当前位置 : International Daily News
The Geneva International Motor Show is back after a five-year hiatus with various star models from some of the world's top auto manufacturers taking center-stage, including French carmaker Renault and China's BYD.
The century-old show in the Swiss city, which is running from Feb 26 to March 3, is finally back after a COVID-enforced absence. The event was canceled in 2020 during the early stages of the coronavirus outbreak and has been stalled until now.
The global auto industry has continued to accelerate into a new era, however, at the show, the all-electric Renault Scénic, a lightweight construction available with two battery sizes, was hailed as the prestigious "Car of the Year".
"The automotive business is a fighting sport, so it's tough. But as you can see, we can make it," said Gilles Le Borgne, chief technology officer of the Renault Group, shortly after receiving the coveted award.
Among the seven finalists who were shortlisted was the BYD Seal, the first Chinese entry into the competition. The new model from the Chinese brand, which is now the world's top new energy vehicle(NEV) seller, was hailed for its high-performance features but just missed out on the top prize.
"The BYD Seal is a great car but it's basically a kind of 'performance' car. It's focused on the acceleration and performance. I think the Renault Scénic has more focus on the family, on the more normal car buyer and that's very important when we talk about the 'car of the year'," said Soren Rasmussen, head of the award's jury panel.
The Geneva show witnessed a number of Europe's big brands pull out, leaving a vacuum that was quickly filled by Chinese manufacturers. Organizers say this is a reflection of the current market trends as top Chinese vehicle-makers are gaining more traction.
"Today the actors that are present here, the brands, they reflect the changes that are happening into this market. So I think we have here a great panel of the future stars of the automobile market," said Sandro Mesquita, CEO of the show.
BYD took over from Tesla as the world's biggest electric vehicle maker last year, however, many Europeans are still unfamiliar with the Shenzhen-based manufacturer. The company is seeking to increase its visibility in the continent through its presence at this premier car show.
"We were the biggest brand you'd never heard of, and now we have a presence here in Geneva. We are sponsoring Euro UEFA 2024, so, after the summer and with these motor show activities that we launch, everybody will know us," said Mike Belinfante, spokesperson for BYD Europe.