1. Tracking shot of Nissan "Pivo3", pan to Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO of Nissan Motor Company walking onto stage, AUDIO: presentation music
2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO of Nissan Motor Co:
"The time when an automaker could focus only on the vehicle is over. Look at the concept cars here today. These are not exercises in design fantasy but viable transport solutions for tomorrow's digitally connected urban societies where smart houses and smart communities support zero emission mobility."
3. Various of unveiling of the newest plug-in hybrid "Prius PHV", AUDIO: presentation music
4. Wide of President of Toyota Motor Corp, Akio Toyoda, appearing on stage
5. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corp:
"Through manufacturing, we aim to envision the future together with our communities. Toyota will not turn its back on Tohoku nor Thailand. Rather, Toyota will work together with people in these regions and aims to be the driving force of their restoration and reconstruction."
6. Pull focus of Toyota emblem on car
7. Various of Toyota "FCV-R" (Fuel Cell Vehicle)
8. Cutaway audience
9. Various of Honda's "Micro Commuter Concept" car
10. Set up of auto analyst Koji Endo looking at cars
11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Koji Endo, auto analyst, Advanced Research Japan:
"The car industry in Japan is still in really big trouble. And many of the car makers including Toyota, Honda - they are struggling in making money. Actually Toyota and Honda are not making any money in the automotive division, partly because of the Tohoku earthquake and partly because of the flood situation in Thailand. But more importantly, strong yen, relatively weak economy here, slowing down Chinese market, and the US market is still kind of struggling, so to speak."
12. Logos of various automakers
13. Various of people attending the auto show
Green cars rolled into the spotlight at the Tokyo auto show on Wednesday as Japan's automakers look to fuel efficient technology to reinvigorate growth after tough times.
The Tokyo Motor Show previewed for media ahead of its opening to the public on Saturday.
The show has been scaling back in recent years, underlining the waning importance of Japan as a global auto market.
Automakers are increasingly looking to China, India and other markets with growth potential more than Japan, which has made competition stiff.
"The time when an automaker could focus only on the vehicle is over. Look at the concept cars here today," said Nissan Motor Co CEO Carlos Ghosn, adding that today's cars should be "viable transport solutions for tomorrow's digitally connected urban societies where smart houses and smart communities support zero emission mobility."
Very few US and European car companies featured at the show, and so, with the Japanese being the stars, the focus was on ecological technology, such as plug-in hybrids and electric cars.
Toyota President Akio Toyoda became emotional as he talked of the the country's tough challenges after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.
Japanese automakers, including Toyota Motor Corp., were forced to scale back production as supply chains in northeastern Japan were damaged.
Toyoda promised that Toyota would "not turn its back" on the earthquake damaged regions, nor on Toyota plants in flood-ravaged Thailand.
"Toyota will work together with people in these regions and aims to be the driving force of their restoration and reconstruction," Toyoda said.
Toyota's display at the motor show featured the plug-in version of its Prius hybrid.
More than 3.4 (m) million Toyota hybrids have been sold worldwide so far, and the company is hoping Prius plug-in sales will reach 60-thousand per year globally.
Nissan Motor Co. had an updated version of its futuristic-looking electric car called Pivo 3, which can automatically drive itself, find parking spaces, and swerve around in almost a complete circle.
Nissan also showed concept cars such as the AC-X plug-in hybrid, EV-STER electric roadster convertible, and a tiny electric car called Micro Commuter Concept.
Honda displayed a portable battery that is small enough to be carried inside electric cars and plug-ins, and even on small electric scooters.
However, even with the green innovations, Koji Endo, auto analyst with Advanced Research Japan, says that Japanese automakers are still struggling.
"The car industry in Japan is still in really big trouble. And many of the car makers including Toyota, Honda - they are struggling in making money," he said.
Tokyo Motor show opens to the public on Saturday 3 December and runs until 11 December.
