan last month. The show has become one of the industry's most important as automakers look to booming China to drive profits. China overtook the United States in 2009 as the biggest auto market and growth stayed strong through the global crisis. General Motors, Toyota, BMW and others, including China's own small but fast-growing brands, are working hard to woo China's newly prosperous buyers. World premieres are planned for a new Chevy Malibu, a BMW luxury coupe and other models, putting Shanghai on a par with auto shows in Detroit, Tokyo and Frankfurt as a global platform for new products. Illustrating China's rise in the auto world, French automaker Peugeot will show off its SXC, which was conceived at its Shanghai design studio. The futuristic concept car features a conventional gasoline engine driving the front wheels and an electric motor powering the rear, sleek narrow headlights and rear-hinged doors. The 14th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition opens Tuesday to reporters and to the public on Thursday. “Nobody wants to lose out here and everybody wants to play a key role,” said Johan Willems, a Shanghai-based spokesman for GM International Operations. “Yes, the sales growth is a little bit slower than before, but it's still growing. This is the biggest market in the world,” he said, adding that he's optimistic the auto industry will bounce back from production disruptions. “Companies will deal with it, but I don't think there's any long-term impact on vehicles sold.” The global industry is struggling to rebound from the loss of components caused by Japan's March 11 earthquake and tsunami, which killed some 25,000 people, caused power shortages and forced factories to shut down. Shortages of crucial parts have forced automakers to temporarily idle some production lines or cut back output at factories in Europe and the US. Toyota Motor Corp., the world's No. 1 automaker, has announced temporary production halts in Europe and North America due to parts shortages. The company, which has shut down all output in Japan except at three plants, will resume some limited production at its other plants in the near term. Nissan Motor Co. is suspending production for several days in April at plants in the US and Mexico. Ford Motor Co. also says several North American plants would be closed for part of April.
