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Car fair to show off hundreds of newest models

The biennial auto show is set to open late this month in Taipei, offering car lovers a sneak preview of upcoming vehicle models -- against a backdrop of record low vehicle sales this year.

This year's show will have 29 auto vendors and distributors showcasing 33 brands with over 240 new vehicle models, concept cars and heavy motorbikes, Cheng Ching-tien (鄭進田), chairman of the Taipei Automobile Distributors Association (台北市汽車代理商業同業公會), said at a press briefing yesterday.

The last show had 29 auto vendors displaying 38 brands and some 200 new models.

The 2008 Taipei International Auto Show, organized by the distributors association, will open on Dec. 29 at the Taipei World Trade Center, Exhibition Hall I.

The nine-day event will be open from 10am to 6pm daily, with admission costing NT$250, the association said.

Cheng said he expected the event to attract more than 170,000 visitors, similar to the number of visitors at the last fair.

Automakers are expected to display their latest models and technologies to increase public exposure and drive up vehicle sales ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday after government data showed record low sales this year.

"Total new vehicle sales in Taiwan this year could be around 320,000 cars, lower than the 366,000 cars sold last year," Cheng said.

The market hit a 10-year high in 2005, when 510,000 cars were sold.

As high fuel costs and uncertainty in financial markets have eroded consumer confidence and lowered consumption, the number of applicants for license plates for locally made vehicles -- used as an indicator of new car sales -- declined 10.3 percent last month from a year earlier to 23,554 units, the latest data provided by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications showed.

For the first 11 months of the year, the figure dropped 10.8 percent year-on-year to 299,366 units, the government data showed.

"The market will see better prospects next year as automakers are likely to target potential customers with fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly models," Cheng said.

"Private consumption is expected to grow stronger after the legislative and presidential elections next year," he said.
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