LEAD IN:

Japanese auto brand Toyota has showcased the second generation of its hydrogen fuel cell saloon car in the Netherlands.

The all-new Mirai claims a range of 650 kilometres without refuelling and is set for launch this year in Japan, North America and Europe. But lack of infrastructure persists.

STORY-LINE:

While most of the auto industry hurtles toward battery-electric vehicles, Japan's top car maker is also banking on hydrogen.

At an event in Amsterdam, Toyota is showing off its second generation Mirai fuel cell saloon, due for launch later this year in Japan, North America and Europe.

This version claims up to 30 percent more range thanks to a redesigned fuel cell system and new three-tank layout.

According to communications executive Vincent Dewaersegger, that means a range of 650 kilometres without refuelling.

"It's a small revolution, it can do 650 kilometres in one tank," he says.

"And you should remember, it's five minutes to refuel for a hundred percent refuel-refill, which is very good."

Toyota first introduced its hydrogen-powered Mirai sedan back in 2014 and has since sold 10,000 models.

A fuel cell mixes hydrogen with the oxygen in the air to generate electricity that can power a motor.

The main challenge is a lack of infrastructure. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), there are currently just 125 hydrogen stations in the EU.

Toyota is also showing off its new RAV4 plug-in hybrid in Amsterdam.

It's the fifth generation of the popular SUV and the first to offer a plug-in hybrid option.

Toyota luxury brand Lexus is showcasing a future vision of electric cars with this LF-30 concept car.

The LF-30 offers a vision of electric mobility in the 2030s with autonomous driving technologies and four in-wheel electric motors.

A steer-by-wire system eliminates mechanical connections, allowing more flexible control.

"It's not easy to define what type of car this is," says designer Ian Cartabiano.

"So, it's somewhere in between sedan, coupe, crossover, ultimate luxury car. I'm excited by the fact that we created a new category of luxury performance vehicle."

Lexus is also presenting the UX 300e, its first electric vehicle.

Its 54.3 kWh lithium-ion battery claims a range of 400 kilometres and a top speed of 160 kilometres per-hour.

Toyota's new GR Supra runs on traditional petrol.

With the new two-litre version, Toyota says it has lessened the weight, meaning a different driving experience.

"The biggest difference is the weight," says marketing executive Tatsuya Namura.

"There's a reduction of 100 kilograms, which really influences how the car drives and how you feel the car is driving."

Toyota also used the Amsterdam event to launch its new high-tech mobility brand, Kinto.

Under pressure from rideshare companies Uber and Lyft, Toyota is planning to offer car-sharing and ride-hailing services through Kinto.

"These customers of the future don't just want to own vehicles, they want to use them, some people want to just lease them, don't put them on their balance sheet," says Johan van Zyl, the president and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe.

"So therefore, we also need to ensure that we will be able to deliver on the new mobility services to customers and that we've launched today the Kinto brand, which is (an) umbrella brand for all the mobility services we're going to launch in Europe in future."

Amsterdam, Netherlands - 14 January 2020

1. Wide of screen, showing promo for new Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car

2. Various of new Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Vincent Dewaersegger, Communications Executive, Toyota:

"The platform has been designed from the beginning for hydrogen component, so we could really have much more freedom in terms of styling, and we could have this kind of a coupe-like styling. Also, it's a new technology, more efficient and also, we have more tank capacity, more tanks. So that means the two together, we can really increase the range by 30 percent. So, it's quite, for me, it's a small revolution, it can do 650 kilometres in one tank. And you should remember, it's five minutes to refuel for a hundred percent refuel-refill, which is very good."

4. Mid of new Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car

5. Mid of screen, showing new Toyota Mirai's hydrogen tanks

6. Mid of screen, showing new Toyota Mirai's range and refuelling time

7. Wide of new Toyota Mirai

8. Various of new Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid SUV

9. Various of new Lexus LF-30 electric concept car

10. Setup shot of Ian Cartabiano, LF-30 Chief Designer, opening LF-30 door

11. Close of Lexus LF-30 interior

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Ian Cartabiano, LF-30 Chief Designer:

"It's not easy to define what type of car this is. So, it's somewhere in between sedan, coupe, crossover, ultimate luxury car. I'm excited by the fact that we created a new category of luxury performance vehicle. And personally, I really love the profile and I love the shape language of this car. I love how it moves from fluid to extremely sharp at the rear and to me as the artist, that gets me excited."

13. Wide of Lexus LF-30 electric concept car

14. Various of Lexus UX300e electric car

15. Various of new Toyota GR Supra

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Tatsuya Namura, Marketing Executive, Toyota:

"The biggest difference is the weight. There's a reduction of 100 kilograms, which really influences how the car drives and how you feel the car is driving."

17. Close of new Toyota GR Supra interior

18. Mid of new Toyota GR Supra

19. Wide of Toyota presentation, announcement of Kinto brand

20. Close of Kinto logo onscreen

21. Setup shot of Johan van Zyl, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe, speaking during presentation

22. Wide of screen, reading (English): "Mobility for All"

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Johan van Zyl, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe:

"These customers of the future don't just want to own vehicles, they want to use them, some people want to just lease them, don't put them on their balance sheet. So therefore, we also need to ensure that we will be able to deliver on the new mobility services to customers and that we've launched today the Kinto brand, which is (an) umbrella brand for all the mobility services we're going to launch in Europe in future."

24. Various of Toyota LQ concept car

25. Various of Toyota personal mobility technology

LEAD IN:

Japanese auto brand Toyota has showcased the second generation of its hydrogen fuel cell saloon car in the Netherlands.

The all-new Mirai claims a range of 650 kilometres without refuelling and is set for launch this year in Japan, North America and Europe. But lack of infrastructure persists.

STORY-LINE:

While most of the auto industry hurtles toward battery-electric vehicles, Japan's top car maker is also banking on hydrogen.

At an event in Amsterdam, Toyota is showing off its second generation Mirai fuel cell saloon, due for launch later this year in Japan, North America and Europe.

This version claims up to 30 percent more range thanks to a redesigned fuel cell system and new three-tank layout.

According to communications executive Vincent Dewaersegger, that means a range of 650 kilometres without refuelling.

"It's a small revolution, it can do 650 kilometres in one tank," he says.

"And you should remember, it's five minutes to refuel for a hundred percent refuel-refill, which is very good."

Toyota first introduced its hydrogen-powered Mirai sedan back in 2014 and has since sold 10,000 models.

A fuel cell mixes hydrogen with the oxygen in the air to generate electricity that can power a motor.

The main challenge is a lack of infrastructure. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), there are currently just 125 hydrogen stations in the EU.

Toyota is also showing off its new RAV4 plug-in hybrid in Amsterdam.

It's the fifth generation of the popular SUV and the first to offer a plug-in hybrid option.

Toyota luxury brand Lexus is showcasing a future vision of electric cars with this LF-30 concept car.

The LF-30 offers a vision of electric mobility in the 2030s with autonomous driving technologies and four in-wheel electric motors.

A steer-by-wire system eliminates mechanical connections, allowing more flexible control.

"It's not easy to define what type of car this is," says designer Ian Cartabiano.

"So, it's somewhere in between sedan, coupe, crossover, ultimate luxury car. I'm excited by the fact that we created a new category of luxury performance vehicle."

Lexus is also presenting the UX 300e, its first electric vehicle.

Its 54.3 kWh lithium-ion battery claims a range of 400 kilometres and a top speed of 160 kilometres per-hour.

Toyota's new GR Supra runs on traditional petrol.

With the new two-litre version, Toyota says it has lessened the weight, meaning a different driving experience.

"The biggest difference is the weight," says marketing executive Tatsuya Namura.

"There's a reduction of 100 kilograms, which really influences how the car drives and how you feel the car is driving."

Toyota also used the Amsterdam event to launch its new high-tech mobility brand, Kinto.

Under pressure from rideshare companies Uber and Lyft, Toyota is planning to offer car-sharing and ride-hailing services through Kinto.

"These customers of the future don't just want to own vehicles, they want to use them, some people want to just lease them, don't put them on their balance sheet," says Johan van Zyl, the president and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe.

"So therefore, we also need to ensure that we will be able to deliver on the new mobility services to customers and that we've launched today the Kinto brand, which is (an) umbrella brand for all the mobility services we're going to launch in Europe in future."

Amsterdam, Netherlands - 14 January 2020

1. Wide of screen, showing promo for new Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car

2. Various of new Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Vincent Dewaersegger, Communications Executive, Toyota:

"The platform has been designed from the beginning for hydrogen component, so we could really have much more freedom in terms of styling, and we could have this kind of a coupe-like styling. Also, it's a new technology, more efficient and also, we have more tank capacity, more tanks. So that means the two together, we can really increase the range by 30 percent. So, it's quite, for me, it's a small revolution, it can do 650 kilometres in one tank. And you should remember, it's five minutes to refuel for a hundred percent refuel-refill, which is very good."

4. Mid of new Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car

5. Mid of screen, showing new Toyota Mirai's hydrogen tanks

6. Mid of screen, showing new Toyota Mirai's range and refuelling time

7. Wide of new Toyota Mirai

8. Various of new Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid SUV

9. Various of new Lexus LF-30 electric concept car

10. Setup shot of Ian Cartabiano, LF-30 Chief Designer, opening LF-30 door

11. Close of Lexus LF-30 interior

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Ian Cartabiano, LF-30 Chief Designer:

"It's not easy to define what type of car this is. So, it's somewhere in between sedan, coupe, crossover, ultimate luxury car. I'm excited by the fact that we created a new category of luxury performance vehicle. And personally, I really love the profile and I love the shape language of this car. I love how it moves from fluid to extremely sharp at the rear and to me as the artist, that gets me excited."

13. Wide of Lexus LF-30 electric concept car

14. Various of Lexus UX300e electric car

15. Various of new Toyota GR Supra

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Tatsuya Namura, Marketing Executive, Toyota:

"The biggest difference is the weight. There's a reduction of 100 kilograms, which really influences how the car drives and how you feel the car is driving."

17. Close of new Toyota GR Supra interior

18. Mid of new Toyota GR Supra

19. Wide of Toyota presentation, announcement of Kinto brand

20. Close of Kinto logo onscreen

21. Setup shot of Johan van Zyl, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe, speaking during presentation

22. Wide of screen, reading (English): "Mobility for All"

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Johan van Zyl, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe:

"These customers of the future don't just want to own vehicles, they want to use them, some people want to just lease them, don't put them on their balance sheet. So therefore, we also need to ensure that we will be able to deliver on the new mobility services to customers and that we've launched today the Kinto brand, which is (an) umbrella brand for all the mobility services we're going to launch in Europe in future."

24. Various of Toyota LQ concept car

25. Various of Toyota personal mobility technology

LEAD IN:

Japanese auto brand Toyota has showcased the second generation of its hydrogen fuel cell saloon car in the Netherlands.

The all-new Mirai claims a range of 650 kilometres without refuelling and is set for launch this year in Japan, North America and Europe. But lack of infrastructure persists.

STORY-LINE:

While most of the auto industry hurtles toward battery-electric vehicles, Japan's top car maker is also banking on hydrogen.

At an event in Amsterdam, Toyota is showing off its second generation Mirai fuel cell saloon, due for launch later this year in Japan, North America and Europe.

This version claims up to 30 percent more range thanks to a redesigned fuel cell system and new three-tank layout.

According to communications executive Vincent Dewaersegger, that means a range of 650 kilometres without refuelling.

"It's a small revolution, it can do 650 kilometres in one tank," he says.

"And you should remember, it's five minutes to refuel for a hundred percent refuel-refill, which is very good."

Toyota first introduced its hydrogen-powered Mirai sedan back in 2014 and has since sold 10,000 models.

A fuel cell mixes hydrogen with the oxygen in the air to generate electricity that can power a motor.

The main challenge is a lack of infrastructure. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), there are currently just 125 hydrogen stations in the EU.

Toyota is also showing off its new RAV4 plug-in hybrid in Amsterdam.

It's the fifth generation of the popular SUV and the first to offer a plug-in hybrid option.

Toyota luxury brand Lexus is showcasing a future vision of electric cars with this LF-30 concept car.

The LF-30 offers a vision of electric mobility in the 2030s with autonomous driving technologies and four in-wheel electric motors.

A steer-by-wire system eliminates mechanical connections, allowing more flexible control.

"It's not easy to define what type of car this is," says designer Ian Cartabiano.

"So, it's somewhere in between sedan, coupe, crossover, ultimate luxury car. I'm excited by the fact that we created a new category of luxury performance vehicle."

Lexus is also presenting the UX 300e, its first electric vehicle.

Its 54.3 kWh lithium-ion battery claims a range of 400 kilometres and a top speed of 160 kilometres per-hour.

Toyota's new GR Supra runs on traditional petrol.

With the new two-litre version, Toyota says it has lessened the weight, meaning a different driving experience.

"The biggest difference is the weight," says marketing executive Tatsuya Namura.

"There's a reduction of 100 kilograms, which really influences how the car drives and how you feel the car is driving."

Toyota also used the Amsterdam event to launch its new high-tech mobility brand, Kinto.

Under pressure from rideshare companies Uber and Lyft, Toyota is planning to offer car-sharing and ride-hailing services through Kinto.

"These customers of the future don't just want to own vehicles, they want to use them, some people want to just lease them, don't put them on their balance sheet," says Johan van Zyl, the president and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe.

"So therefore, we also need to ensure that we will be able to deliver on the new mobility services to customers and that we've launched today the Kinto brand, which is (an) umbrella brand for all the mobility services we're going to launch in Europe in future."

Amsterdam, Netherlands - 14 January 2020

1. Wide of screen, showing promo for new Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car

2. Various of new Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Vincent Dewaersegger, Communications Executive, Toyota:

"The platform has been designed from the beginning for hydrogen component, so we could really have much more freedom in terms of styling, and we could have this kind of a coupe-like styling. Also, it's a new technology, more efficient and also, we have more tank capacity, more tanks. So that means the two together, we can really increase the range by 30 percent. So, it's quite, for me, it's a small revolution, it can do 650 kilometres in one tank. And you should remember, it's five minutes to refuel for a hundred percent refuel-refill, which is very good."

4. Mid of new Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car

5. Mid of screen, showing new Toyota Mirai's hydrogen tanks

6. Mid of screen, showing new Toyota Mirai's range and refuelling time

7. Wide of new Toyota Mirai

8. Various of new Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid SUV

9. Various of new Lexus LF-30 electric concept car

10. Setup shot of Ian Cartabiano, LF-30 Chief Designer, opening LF-30 door

11. Close of Lexus LF-30 interior

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Ian Cartabiano, LF-30 Chief Designer:

"It's not easy to define what type of car this is. So, it's somewhere in between sedan, coupe, crossover, ultimate luxury car. I'm excited by the fact that we created a new category of luxury performance vehicle. And personally, I really love the profile and I love the shape language of this car. I love how it moves from fluid to extremely sharp at the rear and to me as the artist, that gets me excited."

13. Wide of Lexus LF-30 electric concept car

14. Various of Lexus UX300e electric car

15. Various of new Toyota GR Supra

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Tatsuya Namura, Marketing Executive, Toyota:

"The biggest difference is the weight. There's a reduction of 100 kilograms, which really influences how the car drives and how you feel the car is driving."

17. Close of new Toyota GR Supra interior

18. Mid of new Toyota GR Supra

19. Wide of Toyota presentation, announcement of Kinto brand

20. Close of Kinto logo onscreen

21. Setup shot of Johan van Zyl, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe, speaking during presentation

22. Wide of screen, reading (English): "Mobility for All"

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Johan van Zyl, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe:

"These customers of the future don't just want to own vehicles, they want to use them, some people want to just lease them, don't put them on their balance sheet. So therefore, we also need to ensure that we will be able to deliver on the new mobility services to customers and that we've launched today the Kinto brand, which is (an) umbrella brand for all the mobility services we're going to launch in Europe in future."

24. Various of Toyota LQ concept car

25. Various of Toyota personal mobility technology

LEAD IN

Toyota has unveiled its latest flagship Avalon vehicle at the Detroit motor show.

It's packed with technology, including Apple CarPlay and Alexa voice controls to appeal to younger buyers.

STORY-LINE

Toyota has taken the wraps off its revamped Avalon, which features a longer, lower and wider exterior and a rear cabin extends another 7 inches (17.8 centimeters), yet overall height measurements have been trimmed by about an inch (2.5 centimeters).

The automaker boasts of a "neater" steering wheel, with a smaller switch cluster, enlarged hand grips and cruise control now accessible on the right spoke.

The 2019 Toyota Avalon will be available in four trim packages including the XSE, Touring, XLE and Limited.

The car has two new powertrains: a 3.5-liter V6 and 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid system.

Jack Hollis, Group Vice President of Toyota North America says it also comes packed with technology.

"And Avalon wows guests also with the full spectrum of Toyota technology . So here's a few a 7 inch multi-informational display shows information like turn by turn navigation. A 10 inch head-up display - the biggest in the segment - provides info like engine speed and directions and audio settings. There's QI wireless charging, a WiFi hotspot, 5 USB outlets and a mobile device holder. We're happy to say that Entune 3.0 and a JBL audio experience are available on every single grade. And a nother Toyota first. Now are you ready? Apple car play is finally standard."

The Avalon also comes standard with the Toyota Safety Sense P suite of safety systems, according Hollis.

"Now while it's more efficient, stylish and athletic, Avalon is also stuffed with the latest in safety technology. Toyota safety sensors are standard across the entire line up and represents one step closer to achieving Toyota's goal of zero casualties from traffic accidents," he says.

The new Avalon also can connect with a smart watch or Amazon Alexa-enabled device.

"Through touch or voice commands, a guest can lock or unlock their doors, or start their engine or even go check their fuel levels securely and safely. And on top of that, we are among the first to actually implement Alexa connectivity with the skills needed to execute from home to car and car to home commands. This is just another example of how we're allowing our guests to better thrive and participate in the ever changing world of connective technology," says Hollis.

The Michigan-designed Avalon will arrive in showrooms in late spring.

1. Video presentation of new Toyota Avalon and vehicles driving on stage

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Jack Hollis, Group Vice President of Toyota North America:

"The 2019 Avalon is the premiere Toyota flagship. It represents a clear progressive dialogue between our American design, engineering and manufacturing experts. And to that end, whether it's inside or out, Avalon has a long list of Toyota firsts."

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Jack Hollis, Group Vice President of Toyota North America:

"So as you can see the Avalon - it's longer, it's wider, it's lower, its wheelbase is extended, and its overhangs are shorter. Yep, it's sleek and sophisticated. It's technical beauty."

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Jack Hollis, Group Vice President of Toyota North America:

"And Avalon wows guests also with the full spectrum of Toyota technology . So here's a few: a 7 inch multi-informational display shows information like turn by turn navigation. A 10 inch head-up display - the biggest in the segment - provides info like engine speed and directions and audio settings. There's QI wireless charging, a WiFi hotspot, 5 USB outlets and a mobile device holder. We're happy to say that Entune 3.0 and a JBL audio experience are available on every single grade. And another Toyota first. Now are you ready? Apple CarPlay is finally standard."

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jack Hollis, Group Vice President of Toyota North America:

"Now while it's more efficient, stylish and athletic, Avalon is also stuffed with the latest in safety technology. Toyota safety sensors are standard across the entire line up and represents one step closer to achieving Toyota's goal of zero casualties from traffic accidents."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Jack Hollis, Group Vice President of Toyota North America:

"Through touch or voice commands, a guest can lock or unlock their doors, or start their engine or even check their fuel levels securely and safely. And on top of that, we are among the first to actually implement Alexa connectivity with the skills needed to execute from a home to car and car to home commands. This is just another example of how we're allowing our guests to better thrive and participate in the ever changing world of connective technology."

7. End of presentation on stage

LEADIN

Toyota has unveiled its latest flagship Avalon vehicle at the Detroit motor show.

It's packed with technology, including Apple CarPlay and Alexa voice controls to appeal to younger buyers.

STORYLINE

Toyota has taken the wraps off its revamped Avalon, which features a longer, lower and wider exterior and a rear cabin extends another 7 inches (17.8 centimeters), yet overall height measurements have been trimmed by about an inch (2.5 centimeters).

The automaker boasts of a "neater" steering wheel, with a smaller switch cluster, enlarged hand grips and cruise control now accessible on the right spoke.

The 2019 Toyota Avalon will be available in four trim packages including the XSE, Touring, XLE and Limited.

The car has two new powertrains: a 3.5-liter V6 and 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid system.

Jack Hollis, Group Vice President of Toyota North America says it also comes packed with technology.

"And Avalon wows guests also with the full spectrum of Toyota technology . So here's a few a 7 inch multi-informational display shows information like turn by turn navigation. A 10 inch head-up display - the biggest in the segment - provides info like engine speed and directions and audio settings. There's QI wireless charging, a WiFi hotspot, 5 USB outlets and a mobile device holder. We're happy to say that Entune 3.0 and a JBL audio experience are available on every single grade. And a nother Toyota first. Now are you ready? Apple car play is finally standard."

The Avalon also comes standard with the Toyota Safety Sense P suite of safety systems, according Hollis.

"Now while it's more efficient, stylish and athletic, Avalon is also stuffed with the latest in safety technology. Toyota safety sensors are standard across the entire line up and represents one step closer to achieving Toyota's goal of zero casualties from traffic accidents," he says.

The new Avalon also can connect with a smart watch or Amazon Alexa-enabled device.

"Through touch or voice commands, a guest can lock or unlock their doors, or start their engine or even go check their fuel levels securely and safely. And on top of that, we are among the first to actually implement Alexa connectivity with the skills needed to execute from home to car and car to home commands. This is just another example of how we're allowing our guests to better thrive and participate in the ever changing world of connective technology," says Hollis.

The Michigan-designed Avalon will arrive in showrooms in late spring.

1. Video presentation of new Toyota Avalon and vehicles driving on stage

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Jack Hollis, Group Vice President of Toyota North America:

"The 2019 Avalon is the premiere Toyota flagship. It represents a clear progressive dialogue between our American design, engineering and manufacturing experts. And to that end, whether it's inside or out, Avalon has a long list of Toyota firsts."

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Jack Hollis, Group Vice President of Toyota North America:

"So as you can see the Avalon - it's longer, it's wider, it's lower, its wheelbase is extended, and its overhangs are shorter. Yep, it's sleek and sophisticated. It's technical beauty."

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Jack Hollis, Group Vice President of Toyota North America:

"And Avalon wows guests also with the full spectrum of Toyota technology . So here's a few: a 7 inch multi-informational display shows information like turn by turn navigation. A 10 inch head-up display - the biggest in the segment - provides info like engine speed and directions and audio settings. There's QI wireless charging, a WiFi hotspot, 5 USB outlets and a mobile device holder. We're happy to say that Entune 3.0 and a JBL audio experience are available on every single grade. And another Toyota first. Now are you ready? Apple CarPlay is finally standard."

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jack Hollis, Group Vice President of Toyota North America:

"Now while it's more efficient, stylish and athletic, Avalon is also stuffed with the latest in safety technology. Toyota safety sensors are standard across the entire line up and represents one step closer to achieving Toyota's goal of zero casualties from traffic accidents."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Jack Hollis, Group Vice President of Toyota North America:

"Through touch or voice commands, a guest can lock or unlock their doors, or start their engine or even check their fuel levels securely and safely. And on top of that, we are among the first to actually implement Alexa connectivity with the skills needed to execute from a home to car and car to home commands. This is just another example of how we're allowing our guests to better thrive and participate in the ever changing world of connective technology."

7. End of presentation on stage

LEADIN

Toyota has unveiled its latest flagship Avalon vehicle at the Detroit motor show.

It's packed with technology, including Apple CarPlay and Alexa voice controls to appeal to younger buyers.

STORYLINE

Toyota has taken the wraps off its revamped Avalon, which features a longer, lower and wider exterior and a rear cabin extends another 7 inches (17.8 centimeters), yet overall height measurements have been trimmed by about an inch (2.5 centimeters).

The automaker boasts of a "neater" steering wheel, with a smaller switch cluster, enlarged hand grips and cruise control now accessible on the right spoke.

The 2019 Toyota Avalon will be available in four trim packages including the XSE, Touring, XLE and Limited.

The car has two new powertrains: a 3.5-liter V6 and 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid system.

Jack Hollis, Group Vice President of Toyota North America says it also comes packed with technology.

"And Avalon wows guests also with the full spectrum of Toyota technology . So here's a few a 7 inch multi-informational display shows information like turn by turn navigation. A 10 inch head-up display - the biggest in the segment - provides info like engine speed and directions and audio settings. There's QI wireless charging, a WiFi hotspot, 5 USB outlets and a mobile device holder. We're happy to say that Entune 3.0 and a JBL audio experience are available on every single grade. And a nother Toyota first. Now are you ready? Apple car play is finally standard."

The Avalon also comes standard with the Toyota Safety Sense P suite of safety systems, according Hollis.

"Now while it's more efficient, stylish and athletic, Avalon is also stuffed with the latest in safety technology. Toyota safety sensors are standard across the entire line up and represents one step closer to achieving Toyota's goal of zero casualties from traffic accidents," he says.

The new Avalon also can connect with a smart watch or Amazon Alexa-enabled device.

"Through touch or voice commands, a guest can lock or unlock their doors, or start their engine or even go check their fuel levels securely and safely. And on top of that, we are among the first to actually implement Alexa connectivity with the skills needed to execute from home to car and car to home commands. This is just another example of how we're allowing our guests to better thrive and participate in the ever changing world of connective technology," says Hollis.

The Michigan-designed Avalon will arrive in showrooms in late spring.

1. Video presentation of new Toyota Avalon and vehicles driving on stage

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Jack Hollis, Group Vice President of Toyota North America:

"The 2019 Avalon is the premiere Toyota flagship. It represents a clear progressive dialogue between our American design, engineering and manufacturing experts. And to that end, whether it's inside or out, Avalon has a long list of Toyota firsts."

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Jack Hollis, Group Vice President of Toyota North America:

"So as you can see the Avalon - it's longer, it's wider, it's lower, its wheelbase is extended, and its overhangs are shorter. Yep, it's sleek and sophisticated. It's technical beauty."

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Jack Hollis, Group Vice President of Toyota North America:

"And Avalon wows guests also with the full spectrum of Toyota technology . So here's a few: a 7 inch multi-informational display shows information like turn by turn navigation. A 10 inch head-up display - the biggest in the segment - provides info like engine speed and directions and audio settings. There's QI wireless charging, a WiFi hotspot, 5 USB outlets and a mobile device holder. We're happy to say that Entune 3.0 and a JBL audio experience are available on every single grade. And another Toyota first. Now are you ready? Apple CarPlay is finally standard."

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jack Hollis, Group Vice President of Toyota North America:

"Now while it's more efficient, stylish and athletic, Avalon is also stuffed with the latest in safety technology. Toyota safety sensors are standard across the entire line up and represents one step closer to achieving Toyota's goal of zero casualties from traffic accidents."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Jack Hollis, Group Vice President of Toyota North America:

"Through touch or voice commands, a guest can lock or unlock their doors, or start their engine or even check their fuel levels securely and safely. And on top of that, we are among the first to actually implement Alexa connectivity with the skills needed to execute from a home to car and car to home commands. This is just another example of how we're allowing our guests to better thrive and participate in the ever changing world of connective technology."

7. End of presentation on stage

LEADIN:

Car maker Toyota's announced it's teaming up with giant online retailer Amazon, restaurant chain Pizza Hut and the taxi services Uber and DiDi to create a new market place with no dividing line separating our lives from online commerce.

The company says it's a game changer turning it from a car manufacturer, to an all-encompassing mobility experience.

STORYLINE:

This is the new e-Palette, which Toyota hopes will transform the way we live and work in a future where fewer people are actually driving cars.

It's a series of modular vehicles which can be anything from a workplace, to a retail outlet to a shared ride.

According to Toyota, the e-Palette's open interior design layout means it can be outfitted with purpose-built interiors in accordance with the user's needs, whether it be for parcel delivery, ride sharing, or on-the-road e-commerce.

Toyota unveiled it's vision of a new age of automation at the Consumer Electronics Show.

The corporation's President Akio Toyoda explains the concept:

"We want the car to be a seamless extension of your phone and computers, a kind of personal assistant on wheels able to anticipate your needs through predictive artificial intelligence. A new mobility service platform is also the engine behind our car sharing test market in Hawaii and San Francisco. In the future much of mobility on demand, or mobility as a service will be powered by autonomy, which in turn is supported by vehicle electrification. Today I am pleased to announce that some of the initial members of our e-Palette alliance includes Amazon, DiDi, Pizza Hut and Uber, Mazda will also be a partner for e-Palette supporting our electrification plans. We want to thank each of these companies for joining us on a new mobility journey."

The company is also teaming up with the car company Mazda who will be a partner in the e-Palette alliance.

Toyoda is keen to dispel any lingering doubts about whether the furture of cars is electric: "Today Toyota offers 37 electrified vehicle models in over 90 countries. By the early 2020s, we'll have more than ten battery electric vehicles available worldwide."

Toyoda revealed he'd learned to drive at the mature age of 51 so that he could understand car design better.

Joking with his audience, he quipped electrification was the only topic of interest around the world apart from the wedding of Prince Harry this year.

He says: "Now I realise that battery electric, or all electric vehicles are what everybody's talking about these days, that and Prince Harry's engagement (audience laughs), but what's not often mentioned today is that less than one per cent of all vehicles sold in the US are battery electric, so there's "

This last comment from a company which has spearheaded the use of electric vehicles for everyday use, is an important prod to the US market.

At the end of the presentation, it was time for a selfie:"Now before I go, I don't often get to hang out with a group such as yourselves. So I'm wondering if it will be okay taking a selfie with you, is that okay? "

The audience at CES clearly approves.

Toyota plans to conduct feasibility testing of the e-Palette Concept in various regions, including the US in the early 2020s.

It also hopes to be the mobility solution of choice at the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.

CES, Las Vegas, US - 8 January 2017

1. Various of the new Toyota e-Palette

2. Wide zoom out of the live Toyota show at CES showing screen animations of how the e-Palette will be used

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Akio Toyoda, President, Toyota Motor Corporation

"We want the car to be a seamless extension of your phone and computers, a kind of personal assistant on wheels able to anticipate your needs through predictive artificial intelligence. Our new mobility service platform is also the engine behind our car sharing test market in Hawaii and San Francisco. In the future much of mobility on demand, or mobility as a service will be powered by autonomy, which in turn is supported by vehicle electrification. Today, I am pleased to announce that some of the initial members of our e-Palette alliance includes Amazon, DiDi, Pizza Hut and Uber, Mazda will also be a partner for e-Palette supporting our electrification plans. We want to thank each of these companies for joining us on a new mobility journey."

4. Wide of screens at live Toyota show demonstrating how e-Palette will act as a mobile shop and showroom

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Akio Toyoda, President, Toyota Motor Corporation

"Today Toyota offers 37 electrified vehicle models in over 90 countries. By the early 2020s, we'll have more than ten battery electric vehicles available worldwide."

6. Various of screens at live showing animations demonstrating how our transport can become our workspace, retail space and creating on demand cities

7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Akio Toyoda, President, Toyota Motor Corporation

"Now I realise that battery electric, or all electric vehicles are what everybody's talking about these days, that and Prince Harry's engagement (audience laughs), but what's not often mentioned is that today is that less than one per cent of all vehicles sold in the US are battery electric."

8. Wide of screens at Toyota's live showing how easily adaptable the e-Palette is

9. UPSOUND: (English) Akio Toyoda, President, Toyota Motor Corporation ++Zoom out of Toyoda as he begins to take selfies of himself and the audience++

"Now before I go, I don't often get to hang out with a group such as yourselves. So I'm wondering if it will be okay taking a selfie with you (laughter) is that okay? (applause)."

10. Zoom out of the Toyota team at the end of the show

Toyota Motor Corp. and Panasonic Corp. announced on Wednesday that they will begin talks to jointly develop batteries for electric vehicles (EVs).

The two Japanese companies have a long history of cooperation in producing batteries for hybrid vehicles, an area Toyota has been focusing on.

The Japanese auto giant currently has no EVs in its lineup, however.

Toyota has been leading eco-friendly cars since it launched the Prius, the world's first mass production hybrid vehicle, in 1997, followed by the Mirai fuel cell vehicle in 2014.

Toyota Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda, who took part in a news conference with Panasonic Corporation President Kazuhiro Tsuga in Tokyo, said the speed of change in the car industry was so fast, the company needed to engage with others such as Panasonic with their battery expertise so Japanese companies can be leaders in the EV industry.

Panasonic has been a leading maker in automotive lithium-ion batteries applied by automakers worldwide.

Panasonic's Tsuga meanwhile said his company hopes by working with Toyota it can advance improvements in its battery capability as well as possibly aim at developing the next generation of batteries.

Tokyo – 13 December 2017

1. Toyota Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda (screen-left) and Panasonic Corporation President Kazuhiro Tsuga at news conference

2. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation:

"The teaming up of the two companies in order to realise a richer and more fun mobile society than now will be a crystalisation of two Japanese companies that intend to lead this electric vehicle era."

3. Wide of news conference

4. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Kazuhiro Tsuga, President of Panasonic Corporation:

I think it (the battery) is a key factor for a wider use of EV (Electric Vehicles) and to realise a sustainable society as well as being an important business for us, Panasonic. In this context, we will further advance measurements to develop and produce (car batteries) by strengthening our cooperation with the car makers."

5. Various of Toyoda and Tsuga shaking hands and posing for the cameras

6. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation:

"EV is a vehicle that carries a heavy and expensive battery. That's what people think. If we continue to do what we are doing now, we cannot change this situation so we need to work with our alliance companies such as Panasonic to seek for 'better' production."

FILE: Tokyo – 25 October 2017

7. Various of Concept-i (EV Car) at the Tokyo Motor Show 2017

8. Various of Fine-Comfort Ride (Fuel Cell Car) at the Tokyo Motor Show 2017

Japan's No. 1 automaker Toyota Motor and technology giant SoftBank Group are setting up a joint venture to create mobility services in what they called a "united Japan" effort to face global competition.

The 2 billion yen (20 million US dollars) venture, Monet Technologies Corp. is meant to be running by the end of March.

It will work on on-demand vehicle services, food deliveries, data analysis and hospital shuttles with onboard medical exams, the companies said Thursday in a news conference at a Tokyo hotel.

The energy and telecoms company's past tie-ups have tended to be with overseas startups.

But Softbank has also invested in leading car-sharing companies like Uber, Didi and Grab, and has acquired Arm, a leader in the Internet of Things, or IoT.

Toyoda stressed the auto industry was changing in an era of connected cars, autonomous driving, car-sharing and electric vehicles.

SoftBank Chairman Masayoshi Son said he was thrilled to be partnering with a top automaker on mobility and artificial intelligence, his company's expertise.

The joint venture's services will roll out in Japan first, but a global expansion is in the works, the companies said. It's 50.25 percent owned by SoftBank, 49.75 percent by Toyota.

Toyota is developing autonomous vehicles in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Monet plans to roll out a business featuring autonomous vehicle services by the second half of 2020, they said.

Automakers around the world are forming tie-ups in the race to develop the next-generation of transportation, such as self-driving cars.

4 October 2018 – Tokyo, Japan

1. Wide of Masayoshi Son, Chairman, Softbank, walking onto stage

2. Wide of joint press conference

3. Mid of Son talking

4. Wide of audience

5. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Masayoshi Son, Chairman, Softbank:

"Toyota is number one in the world in area of mobility and Softbank is putting more emphasis on AI (artificial intelligence). This partnership between the two companies will give birth to a new era of mobility, something that hasn't been seen yet and I have a feeling that mobility will evolve."

6. Wide of Son talking

7. Close of people taking photos

8. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Masayoshi Son, Chairman, Softbank:

"This time, we partnered with Toyota and I think that the Monet's service will be carried out while utilizing technology that Toyota will develop for autonomous driving."

9. Wide of Akio Toyoda, Chief Executive, Toyota, walking onto stage and shaking hands with Son

10. Mid of people taking photos

11. Wide of Toyoda talking

12. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Akio Toyoda, Chief Executive, Toyota:

"Softbank is working with many teams trying to create new mobility services and to create a more exciting mobility society. I believe that the cooperation between the two companies will be an alliance to make the future mobility society a reality by incorporating these teams."

13. Wide of Toyoda talking

14. Close of people taking photos

15. Tilt down from logo to photo session of Son (left) and Toyoda (right) in the middle

16. Wide of photo session

17. Close of people taking photos

18. Close of photo session and Son and Toyoda shaking hands

Japanese automaker Toyota and electronics giant Panasonic are forming a joint venture combining their housing businesses in Japan to showcase technologies such as connected cars and the internet of things.

Toyota Motor Corp., which offers housing as well as vehicles in Japan, said the new company will offer homes showcasing those technologies.

Panasonic Corp. said its housing subsidiary will become part of the joint venture.

The companies said Thursday the deal should concluded by January 2020.

Both sides said communities will increasingly want connected cars, autonomous driving, car-sharing and ecological vehicles, and homes offering sustainable energy and gadgetry.

Earlier this year, Toyota and Panasonic announced a joint venture to research, manufacture and sell batteries for ecological autos, an increasingly lucrative sector amid concerns about global warming.

The companies have been studying working together on batteries since 2017.

Tokyo - 9 May 2019

1. Wide of press conference

2. Zoom-out of Masayoshi Shirayanagi, Operating Officer at Toyota Motor Corporation, walking

3. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Masayoshi Shirayanagi, Operating Officer at Toyota Motor Corporation:

"By providing mobility and livelihood technology from Toyota and Panasonic, housing makers and construction companies can promote and create a new kind of town development. That is the goal of establishing this joint venture."

4. Wide of press conference

5. Wide of people

6. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Makoto Kitano, Senior Managing Executive Officer and CEO of Life Solutions Company at Panasonic Corporation:

"We want to highly optimise cutting edge technology to provide safe, comfortable and convenient living. At the same time, we aim to create a town that can be updated daily so residents will be satisfied."

7. Close of people

8. Close pan from Toyota to Panasonic logos

9. Wide of press conference

LEAD IN:

Japan's Toyota Motor Corporation is best known for cars, but at CES in Las Vegas, the company has unveiled an ambitious new venture in urban planning.

Toyota says it will build a futurist new city on land in the shadow of Mount Fuji, and it plans to use the prototype town to test A-I, autonomous vehicles, and new forms of 21st century living.

STORY-LINE:

It's Toyota's vision for the city of the future, and the company says construction will start as soon as next year.

The company is billing the project as the "Woven City", a Hydrogen-powered, hyper connected prototype town that it says will initially house 2,000 people.

At a slick presentation of its plans at the CES in Las Vegas today (6 January 2020), the company said it was already seeking expressions of interest from aspiring residents.

And while Toyota's President and CEO Akio Toyoda admits the proposal is a bit of a departure from the company's bread and butter he says Toyota still very much has the future of cars on its mind.

"Everyone wants to know: when will cars truly drive themselves? When will they know what I'm thinking? When will they fly? And more importantly, when will cars actually transform into giant robot? Now, we might not be working on a Toyota transformer, but we are focussed on the future of connectivity, autonomy, shared mobility, and electrification - or CASE, as we call it," he says.

The "Woven City" would be a "living laboratory" that the company says would serve as a home to full-time residents, as well as researchers.

The city would be fully sustainable, and would be constructed around a a grid-like plan of streets and laneways.

Toyoda says his vision is for a town where commercial and academic researchers could collaborate and experiment.

"Imagine a fully controlled site that would allow researchers, engineers and scientists the opportunity to freely test technologies such as autonomy, mobility as a service, robotics, smart-home connected technology, AI (artificial intelligence), and more, in a real world environment," he says.

Toyota is stressing it's vision is for other companies to also use its new "Woven City" testing site too, which the company says will be built on a 175-acre site it owns at Higashi-Fuji in central Japan.

It's commissioning Danish architect Bjarke Ingels to design the urban form itself.

Ingels says the opportunity to design an entirely new city to test out emerging technologies and to create an enviable living environment is unique.

A key innovation: re-thinking the purpose and layout of city streets.

"So basically today the typical street is a mess, with everything and nothing everywhere," he says.

"So we started by splitting the typical street into three separate forms of mobility. The first type is for faster transportation, and every vehicle is autonomous, with zero emissions, and street trees create the necessary distinction between people and vehicles. The second type will be an urban promenade, shared by pedestrians, and slower personal mobility. And the final type of street will be a linear park, with paths for pedestrians only. So imagine walking from one part of town to the other, moving only through a park."

The "Woven City" will be powered by hydrogen, and buildings will be built mostly of wood to minimise the project's carbon footprint.

Traditional Japanese timber joining techniques will be used in construction.

The rooftops of the city's buildings will be covered in photo-voltaic cells that generate solar power, while underground there'll be a network of tunnels for autonomous vehicles to make deliveries and process waste.

Above ground, there are also some exciting innovations.

"A major piece of the puzzle in the whole city is the "Toyota E-Pallet", an autonomous vehicle that will serve for shared transportation and mobile retail," Ingels says.

"It is also going to make deliveries to the research and development labs, which rise above the central plaza. And the "E-Pallet" will also help create flexible programming in the central plaza, making the plaza the rebirth of the marketplace, the town square, or even the fairground. So in an age when technology, social media and online retail is replacing and eliminating our natural meeting places, the "Woven City" will explore ways to stimulate human interaction in the urban space."

All in all, it's an ambitious plan for a company best known for its cars, as Toyoda readily admits.

"You may be thinking: has this guy lost his mind? Is he like a Japanese version of Willy Wonka? Perhaps. But I truly believe this is a project that can benefit everyone, not just Toyota," he says.

Toyota plans to initially populate its city with its own employees and their families along with retirees, scientists and other collaborating researchers.

The town is envisaged to have an initial population of 2,000, but there's scope for more to move in later.

The "Woven City" plan was unveiled at CES in Las Vegas, a week-long conference that started yesterday (5 January 2020).

After two days of media-only previews, the show floor at CES will open to the public Tuesday through to Friday.

Las Vegas, Nevada, US - 6 January 2020

1. Wide of Toyota's "Woven City" promotional presentation at CES conference

2. Wide of crowds gathering for Toyota presentation

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Akio Toyoda, President and CEO, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"Everyone wants to know: when will cars truly drive themselves? When will they know what I'm thinking? When will they fly? And more importantly, when will cars actually transform into giant robot? Now, we might not be working on a Toyota transformer, but we are focussed on the future of connectivity, autonomy, shared mobility, and electrification - or CASE, as we call it."

4. Wide of "Woven City" promotional presentation showing urban layout, a city square, a road with autonomous vehicles and pedestrians, and a futuristic living room

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Akio Toyoda, President and CEO, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"Imagine a fully controlled site that would allow researchers, engineers and scientists the opportunity to freely test technologies such as autonomy, mobility as a service, robotics, smart-home connected technology, AI (artificial intelligence), and more, in a real world environment."

6. Wide of Akio Toyoda talking at CES with screen projects behind him

7. Pan out of Toyoda welcoming Bjarke Ingels, Founder and Creative Partner of Bjarke Ingels Group, to stage

8. Wide of Ingels talking on stage with computer projections on screen behind him

9 SOUNDBITE (English) , Founder and Creative Partner, Bjarke Ingels Group:

"So basically today the typical street is a mess, with everything and nothing everywhere. So we started by splitting the typical street into three separate forms of mobility. The first type is for faster transportation, and every vehicle is autonomous, with zero emissions, and street trees create the necessary distinction between people and vehicles. The second type will be an urban promenade, shared by pedestrians, and slower personal mobility. And the final type of street will be a linear park, with paths for pedestrians only. So imagine walking from one part of town to the other, moving only through a park."

10. Wide of Ingels talking on stage with projections of the below-ground infrastructure for the "Woven City" on screen behind him

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Bjarke Ingels, Founder and Creative Partner, Bjarke Ingels Group:

"A major piece of the puzzle in the whole city is the "Toyota E-Pallet", an autonomous vehicle that will serve for shared transportation and mobile retail. It is also going to make deliveries to the research and development labs, which rise above the central plaza. And the "E-Pallet" will also help create flexible programming in the central plaza, making the plaza the rebirth of the marketplace, the town square, or even the fairground. So in an age when technology, social media and online retail is replacing and eliminating our natural meeting places, the "Woven City" will explore ways to stimulate human interaction in the urban space."

12. Wide of Toyoda on stage with "Woven City" projections on screen behind him

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Akio Toyoda, President and CEO, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"You may be thinking: has this guy lost his mind? Is he like a Japanese version of Willy Wonka? Perhaps. But I truly believe this is a project that can benefit everyone, not just Toyota."

14. Pan out of Toyoda bowing on stage and shaking hands with Ingels

15. Close of Toyoda and Ingels shaking hands on stage

16. Pan right of projection of "Woven City" as crowds start to disperse

17. Wide of auditorium with crowds dispersing

LEAD IN:

SUVs are capturing the headlines at this year's New York International Auto Show (NYIAS).

Automakers are shoring up gaps in their SUV line-ups and revamping models that are already popular in the hottest-selling segment of the U.S. market.

STORY-LINE:

SUVs hit a record 43 percent of U.S. sales last year at just over 7.3 million, according to Kelley Blue Book.

Leading the way is Toyota with an all-new RAV4 compact SUV, which last year was the most popular vehicle in the U.S. that isn't a truck.

Toyota sold almost 408,000 RAV4 compact SUVs last year, making it the new American family car and the top-selling vehicle in the nation, aside from Detroit's popular big pickups.

In an effort to stay on top, Toyota is revamping the RAV for the 2019 model year.

Jack Hollis, Toyota Division Vice President and General Manager, is particularly excited about the hybrid version.

"RAV4 XXEHV is now the quickest across all RAV4 four models. Yes, that's right, the quickest RAV4 is a hybrid," he says.

Toyota is also rolling out a new, six-speed manual Corolla hatchback.

"Sporty Corollas?" says Hollis.

"Yeah, we know a thing or two about them, we also know about feel, that's why hatchback still has a six-speed manual transmission."

Nissan is introducing this redesigned Altima midsize sedan.

"Altima's V6 engine has been replaced with the world's first production VC Turbo four cylinder," says Nissan North America chairman Denis Le Vot.

"This engine generates the performance of a V6 with the fuel economy of a four-cylinder engine."

Lincoln's new midsize SUV, the Aviator, lets drivers ditch their key and instead drive it with a smartphone app.

"What could be more welcoming than never having to use your key fob? Because now your smartphone is your key," says Joy Falotico, chief marketing officer at Lincoln Motor Company.

The Aviator is an Explorer-like midsize SUV with three rows of seats to compete in the hot luxury SUV market.

Few details were given, except that it will have a twin-turbo engine of undisclosed size as well as a plug-in hybrid option.

It's set to go on sale sometime next year. The price wasn't disclosed.

The New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) opens to the public 30 March - 8 April 2018. Press days are on 28 and 29 March.

There are also new SUVs coming from Subaru, Volkswagen, Acura and Cadillac.

New York, US - 28 March 2018

1. Various of new Toyota RAV4 onstage, exterior and interior

2. Setup shot of Jack Hollis, Toyota Division Vice President and General Manager, speaking onstage

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Jack Hollis, Toyota Division Vice President and General Manager:

"RAV4 XXEHV is now the quickest across all RAV4 four models. Yes, that's right, the quickest RAV4 is a hybrid. It's sporty, has more power, and by the way, as you would expect - anticipated class-leading MPG."

4. Wide of new Toyota Corolla on stage

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jack Hollis, Toyota Division Vice President and General Manager:

"So, Corolla hatchback is now lower, wider, longer, which means together with its all-new four-cylinder, two-litre, dynamic shift, CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission), and updated suspension, this Corolla has more than a pinch of sports car soul. Sporty Corollas? Yeah, we know a thing or two about them, we also know about feel, that's why hatchback still has a six-speed manual transmission."

6. Various of new Toyota Corolla, exterior and interior

7. Various of new Nissan Altima being unveiled onstage

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Denis Le Vot, Nissan North America Chairman:

"Altima's V6 engine has been replaced with the world's first production VC Turbo four cylinder. This engine generates the performance of a V6 with the fuel economy of a four-cylinder engine. It also adapts on-demand to deliver thrilling horsepower or to run with extreme efficiency. Industry engineers have been working on this technology for decades. Nissan is proud to be the first to deliver it."

9. Various of Nissan Altima, exterior and interior

10. Mid of new Lincoln Aviator being unveiled onstage

11. Various of new Lincoln Aviator, exterior and interior shots

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Joy Falotico, Chief Marketing Officer, Lincoln Motor Company:

"What could be more welcoming than never having to use your key fob? Because now your smartphone is your key. Lincoln's phone is a key technology allows you to unlock, open the trunk, start and drive your Aviator, without a bulky fob in your pocket or purse."

13. Mid of new Lincoln Aviator onstage

LEAD IN:

SUVs are capturing the headlines at this year's New York International Auto Show (NYIAS).

Automakers are shoring up gaps in their SUV line-ups and revamping models that are already popular in the hottest-selling segment of the U.S. market.

STORY-LINE:

SUVs hit a record 43 percent of U.S. sales last year at just over 7.3 million, according to Kelley Blue Book.

Leading the way is Toyota with an all-new RAV4 compact SUV, which last year was the most popular vehicle in the U.S. that isn't a truck.

Toyota sold almost 408,000 RAV4 compact SUVs last year, making it the new American family car and the top-selling vehicle in the nation, aside from Detroit's popular big pickups.

In an effort to stay on top, Toyota is revamping the RAV for the 2019 model year.

Jack Hollis, Toyota Division Vice President and General Manager, is particularly excited about the hybrid version.

"RAV4 XXEHV is now the quickest across all RAV4 four models. Yes, that's right, the quickest RAV4 is a hybrid," he says.

Toyota is also rolling out a new, six-speed manual Corolla hatchback.

"Sporty Corollas?" says Hollis.

"Yeah, we know a thing or two about them, we also know about feel, that's why hatchback still has a six-speed manual transmission."

Nissan is introducing this redesigned Altima midsize sedan.

"Altima's V6 engine has been replaced with the world's first production VC Turbo four cylinder," says Nissan North America chairman Denis Le Vot.

"This engine generates the performance of a V6 with the fuel economy of a four-cylinder engine."

Lincoln's new midsize SUV, the Aviator, lets drivers ditch their key and instead drive it with a smartphone app.

"What could be more welcoming than never having to use your key fob? Because now your smartphone is your key," says Joy Falotico, chief marketing officer at Lincoln Motor Company.

The Aviator is an Explorer-like midsize SUV with three rows of seats to compete in the hot luxury SUV market.

Few details were given, except that it will have a twin-turbo engine of undisclosed size as well as a plug-in hybrid option.

It's set to go on sale sometime next year. The price wasn't disclosed.

The New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) opens to the public 30 March - 8 April 2018. Press days are on 28 and 29 March.

There are also new SUVs coming from Subaru, Volkswagen, Acura and Cadillac.

New York, US - 28 March 2018

1. Various of new Toyota RAV4 onstage, exterior and interior

2. Setup shot of Jack Hollis, Toyota Division Vice President and General Manager, speaking onstage

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Jack Hollis, Toyota Division Vice President and General Manager:

"RAV4 XXEHV is now the quickest across all RAV4 four models. Yes, that's right, the quickest RAV4 is a hybrid. It's sporty, has more power, and by the way, as you would expect - anticipated class-leading MPG."

4. Wide of new Toyota Corolla on stage

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jack Hollis, Toyota Division Vice President and General Manager:

"So, Corolla hatchback is now lower, wider, longer, which means together with its all-new four-cylinder, two-litre, dynamic shift, CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission), and updated suspension, this Corolla has more than a pinch of sports car soul. Sporty Corollas? Yeah, we know a thing or two about them, we also know about feel, that's why hatchback still has a six-speed manual transmission."

6. Various of new Toyota Corolla, exterior and interior

7. Various of new Nissan Altima being unveiled onstage

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Denis Le Vot, Nissan North America Chairman:

"Altima's V6 engine has been replaced with the world's first production VC Turbo four cylinder. This engine generates the performance of a V6 with the fuel economy of a four-cylinder engine. It also adapts on-demand to deliver thrilling horsepower or to run with extreme efficiency. Industry engineers have been working on this technology for decades. Nissan is proud to be the first to deliver it."

9. Various of Nissan Altima, exterior and interior

10. Mid of new Lincoln Aviator being unveiled onstage

11. Various of new Lincoln Aviator, exterior and interior shots

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Joy Falotico, Chief Marketing Officer, Lincoln Motor Company:

"What could be more welcoming than never having to use your key fob? Because now your smartphone is your key. Lincoln's phone is a key technology allows you to unlock, open the trunk, start and drive your Aviator, without a bulky fob in your pocket or purse."

13. Mid of new Lincoln Aviator onstage

LEAD IN:

SUVs are capturing the headlines at this year's New York International Auto Show (NYIAS).

Automakers are shoring up gaps in their SUV line-ups and revamping models that are already popular in the hottest-selling segment of the U.S. market.

STORY-LINE:

SUVs hit a record 43 percent of U.S. sales last year at just over 7.3 million, according to Kelley Blue Book.

Leading the way is Toyota with an all-new RAV4 compact SUV, which last year was the most popular vehicle in the U.S. that isn't a truck.

Toyota sold almost 408,000 RAV4 compact SUVs last year, making it the new American family car and the top-selling vehicle in the nation, aside from Detroit's popular big pickups.

In an effort to stay on top, Toyota is revamping the RAV for the 2019 model year.

Jack Hollis, Toyota Division Vice President and General Manager, is particularly excited about the hybrid version.

"RAV4 XXEHV is now the quickest across all RAV4 four models. Yes, that's right, the quickest RAV4 is a hybrid," he says.

Toyota is also rolling out a new, six-speed manual Corolla hatchback.

"Sporty Corollas?" says Hollis.

"Yeah, we know a thing or two about them, we also know about feel, that's why hatchback still has a six-speed manual transmission."

Nissan is introducing this redesigned Altima midsize sedan.

"Altima's V6 engine has been replaced with the world's first production VC Turbo four cylinder," says Nissan North America chairman Denis Le Vot.

"This engine generates the performance of a V6 with the fuel economy of a four-cylinder engine."

Lincoln's new midsize SUV, the Aviator, lets drivers ditch their key and instead drive it with a smartphone app.

"What could be more welcoming than never having to use your key fob? Because now your smartphone is your key," says Joy Falotico, chief marketing officer at Lincoln Motor Company.

The Aviator is an Explorer-like midsize SUV with three rows of seats to compete in the hot luxury SUV market.

Few details were given, except that it will have a twin-turbo engine of undisclosed size as well as a plug-in hybrid option.

It's set to go on sale sometime next year. The price wasn't disclosed.

The New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) opens to the public 30 March - 8 April 2018. Press days are on 28 and 29 March.

There are also new SUVs coming from Subaru, Volkswagen, Acura and Cadillac.

New York, US - 28 March 2018

1. Various of new Toyota RAV4 onstage, exterior and interior

2. Setup shot of Jack Hollis, Toyota Division Vice President and General Manager, speaking onstage

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Jack Hollis, Toyota Division Vice President and General Manager:

"RAV4 XXEHV is now the quickest across all RAV4 four models. Yes, that's right, the quickest RAV4 is a hybrid. It's sporty, has more power, and by the way, as you would expect - anticipated class-leading MPG."

4. Wide of new Toyota Corolla on stage

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jack Hollis, Toyota Division Vice President and General Manager:

"So, Corolla hatchback is now lower, wider, longer, which means together with its all-new four-cylinder, two-litre, dynamic shift, CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission), and updated suspension, this Corolla has more than a pinch of sports car soul. Sporty Corollas? Yeah, we know a thing or two about them, we also know about feel, that's why hatchback still has a six-speed manual transmission."

6. Various of new Toyota Corolla, exterior and interior

7. Various of new Nissan Altima being unveiled onstage

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Denis Le Vot, Nissan North America Chairman:

"Altima's V6 engine has been replaced with the world's first production VC Turbo four cylinder. This engine generates the performance of a V6 with the fuel economy of a four-cylinder engine. It also adapts on-demand to deliver thrilling horsepower or to run with extreme efficiency. Industry engineers have been working on this technology for decades. Nissan is proud to be the first to deliver it."

9. Various of Nissan Altima, exterior and interior

10. Mid of new Lincoln Aviator being unveiled onstage

11. Various of new Lincoln Aviator, exterior and interior shots

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Joy Falotico, Chief Marketing Officer, Lincoln Motor Company:

"What could be more welcoming than never having to use your key fob? Because now your smartphone is your key. Lincoln's phone is a key technology allows you to unlock, open the trunk, start and drive your Aviator, without a bulky fob in your pocket or purse."

13. Mid of new Lincoln Aviator onstage

LEADIN

The 2019 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is well underway, showcasing everything from walking cars to foldable phones.

Highlights also include rollable TVs along with developments in autonomous vehicles and smart home technology.

STORYLINE

This is the OLED TV R from the South Korean electronics giant LG.

The R stands for rollable, and that is exactly what this TV does.

It's one of many technology highlights from the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas

When it is not in use it rolls up in a box, and when a user presses the power button, the OLED TV R  rolls back out.

The technology was first shown at CES last year by LG Displays, a daughter company to LG that creates new display technology.

But the OLED TV R is the first time the technology has been put into a consumer-ready display.

A subsidiary company to the electronics giant LG, LG Display, is showcasing a transparent TV screen at the event.

It looks a bit like a standard OLED display, but with the press of a button it becomes transparent.

Transparent OLED displays have been shown before, but this one is the first one that you can't see through when its displaying video.

The technology can be used for commercial products, such as in stores or shopping windows.

But within a decade the technology could become a reality in people's homes.

"The transparency is up to 40 percent," explains Sungeon Park, an LG Display product specialist.

"And you can look right through the display to see the behind contents."

The future of vehicles is also being showcased at the show, with new concepts from Hyundai and Toyota.

Hyundai is unveiling a revolutionary new vehicle concept with wheels mounted on robotic legs.

The 'Elevate' is designed to climb terrain other vehicles can't, and has been specially modified for emergency response.

Meanwhile Toyota is unveiling its latest autonomous research vehicle: the TRI P4.

"It's based on the Lexus LS500h," explains Chief Executive Officer, Toyota Research Institute, Gill Pratt.

"The P4 is smarter, more agile and more responsive than any of its predecessors. It can process sensor inputs faster and react more quickly to the surrounding environment."

It uses two semi-autonomous systems, which Toyota is currently developing, dubbed "Guardian" and "Chauffeur".

Samsung is unveiling its future AI-powered robotics platforms, including Samsung Bot Care which helps consumers manage their daily health routines.

While LG is showing the home of the future. It features washing machines which offer advice and a home brewing kit which makes beer on tap just like a capsule coffee machine.

But while the electronics are demonstrating ways to make our lives easier, the partial government shutdown in the US means not everyone got to experience them.

Organisers say several scheduled government speakers cancelled their travel plans as a result.

These include Ajit Pai, head of the Federal Communications Commission, and at least nine other federal officials.

CES chief Gary Shapiro says it was "a little bit embarrassing as an American".

Meanwhile California-based company Royole are looking extremely proud of their foldable smartphone, the first of its kind to be available to customers.

The dual-sim device, called the FlexPai, has a 7 to 8 inch HD display that can be folded to create two smartphones, one for each sim card.

The device is now available for order from the Royole website for 1,318 US dollars but the company says it will take at least 60 to 90 days for customers to receive it.

CES 2019, the world's largest tech conference, runs Tuesday 8th to Friday 11th January.

Over 180,00 visitors are expected to attend the huge annual consumer electronics show in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas, US - 6 January 2019

1. LG OLED TV R, a new consumer-ready rollable TV, unrolling from box

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Tim Alessi, Head of Product marketing LG US

"Inside this box is a 65-inch, 4K HDR OLED display. Hard to believe right? I'll prove it to you. All I have to do is press the power button on the remote control and you can see the mechanism will automatically open the hatch. And out from the box will actually unroll the OLED display."

3. Various LG OLED TV R rolling in and out of box

Las Vegas, US - 7 January 2019

4. Various of transparent OLED display screen, shown by LG Display, a subsidiary company to LG

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sungeon Park, LG Display product specialist

"It's actually a transparent OLED display where the transparency is up to 40 percent. And you can look right through the display to see the behind contents."

6. Hyundai promotional video showing concept of the 'Elevate'

7. SOUNDBITE (English) David Byron, Industrial Design Manager, Sundberg-Ferar

"A vehicle with legs could drive first responders to a location like any traditional vehicle, but then walk or climb over treacherous terrain to directly reach the injured or stranded like you just saw in the video."

8. Close of model walking UPSOUND (English) David Byron, Industrial Design Manager, Sundberg-Ferar:

"Now what you're seeing here is it moving in a reptilian mode, which is the most stable for off road conditions. But the hip joint design allows it to rotate into mammalian if you want to walk faster or more efficiently in a linear direction."

9. Hyundai promotional video showing concept of the 'Elevate'

10. Toyota's new semi-autonomous P4 prototype driving onto stage UPSOUND (English) Gill Pratt, Chief Executive Officer, Toyota Research Institute:

"It's based on the Lexus LS500h, the P4 is smarter, more agile and more responsive than any of its predecessors. It can process sensor inputs faster and react more quickly to the surrounding environment."

11. Mid of Samsung Bot Care robot talking on stage

12. Wide of Yoon Lee, Senior Vice President, Product Innovation at Samsung Electronics America, on stage having his vital signs checked by Samsung Bot Care robot

13. Close of screen showing graphic sequence explaining how LG's Pro Active Customer Care will work

14. Wide zoom in to Vanderwaal on stage taking 'washing' out of the washing machine and putting it in the 'dryer'.

15. UPSOUND: (English) voice of interactive washing machine and David Vanderwaal talking to each other

"Since installation of this washing machine, you've washed thirty loads, I think now is a good time for you to run a tub cleaning cycle. Would you like to run tub clean?"

"Sounds interesting, but I don't know what is tub clean?

"Tub clean is a maintenance routine that is recommended to keep your washer clean as new."

Las Vegas - 6 January 2019

16. Various of LG Beer Brewing machine HomeBrew

Las Vegas, US - 7 January 2019

17. UPSOUND: (English) David Vanderwaal, Senior Vice President Marketing, LG Electronics (holding a pint of beer)

"Our first ever beer maker, now you can make and enjoy your own cold, tasty beer in the comfort of your own home with little more than a simple touch of a button."

Las Vegas, US - 5 January 2018

18. Wide of Las Vegas Strip

19. Close of Las Vegas Statue of Liberty

20. Close of New York New York sign

21. Wide of CES banners

Las Vegas, US - 6 January 2018

22. SOUNDBITE (English) Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Technology Association:

"When the government shuts down because of an impasse it does effect the ability of government leaders to travel, it won't really make, or break the show, we have government leaders coming from round the world. It's a little bit embarrassing, as an American it's not my favourite thing, but this show is so strong, so powerful, there's so much innovation and so many companies and so much interest globally, I feel really good."

Las Vegas, US - 7 January 2019

23. Various of Royole FlexPai foldable smartphone being, founder Bill Liu explaining the various features

24. SOUNDBITE: (English) Bill Liu, founder of Royole

"As you can see, this is based on the flexible display. And it looks like a traditional smartphone. But the difference is you can unfold it to a pad."

25. Various of Royole FlexPai foldable smartphone being, founder Bill Liu explaining the various features

LEAD IN

The Beijing auto show is offering a glimpse of future-driving, from autonomous vehicles to flying cars.

Also on show is the e-Palette, originally aimed at transporting athletes and staff at the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.

STORY-LINE:

This is the Honda SUV e:concept.

The automaker says it will be the future model for its first electric vehicle in China.

"This unique sports EV of Honda realises dynamic performance, together with a high level of environmental performance," says Katsushi Inoue, in charge of Honda operations in China.

Honda says the new model will include its next generation sensor technologies called "omnidirectional ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System)" that uses wider front camera angles and a 360-degree radar to enable safer driving.

"This system will be able to assist safe driving in more complex and diverse driving conditions on highways and surface roads," the company said in a press release.

The car will also offer "Honda Connect" which is to feature connections with smartphones and AI assistance.

On display from Chinese startup Xpeng is a flying vehicle prototype called Kiwigogo. The drone-like machine has eight propellers with operating consoles on the driver's arm rest.

Toyota and Hongqi are both displaying autonomous driving cars.

First unveiled in 2018, Toyota's battery-electric e-Palette, offers a high level of automation with a flexible customisation, including ride-sharing or mobile shops. Launch partners included Amazon, Chinese taxi app DiDi and Pizza Hut.

The company had initially planned for up to 20 e-Palette vehicles to be used to at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games to transport athletes and staff.

The e-Palette geared for Olympic Games can transport up to 20 passengers, with a range of approximately 150km, and speed of 19 km/h. Alternatively it can accommodate up to 4 wheelchairs and 7 standing passengers.

Hongqi's flashy autonomous concept car caters to smaller groups, with a large entertainment screen in a spacious 3-seater interior.  

A Hongqi representative says the concept car envisions uses for tours and sightseeing, with the goal of putting the vehicle on the market next year.

While flying cars may yet be a long way off from being on the market, Huaibin Lin, IHS Markit, Manager of China Light Vehicle Sales Forecast says autonomous vehicles may affect the auto industry in the next decade.

"It's definitely the ultimate goal of a lot of car companies," he says, noting many auto giants have invested in automated or semi-automated driving.

"Maybe within 10 years we could see some impact already on car demand, because with autonomous driving, you probably won't need as many cars as you used to, especially looking at multi-car households, you'll probably just need one car," says Lin.

China's major auto shows, held in Beijing and Shanghai in alternate years, are among the industry's biggest events, attracting global automakers and dozens of Chinese brands.

This week's event follows a smaller auto show in July in the western city of Chengdu with 120 exhibitors, equal to about 10% of the size of the typical Beijing and Shanghai shows.

The Beijing Auto Show opened to the media and trade industry Saturday, and opens to the public from September 30th to October 5th.

***COMMERCIAL MUSIC, MUSIC VIDEO AND OR PERFORMANCES, MUST BE CLEARED ACCORDING TO YOUR OWN LOCAL MUSIC PERFORMANCE AND COPYRIGHT AGREEMENTS WITH YOUR APPLICABLE COLLECTING SOCIETY***

Beijing – 26 September 2020

1. Various of the unveiling of the Honda SUV e:Concept

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Inoue Katsushi, Honda China region head

"This unique sports EV of Honda realises dynamic performance, together with a high level of environmental performance. And as we want to offer the fun of such driving, with safety and peace of mind, this concept model will demonstrate the vision of advanced safety driving with omnidirectional ADAS. Furthermore, this model will be equipped with next generation Honda Connect."    

3. Close of Honda's concept car

4. Wide of Honda stage with executives

5. Pan of Honda executives

6. Wide of Honda concept

7. Close of wheel

8. Close of Honda logo and nose

9. Wide of Xpeng flying car, Kiwigogo

10. Close of Kiwigogo seat and controls

11. Close of Kiwigogo logo

12. Close of Kiwigogo legs

13. Tilt up of Kiwigogo

14. Close of control screen

15. Wide of Kiwigogo

Shanghai – 28 September 2020

++ ZOOM INTERVIEW, QUALITY AS INCOMING ++

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Huaibin Lin, IHS Markit, Manager of China Light Vehicle Sales Forecast

"Flying cars are definitely not within our forecast horizon yet because for us it still seems to be quite a distance away, but then autonomous cars, seriously, would theoretically have quite an impact in 10 years time because you see a lot of OEM or car companies now make a lot of investments on autonomous driving - (for example) Tesla with auto pilot. Although it's not close to full real auto pilot - where you don't need to look at the wheels and just read and play in cars, still we're not reaching that level but it's definitely the ultimate goal of a lot of car companies."

Beijing – 26 September 2020

17. Wide of visitors at auto show

18. Mid of visitors at auto show

Shanghai – 28 September 2020

++ ZOOM INTERVIEW, QUALITY AS INCOMING ++

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Huaibin Lin, IHS Markit, Manager of China Light Vehicle Sales Forecast

"Maybe within 10 years we could see some impact already on car demand, because with autonomous driving, you probably don't need as many cars as you used to, especially looking at multi-car households, you'll probably just need one car, because for example, when a husband drives the car to work, then the car can come back and pick up his wife to go to another job so you don't need so many cars. Indeed, in the end, the impact, if it is becoming real functional (car), that consumers can accept, autonomous vehicles could have impact on car demand in the future."

Beijing – 26 September 2020

20. Tracking shot of BMW's Concept i4 driving onto stage

21. Pan of BMW i4

22. Wide of i4

23. Interior of i4

24. Close of i4 steering wheel

25. Close of i4 nose

26. Wide of Toyota's e-Palette autonomous driving concept car

27. Wide of Toyota show booth

28. Pan of Toyota's Mirai Concept

29. Wide of Mirai Concept

30. Wide of Hongqi autonomous driving concept car

31. Pan of Hongqi concept interior

32. Close of Hongqi logo on car

33. Wide of Hongqi concept exterior

34. Close of wheel

LEADIN:

Auto manufacturers are unveiling their latest vehicles at the Beijing Motor Show.

Electric cars are taking centre stage this year - buoyed by their popularity in the Chinese market.

STORYLINE:

The Mercedes Benz C Class L Sedan rolls out at the Beijing Motor Show.

The luxury carmaker is also debuting the  A-Class L Sedan - complete with a dance troupe of selfie-takers.

Both cars are upgraded versions of models that were top-sellers in the China market.

Germany's BMW unveils its new all-electric concept vehicle, the iX3.

Harald Kruger, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW, tells the audience it will go into production in 2020 and will be made in China.

The car will be made at the automakers' joint venture plant in Shenyang.

There are mounting trade tensions between Beijing and US President Donald Trump, who has threatened to hike tariffs on Chinese goods including automobiles in a dispute over technology policy.

The impact on automakers should be small, according to industry analysts, because exports amount to only a few thousand vehicles a year. Those include a GM SUV, the Envision, and Volvo Cars sedans made in China for export to the United States.

But BMW management is optimistic it will be shielded from any negative impact.

"We have a very strong presence in China. We are increasing now capacity beyond 500,000 cars per year," says Nicolas Peter, BMW Board Member for Finance.

"We are in discussion with our joint venture partner to localise even more products and on the other hand side we have a strong footprint in Europe and in the US, so we can be very flexible in this global production network. Of course, we appreciate free trade because we believe that this is beneficial at the end of the day for everyone in the world, but we can react fast to adapt to changes."

The Beijing Motor Show is the world's largest auto show, with car manufacturers unveiling a kaleidoscope of fuel efficient vehicles – in particular electric cars designed for the China market.

China accounted for half of last year's global electric car sales, boosted by subsidies and other prodding from communist leaders who want to make their country a centre for the emerging technology.

"The big theme of the 2018 Beijing Motor Show is the proliferation of SUVs, crossovers and electric vehicles," says Hans Greiml, Asia Editor for Automotive News.

"Everybody's coming out with some kind of electric vehicle or crossover because they are two main segments of the market here that are really booming. Everybody wants to buy a crossover because it's very popular, and in China everybody has to introduce an EV (electric vehicle) because of government mandates, so there are two forces driving these trends."

First-quarter sales of electrics and gasoline-electric hybrids rose 154 percent over a year earlier to 143,000 units, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. That compares with sales of just under 200,000 for all of last year in the United States, the No. 2 market.

China's total sales of SUVs, sedans and minivans reached 24.7 million units last year, compared with 17.2 million for the United States.

SUVs are the industry's cash cow. First-quarter sales rose 11.3 percent over a year earlier to 2.6 million, or almost 45 percent of total auto sales, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

Ford is showing its Mondeo Energi plug-in hybrid, its first electric model for China, which went on sale in March. Plans call for Ford and its luxury unit, Lincoln, to release 15 new electrified vehicles by 2025.

"I would say that Chinese customers are at the leading edge of expectations of connectivity with the greater eco-system than any other customers in the world," says Trevor Worthington, Vice President of Product Development at Ford Asia Pacific.

"I think the work we're doing here in China, we know that it's going to serve the rest of the Ford global world well, but it really is all here. The expectation of connectivity, the expectation of navigation, native voice, the expectation of being able to pay bills, being able to organise parking, remotely unlocking or locking the car, remotely starting the car, this vehicle has many, many technology features that work in partnership with that level of connectivity."

Meanwhile, Japanese automaker Toyota has taken the wraps off its new Corolla Plug-in Hybrid and the Levin Plug-in Hybrid, with production also set to be in China to be launched in 2019. Toyota says it plans to introduce 10 new electronic vehicles by 2020.

New but fast-growing Chinese auto makers trail global rivals in traditional gasoline technology but industry analysts say the top Chinese brands are catching up in electrics, a market with no entrenched leaders.

Chery Automobile Co. showed a lineup that included two electric sedans, an SUV and a hatchback, all promising 250 to 400 kilometres (150 to 250 miles) on a charge. They include futuristic features such as internet-linked navigation and smartphone-style dashboard displays.

Chery was China's biggest auto exporter last year, selling 108,000 gasoline-powered vehicles abroad, though mostly in developing markets such as Russia and Egypt.

"I think in China the two biggest challenges are, number one: there is or will be hyper-competition here. There's so many new brands coming online, and the old brands here in China are getting better, so hyper-competition is the rule here," says James Chao, Asia-Pacific chief at consultancy IHS Markit.

"Number two is how do you, as an automaker, comply with regulations which are actually very hard to meet and potentially changing also. So its's these two issues are hardest for automakers to deal with."

Ford and other brands showed off some of the dozens of electric SUVs, sedans and other models they say are planned for China.

GM plans to launch 10 electrics or hybrids in China by 2020.

VW is due to launch 15 electrics and hybrids in the next two to three years as part of a 10 billion euro ($12 billion) development plan announced in November.

Nissan says it will roll out 20 electrified models in China over the next five years.

The motor show runs until May 4.

Beijing, China - 25 April 2018

1. Tracking shot of Mercedes Benz rollout of C Class L Sedan

2. Close of C Class L Sedan

3. Wide of dancers and rollout of Mercedes Benz A Class L Sedan

4. Close pan of A Class L Sedan

5. Wide tilt down of the Beijing Auto Show

6. Mid of photographer taking picture

7. Wide of BMW cars and media

8. Zoom in of BMW M2 Competition driving out

9. Zoom in of BMW World Premiere of the iX3

10. Harald Kruger, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW, addressing audience

UPSOUND (English) "The iX3 will be the first all-electric BMW core model and will go into production in 2020. It will be produced in China."

11. Various of BMW iX3 concept car

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicolas Peter, BMW Board Member for Finance:

"We have a very strong presence in China. We are increasing now capacity beyond 500,000 cars per year. We are in discussion with our joint venture partner to localise even more products and on the other hand side we have a strong footprint in Europe and in the US, so we can be very flexible in this global production network. Of course, we appreciate free trade because we believe that this is beneficial at the end of the day for everyone in the world, but we can react fast to adapt to changes."

13. Wide of auto show

14. Various of people looking at BMW cars

15. Wide of Hans Greiml, Asia Editor for Automotive News

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Hans Greiml, Asia Editor for Automotive News

"Well, the big theme of the 2018 Beijing Motor Show is the proliferation of SUVs, crossovers and electric vehicles. That's the big theme, everybody's coming out with some kind of electric vehicle or crossover because they are two main segments of the market here that are really booming. Everybody wants to buy a crossover because it's very popular, and in China everybody has to introduce an EV (electric vehicle) because of government mandates, so there are two forces driving these trends."

17. Various of Ford booth

18. SOUNDBITE (English) Trevor Worthington, Vice President of Product Development at Ford Asia Pacific

"I would say that Chinese customers are at the leading edge of expectations of connectivity with the greater eco-system than any other customers in the world, and I think the work we're doing here in China, we know that it's going to serve the rest of the Ford global world well, but it really is all here. The expectation of connectivity, the expectation of navigation, native voice, the expectation of being able to pay bills, being able to organise parking, remotely unlocking or locking the car, remotely starting the car, this vehicle has many, many technology features that work in partnership with that level of connectivity."

19. Various of Toyota's new Plug-in Corolla being rolled out

20. People taking photos of car

21. Pan of cars on stage

22. Wide of Toyota booth

23. Various of Corolla Toyota

24. Wide of Chinese automaker Chery

25. Mid of Chery car

26. Wide of James Chao, Asia-Pacific chief at consultancy IHS Markit:

27. SOUNDBITE (English) James Chao, Asia-Pacific chief at consultancy IHS Markit

"I think in China the two biggest challenges are, number one: there is or will be hyper-competition here. There's so many new brands coming online, and the old brands here in China are getting better, so hyper-competition is the rule here. Number two is how do you, as an automaker, comply with regulations which are actually very hard to meet and potentially changing also. So its's these two issues are hardest for automakers to deal with."

28. Various of cars and visitors

LEADIN:

Auto manufacturers are unveiling their latest vehicles at the Beijing Motor Show.

Electric cars are taking centre stage this year - buoyed by their popularity in the Chinese market.

STORYLINE:

The Mercedes Benz C Class L Sedan rolls out at the Beijing Motor Show.

The luxury carmaker is also debuting the  A-Class L Sedan - complete with a dance troupe of selfie-takers.

Both cars are upgraded versions of models that were top-sellers in the China market.

Germany's BMW unveils its new all-electric concept vehicle, the iX3.

Harald Kruger, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW, tells the audience it will go into production in 2020 and will be made in China.

The car will be made at the automakers' joint venture plant in Shenyang.

There are mounting trade tensions between Beijing and US President Donald Trump, who has threatened to hike tariffs on Chinese goods including automobiles in a dispute over technology policy.

The impact on automakers should be small, according to industry analysts, because exports amount to only a few thousand vehicles a year. Those include a GM SUV, the Envision, and Volvo Cars sedans made in China for export to the United States.

But BMW management is optimistic it will be shielded from any negative impact.

"We have a very strong presence in China. We are increasing now capacity beyond 500,000 cars per year," says Nicolas Peter, BMW Board Member for Finance.

"We are in discussion with our joint venture partner to localise even more products and on the other hand side we have a strong footprint in Europe and in the US, so we can be very flexible in this global production network. Of course, we appreciate free trade because we believe that this is beneficial at the end of the day for everyone in the world, but we can react fast to adapt to changes."

The Beijing Motor Show is the world's largest auto show, with car manufacturers unveiling a kaleidoscope of fuel efficient vehicles – in particular electric cars designed for the China market.

China accounted for half of last year's global electric car sales, boosted by subsidies and other prodding from communist leaders who want to make their country a centre for the emerging technology.

"The big theme of the 2018 Beijing Motor Show is the proliferation of SUVs, crossovers and electric vehicles," says Hans Greiml, Asia Editor for Automotive News.

"Everybody's coming out with some kind of electric vehicle or crossover because they are two main segments of the market here that are really booming. Everybody wants to buy a crossover because it's very popular, and in China everybody has to introduce an EV (electric vehicle) because of government mandates, so there are two forces driving these trends."

First-quarter sales of electrics and gasoline-electric hybrids rose 154 percent over a year earlier to 143,000 units, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. That compares with sales of just under 200,000 for all of last year in the United States, the No. 2 market.

China's total sales of SUVs, sedans and minivans reached 24.7 million units last year, compared with 17.2 million for the United States.

SUVs are the industry's cash cow. First-quarter sales rose 11.3 percent over a year earlier to 2.6 million, or almost 45 percent of total auto sales, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

Ford is showing its Mondeo Energi plug-in hybrid, its first electric model for China, which went on sale in March. Plans call for Ford and its luxury unit, Lincoln, to release 15 new electrified vehicles by 2025.

"I would say that Chinese customers are at the leading edge of expectations of connectivity with the greater eco-system than any other customers in the world," says Trevor Worthington, Vice President of Product Development at Ford Asia Pacific.

"I think the work we're doing here in China, we know that it's going to serve the rest of the Ford global world well, but it really is all here. The expectation of connectivity, the expectation of navigation, native voice, the expectation of being able to pay bills, being able to organise parking, remotely unlocking or locking the car, remotely starting the car, this vehicle has many, many technology features that work in partnership with that level of connectivity."

Meanwhile, Japanese automaker Toyota has taken the wraps off its new Corolla Plug-in Hybrid and the Levin Plug-in Hybrid, with production also set to be in China to be launched in 2019. Toyota says it plans to introduce 10 new electronic vehicles by 2020.

New but fast-growing Chinese auto makers trail global rivals in traditional gasoline technology but industry analysts say the top Chinese brands are catching up in electrics, a market with no entrenched leaders.

Chery Automobile Co. showed a lineup that included two electric sedans, an SUV and a hatchback, all promising 250 to 400 kilometres (150 to 250 miles) on a charge. They include futuristic features such as internet-linked navigation and smartphone-style dashboard displays.

Chery was China's biggest auto exporter last year, selling 108,000 gasoline-powered vehicles abroad, though mostly in developing markets such as Russia and Egypt.

"I think in China the two biggest challenges are, number one: there is or will be hyper-competition here. There's so many new brands coming online, and the old brands here in China are getting better, so hyper-competition is the rule here," says James Chao, Asia-Pacific chief at consultancy IHS Markit.

"Number two is how do you, as an automaker, comply with regulations which are actually very hard to meet and potentially changing also. So its's these two issues are hardest for automakers to deal with."

Ford and other brands showed off some of the dozens of electric SUVs, sedans and other models they say are planned for China.

GM plans to launch 10 electrics or hybrids in China by 2020.

VW is due to launch 15 electrics and hybrids in the next two to three years as part of a 10 billion euro ($12 billion) development plan announced in November.

Nissan says it will roll out 20 electrified models in China over the next five years.

The motor show runs until May 4.

Beijing, China - 25 April 2018

1. Tracking shot of Mercedes Benz rollout of C Class L Sedan

2. Close of C Class L Sedan

3. Wide of dancers and rollout of Mercedes Benz A Class L Sedan

4. Close pan of A Class L Sedan

5. Wide tilt down of the Beijing Auto Show

6. Mid of photographer taking picture

7. Wide of BMW cars and media

8. Zoom in of BMW M2 Competition driving out

9. Zoom in of BMW World Premiere of the iX3

10. Harald Kruger, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW, addressing audience

UPSOUND (English) "The iX3 will be the first all-electric BMW core model and will go into production in 2020. It will be produced in China."

11. Various of BMW iX3 concept car

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicolas Peter, BMW Board Member for Finance:

"We have a very strong presence in China. We are increasing now capacity beyond 500,000 cars per year. We are in discussion with our joint venture partner to localise even more products and on the other hand side we have a strong footprint in Europe and in the US, so we can be very flexible in this global production network. Of course, we appreciate free trade because we believe that this is beneficial at the end of the day for everyone in the world, but we can react fast to adapt to changes."

13. Wide of auto show

14. Various of people looking at BMW cars

15. Wide of Hans Greiml, Asia Editor for Automotive News

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Hans Greiml, Asia Editor for Automotive News

"Well, the big theme of the 2018 Beijing Motor Show is the proliferation of SUVs, crossovers and electric vehicles. That's the big theme, everybody's coming out with some kind of electric vehicle or crossover because they are two main segments of the market here that are really booming. Everybody wants to buy a crossover because it's very popular, and in China everybody has to introduce an EV (electric vehicle) because of government mandates, so there are two forces driving these trends."

17. Various of Ford booth

18. SOUNDBITE (English) Trevor Worthington, Vice President of Product Development at Ford Asia Pacific

"I would say that Chinese customers are at the leading edge of expectations of connectivity with the greater eco-system than any other customers in the world, and I think the work we're doing here in China, we know that it's going to serve the rest of the Ford global world well, but it really is all here. The expectation of connectivity, the expectation of navigation, native voice, the expectation of being able to pay bills, being able to organise parking, remotely unlocking or locking the car, remotely starting the car, this vehicle has many, many technology features that work in partnership with that level of connectivity."

19. Various of Toyota's new Plug-in Corolla being rolled out

20. People taking photos of car

21. Pan of cars on stage

22. Wide of Toyota booth

23. Various of Corolla Toyota

24. Wide of Chinese automaker Chery

25. Mid of Chery car

26. Wide of James Chao, Asia-Pacific chief at consultancy IHS Markit:

27. SOUNDBITE (English) James Chao, Asia-Pacific chief at consultancy IHS Markit

"I think in China the two biggest challenges are, number one: there is or will be hyper-competition here. There's so many new brands coming online, and the old brands here in China are getting better, so hyper-competition is the rule here. Number two is how do you, as an automaker, comply with regulations which are actually very hard to meet and potentially changing also. So its's these two issues are hardest for automakers to deal with."

28. Various of cars and visitors

LEADIN

The 87th edition of the Geneva Motor Show it about to open - and as always the focus is on luxury.

But this year, analysts say a range of new SUVs, super performance cars and new technology are also set to attract attention.

STORYLINE

Some of the hottest luxury cars on the market are in poll position for the Geneva Motor Show.

Car makers such as Bentley, Porsche, Lamborghini and Ferrari are all set to show off their latest creations to more than 700,000 expected visitors.

The 87th edition of the Geneva Motor Show opens to the public on Wednesday - and as ever, the focus is on sky high prices and ultra performance.

"Geneva is definitely about higher-end cars. So we will see a lot of super cars make their debuts here. Cars in the 200-300 thousand dollar price range. Cars with hundreds and hundreds of horse power. High speed. Exotic materials. A lot of performance. It is really a lot of what Geneva is about. You see some of those beautiful cars here on display," says Tim Stevens, presenter of the Roadshow on CNET.

"But we will be seeing some more attainable cars too. We are seeing some new SUVs being displayed here as well, some new technologies as well that may make cars more efficient and more economical in the future. So it will be a nice blend of technologies we'll see here at the show this year."

In total 900 models will be shown by 180 exhibitors, including 148 world and European premiers, according to organisers.

On Monday and Tuesday around 10,000 representatives from the worldwide press will attend before the show opens to the public on Wednesday.

The focus will be on the new releases, says Matt DeLorenzo, managing editor for the auto analyst organisation Kelley Blue Book.

"Well, two things to look at at the Geneva Motor Show this year are the appearance of high-end specialty built cars. Like the Ferrari 812 Superfast. This is a show that normally appeals to high net worth individuals so you will see a lot of these very special high performance cars here. McLaren is going to have an all new car, replacing the 650 S. And Porsche is going to do an update of the 911 GT3, and they are also showing sort of a station wagon version of the Panamera which is all new for them."

Overshadowing the show on Monday is the news that General Motors is selling Opel to the French Peugeot group PSA.

It will make PSA the second largest European car maker after Volkswagen.

"It is a pretty major development for General Motors, you know, as they try to strive towards more profitability. Those brands have always been money losers for them effectively. They haven't really been able to capitalise on the European market. So ultimately it gives Peugeot a big boost in the European market," says Stevens.

"I think right now, in the short term it is a lot of cash for GM which is great. And kind of losing some of the brands that have been losing them money. But the implication for Peugeot, that remains to be seen. But definitely it's a huge development right now and with all the changes going on in the geo-political nature, exactly what that's going to shake out to be, a little too early to tell. We will see."

Another issue that continues to be on the minds of those in the automobile industry is the emissions scandal that has engulfed Volkswagen in controversy since September 2015.

But DeLorenzo says the so-called "diesel-gate" saga is attracting less attention than at previous shows.

"The Volkswagen scandal seems to be fading from the picture. And the fact that they are outselling Toyota means that the public still has an interest in buying their products. Their non-diesel products. So if they can keep that momentum going with cars like the Arteon, I think they are going to be in a much better shape than what people thought they would be a year ago," he says.

But all other things aside, the Geneva Motor Show is the time for luxury to shine.

There have been some recent concerns in the industry about a possible slowdown global luxury car market, with some analysts pointing to slowing sales in Asia and particularly China as a reason to worry.

But according to Stevens, the luxury car market is still strong, at least for the time being.

"We are still seeing a lot of success in the luxury car market. The market definitely seems to be kind of peaking out, maybe beginning a decline. So that may be changing in the near future. But for now companies like Mercedes Benz are still seeing record sales," he says.

"Sales are still increasing, and markets are still very very strong for them. So we are seeing more and more luxurious models. In fact we will see a very very luxurious large SUV from Mercedes Benz displayed here, the Landaulet. A very large version of their Gelenvagen. A big luxurious car. We are seeing that here so we will be seeing more luxurious cars here than we have in the past. And again the market is looking strong for now but there is definitely indications that it might be changing very near."

The Geneva Motor Show opens to the public on 9 March and runs through March 19.

Geneva - 6 March 2017

1. Various of car at Pagani booth at the Geneva Motor Show

2. Wide of MTM showing Bentley cars

3. Tilt up of car

4. Exterior of Palexpo in Geneva where the motor show is taking place

5. Various of signs for motor show

6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Tim Stevens, presenter of the Roadshow on CNET:

"Well, Geneva is definitely about higher-end cars. So we will see a lot of super cars make their debuts here. Cars in the 200-300 thousand dollar price range. Cars with hundreds and hundreds of horse power. High speed. Exotic materials. A lot of performance. It is really a lot of what Geneva is about. You see some of those beautiful cars here on display. But we will be seeing some more attainable cars too. We are seeing some new SUVs being displayed here as well, some new technologies as well that may make cars more efficient and more economical in the future. So it will be a nice blend of technologies we'll see here at the show this year."

7. Wide tilt of Zenvo car

8 . Tilt up of car

9. Pan of David Brown Automotive booth

10. Various of Sbarro booth

11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Matt DeLorenzo, Managing editor for Kelley Blue Book auto analyst organisation:

"Well, two things to look at at the Geneva Motor Show this year are the appearance of high-end specialty built cars. Like the Ferrari 812 Superfast. This is a show that normally appeals to high net worth individuals so you will see a lot of these very special high performance cars here. McLaren is going to have an all new car, replacing the 650 S. And Porsche is going to do an update of the 911 GT3, and they are also showing sort of a station wagon version of the Panamera which is all new for them."

12. Various of Opel stand with cars covered before opening

13. SOUNDBITE: (English) Tim Stevens, presenter of the Roadshow on CNET:

"General motors have just confirmed that they are selling their European brands to PSA, to Peugeot group. It is a pretty major development for General Motors, you know, as they try to strive towards more profitability. Those brands have always been money losers for them effectively. They haven't really been able to capitalise on the European market. So ultimately it gives Peugeot a big boost in the European market. A lot of new brands, a lot of new cars they can build upon. And a lot of new technologies as well. So it will be an interesting development to so how that works. I think right now, in the short term it is a lot of cash for GM which is great. And kind of losing some of the brands that have been losing them money. But the implication for Peugeot, that remains to be seen. But definitely it's a huge development right now and with all the changes going on in the geo-political nature, exactly what that's going to shake out to be, a little too early to tell. We will see."

14. Various exteriors of show venue

15. SOUNDBITE: (English) Matt DeLorenzo, Managing editor for Kelley Blue Book auto analyst organisation:

"The Volkswagen scandal seems to be fading from the picture. And the fact that they are outselling Toyota means that the public still has an interest in buying their products. Their non-diesel products. So if they can keep that momentum going with cars like the Arteon, I think they are going to be in a much better shape than what people thought they would be a year ago."

16. Various of Noble booth at the show

17. SOUNDBITE: (English) Tim Stevens, presenter of the Roadshow on CNET:

"We are still seeing a lot of success in the luxury car market. The market definitely seems to be kind of peaking out, maybe beginning a decline. So that may be changing in the near future. But for now companies like Mercedes Benz are still seeing record sales. Sales are still increasing, and markets are still very very strong for them. So we are seeing more and more luxurious models. In fact we will see a very very luxurious large SUV from Mercedes Benz displayed here, the Landaulet. A very large version of their Gelenvagen. A big luxurious car. We are seeing that here so we will be seeing more luxurious cars here than we have in the past. And again the market is looking strong for now but there is definitely indications that it might be changing very near."

18. Geneva Motor Show sign