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Toyota has revamped its plug-in hybrid with a longer cruising range and quicker charging.

The new Prius PHV also comes with solar panels and can be charged by plugging into a regular home electricity socket.

STORY-LINE:

This is Toyota's new Prius plug-in hybrid (PHV) which goes on sale in Japan today (Wednesday 15 Feb 2017).

The auto maker is hoping it will sell better than the first model from five years ago that officials acknowledged had flopped.

Sales in the U.S., where it's called Prius Prime, started late last year. It is set to launch in Europe and other countries in March.

Chairman of the Board of Directors at Toyota Motor Corporation, Takeshi Uchiyamada calls the PHV the future of eco cars.

"This is the key and core of the eco car and this is the car which should become the mainstream of the eco car from now on. What comes after the hybrid car? That will be PHV (plug in hybrid). This is Toyota's answer."

A hybrid switches between a gas engine and an electric motor that is powered by that gas engine.

A plug-in hybrid can travel further as a pure electric vehicle, which is zero-emission, but needs recharging when its battery is spent.

The cruising range of the new plug-in as an electric vehicle is 68.2 kilometres (42.4 miles), about five times the earlier model's 26.4 kilometres (16.4 miles).

Deputy Chief Engineer of Toyota Motor Corporation, Shoichi Kaneko says the Prius PHV can also be charged using solar panels on the roof.

"Finally, we converted solar energy to driving energy. We have made the option of a solar energy charging system available which will become a first for the mass production car."

Toyota says the car can drive up to 6.1 kilometres per day on solar power generated power.

The car can be fully charged in two hours and 20 minutes, from a 200-volt outlet and in 14 hours at a 100-volt outlet. At a special charging machine, it reaches an 80 percent charge in just 20 minutes.

Toyota hopes to sell 2,500 PHV cars in Japan a month. It gave no overseas targets. It sold only 22,000 of the earlier PHVs.

The lacklustre sales contrast with Toyota's leadership in hybrid vehicles; it has sold 10 million globally since the first Prius went on sale in 1997.

Nearly half of the vehicles Toyota sells in Japan are hybrid models.

Tokyo – 15 February 2017

1. Close of the new Prius PHV being unveiled

2. Wide of Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board of directors, Toyota Motor Corporation, on the stage

3. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board of directors, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"This is the key and core of the eco car and this is the car which should become the mainstream of the eco car from now on. What comes after the hybrid car? That will be PHV (plug in hybrid). This is Toyota's answer."

4. Close of new Prius PHV

5. Wide of Shoichi Kaneko, Deputy Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation, on stage

6. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shoichi Kaneko, Deputy Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"Finally, we converted solar energy to driving energy. We have made the option of a solar energy charging system available which will become a first for the mass production car."

7. Various of solar panel on the roof part of Prius PHV

8. Close of PHV sign

9. Various of plug in part on the side of the car

10. Close of Prius PHV sign

11. Various of Toyota managers and Japanese actresss who will front the TV ad for the Prius PHV

LEAD IN:

Toyota has revamped its plug-in hybrid with a longer cruising range and quicker charging.

The new Prius PHV also comes with solar panels and can be charged by plugging into a regular home electricity socket.

STORY-LINE:

This is Toyota's new Prius plug-in hybrid (PHV) which goes on sale in Japan today (Wednesday 15 Feb 2017).

The auto maker is hoping it will sell better than the first model from five years ago that officials acknowledged had flopped.

Sales in the U.S., where it's called Prius Prime, started late last year. It is set to launch in Europe and other countries in March.

Chairman of the Board of Directors at Toyota Motor Corporation, Takeshi Uchiyamada calls the PHV the future of eco cars.

"This is the key and core of the eco car and this is the car which should become the mainstream of the eco car from now on. What comes after the hybrid car? That will be PHV (plug in hybrid). This is Toyota's answer."

A hybrid switches between a gas engine and an electric motor that is powered by that gas engine.

A plug-in hybrid can travel further as a pure electric vehicle, which is zero-emission, but needs recharging when its battery is spent.

The cruising range of the new plug-in as an electric vehicle is 68.2 kilometres (42.4 miles), about five times the earlier model's 26.4 kilometres (16.4 miles).

Deputy Chief Engineer of Toyota Motor Corporation, Shoichi Kaneko says the Prius PHV can also be charged using solar panels on the roof.

"Finally, we converted solar energy to driving energy. We have made the option of a solar energy charging system available which will become a first for the mass production car."

Toyota says the car can drive up to 6.1 kilometres per day on solar power generated power.

The car can be fully charged in two hours and 20 minutes, from a 200-volt outlet and in 14 hours at a 100-volt outlet. At a special charging machine, it reaches an 80 percent charge in just 20 minutes.

Toyota hopes to sell 2,500 PHV cars in Japan a month. It gave no overseas targets. It sold only 22,000 of the earlier PHVs.

The lacklustre sales contrast with Toyota's leadership in hybrid vehicles; it has sold 10 million globally since the first Prius went on sale in 1997.

Nearly half of the vehicles Toyota sells in Japan are hybrid models.

Tokyo – 15 February 2017

1. Close of the new Prius PHV being unveiled

2. Wide of Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board of directors, Toyota Motor Corporation, on the stage

3. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board of directors, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"This is the key and core of the eco car and this is the car which should become the mainstream of the eco car from now on. What comes after the hybrid car? That will be PHV (plug in hybrid). This is Toyota's answer."

4. Close of new Prius PHV

5. Wide of Shoichi Kaneko, Deputy Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation, on stage

6. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shoichi Kaneko, Deputy Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"Finally, we converted solar energy to driving energy. We have made the option of a solar energy charging system available which will become a first for the mass production car."

7. Various of solar panel on the roof part of Prius PHV

8. Close of PHV sign

9. Various of plug in part on the side of the car

10. Close of Prius PHV sign

11. Various of Toyota managers and Japanese actresss who will front the TV ad for the Prius PHV

LEAD IN:

Toyota has revamped its plug-in hybrid with a longer cruising range and quicker charging.

The new Prius PHV also comes with solar panels and can be charged by plugging into a regular home electricity socket.

STORY-LINE:

This is Toyota's new Prius plug-in hybrid (PHV) which goes on sale in Japan today (Wednesday 15 Feb 2017).

The auto maker is hoping it will sell better than the first model from five years ago that officials acknowledged had flopped.

Sales in the U.S., where it's called Prius Prime, started late last year. It is set to launch in Europe and other countries in March.

Chairman of the Board of Directors at Toyota Motor Corporation, Takeshi Uchiyamada calls the PHV the future of eco cars.

"This is the key and core of the eco car and this is the car which should become the mainstream of the eco car from now on. What comes after the hybrid car? That will be PHV (plug in hybrid). This is Toyota's answer."

A hybrid switches between a gas engine and an electric motor that is powered by that gas engine.

A plug-in hybrid can travel further as a pure electric vehicle, which is zero-emission, but needs recharging when its battery is spent.

The cruising range of the new plug-in as an electric vehicle is 68.2 kilometres (42.4 miles), about five times the earlier model's 26.4 kilometres (16.4 miles).

Deputy Chief Engineer of Toyota Motor Corporation, Shoichi Kaneko says the Prius PHV can also be charged using solar panels on the roof.

"Finally, we converted solar energy to driving energy. We have made the option of a solar energy charging system available which will become a first for the mass production car."

Toyota says the car can drive up to 6.1 kilometres per day on solar power generated power.

The car can be fully charged in two hours and 20 minutes, from a 200-volt outlet and in 14 hours at a 100-volt outlet. At a special charging machine, it reaches an 80 percent charge in just 20 minutes.

Toyota hopes to sell 2,500 PHV cars in Japan a month. It gave no overseas targets. It sold only 22,000 of the earlier PHVs.

The lacklustre sales contrast with Toyota's leadership in hybrid vehicles; it has sold 10 million globally since the first Prius went on sale in 1997.

Nearly half of the vehicles Toyota sells in Japan are hybrid models.

Tokyo – 15 February 2017

1. Close of the new Prius PHV being unveiled

2. Wide of Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board of directors, Toyota Motor Corporation, on the stage

3. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board of directors, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"This is the key and core of the eco car and this is the car which should become the mainstream of the eco car from now on. What comes after the hybrid car? That will be PHV (plug in hybrid). This is Toyota's answer."

4. Close of new Prius PHV

5. Wide of Shoichi Kaneko, Deputy Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation, on stage

6. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shoichi Kaneko, Deputy Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"Finally, we converted solar energy to driving energy. We have made the option of a solar energy charging system available which will become a first for the mass production car."

7. Various of solar panel on the roof part of Prius PHV

8. Close of PHV sign

9. Various of plug in part on the side of the car

10. Close of Prius PHV sign

11. Various of Toyota managers and Japanese actresss who will front the TV ad for the Prius PHV

The new car on the market.

The world's largest automaker says it aims to sell up to 400-thousand units globally a year of the new-look Prius.

Akio Toyoda, the grandson of the company's founder, and the incoming president of Toyota Motor Corporation, drove the new model onto a stage at a packed Tokyo showroom.

He said the car was eco-friendly and that driving it had a similar impact on emission cuts as planting trees "across land 10 times the size of Tokyo".

Toyoda, 53, was tapped in January to take the helm at the world's biggest automaker, the first time in 14 years it has turned to the charisma of its founding roots for top leadership, mainly to bring employees and affiliates together and steer the automaker through deep troubles.

Both Toyoda's presence and new Prius are symbolic of Toyota Motor Corporation's pursuit of a turnaround from its worst annual loss since its 1937 founding.

The Prius, now in its third generation since its 1997 introduction, is the best-selling hybrid in the world, racking up a cumulative 1.256 (m) million units sold in more than 40 nations and regions.

But now Toyota faces a challenge from Honda Motor Co., whose more cheaply priced Insight has sold briskly since it was introduced in Japan in February.

In April, the Insight ranked as the top-selling vehicle in Japan, the first time a hybrid clinched that spot.

Toyota said its Japan prices for the Prius would start at 2.05 (m) million yen, or about 21,600 US dollars at current exchange rates, less than its predecessor model.

But in an unusual move aimed at competing against the Insight, Toyota also said it will continue to sell the current Prius in Japan, and cut its price.

It targets rental and corporate customers, and will sell for 1.89 (m) million yen, the same price as the Insight.

Toyota had already given the US prices for the 2010 Prius, starting at 22,000 US dollars, unchanged from the base price for the 2009 model.

It is also promising a more basic US model as well for later this year starting at 21,000 US dollars.

The new Prius gets a combined 50 miles per gallon (mpg), compared with 46 mpg for the 2009 model, according to Toyota.

Toyota is promising 38 kilometres per litre, which converts to 90 miles per gallon, in Japan, for the latest Prius.

Toshio Aritake, an auto analyst at the showroom in Tokyo called the Prius "very competitive."

SHOTLIST

Tokyo, May 18th

1. Zoom out from Prius logo to hybrid car, incoming president of Toyota Motor Corporation getting out of it and walking out on podium

2. Photographers

3. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Akio Toyoda, Incoming president of Toyota Motor Corporation:

"We contribute to ecology as it (Prius) has the same impact on emission cuts as planting trees would across land 10 times the size of Tokyo."

4. Auto analyst Toshio Aritake standing by car

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Toshio Aritake, Auto analyst:

"I think it's going to be very, very competitive in terms of pricing and whatever it has to offer. I haven't seen the inside yet. But it looks extremely competitive, and that's something no other manufacturers at this time can match in terms of quality and pricing."

6. Close of hybrid logo

7. Wide of new Prius car

8. Close up of new Prius car's bonnet

9. Close of Toyota logo with hybrid synergy drive panel

10. Engine

LEADIN

Toyota has rolled out the revamped Prius in Tokyo.

The company's in confident mood, saying it already has 80-thousand advance orders in Japan for the remodelled hybrid, amid intensifying competition with Honda's rival offering the Insight.

SHOTLIST

1. Zoom out from Prius logo to hybrid car, incoming president of Toyota Motor Corporation getting out of it and walking out on podium

2. Photographers

3. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Akio Toyoda, Incoming president of Toyota Motor Corporation:

"We contribute to ecology as it (Prius) has the same impact on emission cuts as planting trees would across land 10 times the size of Tokyo."

4. Auto analyst Toshio Aritake standing by car

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Toshio Aritake, Auto analyst:

"I think it's going to be very, very competitive in terms of pricing and whatever it has to offer. I haven't seen the inside yet. But it looks extremely competitive, and that's something no other manufacturers at this time can match in terms of quality and pricing."

6. Close of hybrid logo

7. Wide of new Prius car

8. Close up of new Prius car's bonnet

9. Close of Toyota logo with hybrid synergy drive panel

10. Engine

STORYLINE:

Toyota rolled out the revamped Prius in Tokyo on Monday, and said it already had 80-thousand advance orders in Japan for the remodelled hybrid amid intensifying competition with Honda's rival offering, the Insight.

The world's largest automaker said it aims to sell up to 400-thousand units globally a year of the car.

Akio Toyoda, the grandson of the company's founder, and the incoming president of Toyota Motor Corporation, drove the new model onto a stage at a packed Tokyo showroom.

He said the car was eco-friendly and that driving it had a similar impact on emission cuts as planting trees "across land 10 times the size of Tokyo".

Toyoda, 53, was tapped in January to take the helm at the world's biggest automaker, the first time in 14 years it has turned to the charisma of its founding roots for top leadership, mainly to bring employees and affiliates together and steer the automaker through deep troubles.

Both Toyoda's presence and new Prius are symbolic of Toyota Motor Corporation's pursuit of a turnaround from its worst annual loss since its 1937 founding.

The Prius, now in its third generation since its 1997 introduction, is the best-selling hybrid in the world, racking up a cumulative 1.256 (m) million units sold in more than 40 nations and regions.

But now Toyota faces a challenge from Honda Motor Co., whose more cheaply priced Insight has sold briskly since it was introduced in Japan in February.

In April, the Insight ranked as the top-selling vehicle in Japan, the first time a hybrid clinched that spot.

Toyota said its Japan prices for the Prius would start at 2.05 (m) million yen, or about 21,600 US dollars at current exchange rates, less than its predecessor model.

But in an unusual move aimed at competing against the Insight, Toyota also said it will continue to sell the current Prius in Japan, and cut its price.

It targets rental and corporate customers, and will sell for 1.89 (m) million yen, the same price as the Insight.

Toyota had already given the US prices for the 2010 Prius, starting at 22,000 US dollars, unchanged from the base price for the 2009 model.

It is also promising a more basic US model as well for later this year starting at 21,000 US dollars.

The new Prius gets a combined 50 miles per gallon (mpg), compared with 46 mpg for the 2009 model, according to Toyota.

Toyota is promising 38 kilometres per litre, which converts to 90 miles per gallon, in Japan, for the latest Prius.

Toshio Aritake, an auto analyst at the showroom in Tokyo called the Prius "very competitive."

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

LEAD IN:

Audi, Honda and Toyota are strutting their stuff at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit with a fleet of new concept vehicles and family SUVs.

Facing up to the SUV craze, Toyota is revamping its much loved Camry and introducing a new gas-electric hybrid.

STORY-LINE:

Unveiling the new 2018 Odyssey at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Honda say this is the ultimate family car.

Calling its flexible second-row advancements "Magic Slide," the company is promising seats that can easily reconfigure, whether moving forward, together or apart from other seats and rows.

There's also a host of driver-assist technologies that are new to the Odyssey, including those that help keep motorists in their lanes and on the road, avoid collisions and automatically adjust cruise control.

John Mendel, Executive Vice President of American Honda Motor Company says: "Well as you can see the fifth generation of America's best selling minivan takes Odyssey styling to a new level of sophistication and premium design. Low, wide, improved aerodynamics, a more sharply sculptured body side and a fresh new take on the signature lightning bolt beltline."

The new Odyssey also comes with noise reducing features with a claim from Mendel that is has the "quietest cabin in the class, bar none".

Audi is unveiling two new additions in its line-up at the autoshow.

The A5 Cabriolet is a sporty convertible with a drop top and an aggressive turbo-charged V6 engine, pushing 354 horsepower.

Scott Keogh, President, Audi of America says: "The acoustic roof, of course, folds down in just fifteen seconds at speeds up to 31 mph. Faster still is the 354 horsepower turbo-charged engine and of course we'll be bringing the A5 Cab with a 252 horsepower and a 2-litre engine."

The SQ5 is a being marketed as a premium SUV, sporting the same high performance specs as the A5.

Audi is also unveiling a concept version of the Q8 SUV hybrid, which it says will roll out in 2018.

The Q8 is sleek, features a downward sloping front end and has as sporty yet elegant look. The concept was created under the direction of Audi Chief Designer Marc Lichte. Audi officials hope it will attracted a new set of customers to the Audi brand.

America's favourite car, meanwhile is under attack.

If pickup trucks are excluded, the Toyota Camry has been the nation's top-selling vehicle for 15 years.

Now it's in danger of losing its crown - a potential victim of the SUV craze.

And even this much-anticipated revamp may not be enough to keep the competition at bay.

Aiko Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Company says: "We view this as an opportunity to reignite the midsize sedan market. I mean, why should SUVs get all the glory? After all this segment is still one of the largest in the industry."

The revamped Camry gets two all-new engines, a 3.5-litre V6 and a 2.5-litre four, both paired with a new eight-speed automatic transmission. There's also a gas-electric hybrid version.

All 2018 Camrys come standard with a suite of safety systems that include automatic emergency braking.

Horsepower, gas mileage and price have not been released. The new Kentucky-built Camry will be available late in the summer.

Chinese automaker GAC is unveiling three new concept vehicles. The GS7 - a five seater SUV, the sporty Enspirit and an electric model, the GE3.

The North American International Auto Show runs from January 8-22, 2017.

Detroit, January 9, 2017

++FLASHING LIGHTS++

1. Honda Odyssey reveal

2. SOUNDBITE (English) John Mendel, Executive Vice President, American Honda Motor Company:

"Well as you can see the fifth generation of America's best selling minivan takes Odyssey styling to a new level of sophistication and premium design. Low, wide, improved aerodynamics, a more sharply sculptured body side and a fresh new take on the signature lightning bolt beltline."

3. Various of Odyssey

4. Audi banner

5. Various of A5S5 Cabriolet

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Scott Keogh, President, Audi of America:

"The acoustic roof, of course, folds down in just fifteen seconds at speeds up to 31 mph. Faster still is the 354 horsepower turbo-charged engine and of course we'll be bringing the A5 Cab with a 252 horsepower and a 2-litre engine."

7. Reveal of SQ5 SUV

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Scott Keogh, President, Audi of America:

"As you can see the SQ5 is a premium SUV that is the perfect blend of performance and functionality. A turbo-charged V6 engine, 354 horsepower, the same engine that's in that stunning S5."

9. Reveal of Audi Q8 concept

10. Various views of Q8 concept

11. Ford F150 presentation on screen

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Joe Hinrichs, Ford President, The Americas:

"Ladies and gentlemen the new F-150. Even smarter, even tougher and even more capable. With all-new automatic emergency braking, class-exclusive adaptive cruise with stop and go technology. More powerful engines, an all-new diesel and F150s best towing ever."

13. Toyota signage

14. Various Toyota Camry unveil

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Aiko Toyoda, President, Toyota Motor Company:

"Between this new XLE and XSE our customers will have two very distinct Camrys to choose from. Sexy and really sexy."

16. Various, Camry XLE

17. SOUNDBITE (English) Aiko Toyoda, President, Toyota Motor Company:

"We view this as an opportunity to reignite the midsize sedan market. I mean, why should SUVs get all the glory? After all this segment is still one of the largest in the industry."

18. Toyota logo on Camry

19. GAC opening

20. GAC GS7 unveil

21. SOUNDBITE (English) Zhang Fan, Vice President of GAC Engineering:

"The GS7 is a five seater entry-premium SUV that's designed with an impressive stance and focused on providing a comfortable driving experience."

22. SOUNDBITE (English) Zhang Fan, Vice President of GAC Engineering:

"The 680 gearbox and the realtime all-wheel drive system ensures the (inaudible) and minimal harshness in all kinds of road conditions."

23. Yu Jun, GAC General Manager on stage

24. SOUNDBITE (English) Yu Jun, GAC General Manager:

"GAC Motors is the first global auto brand in China. We are now building a world-class system for auto manufacturing, ensuring the world class-quality of GAC products."

25. GAC GE3 electric car unveil

26. GAC Enspirit unveil

LEAD IN:

Eco-friendly rides and self-driving vehicles are stealing all the headlines at the annual Tokyo Motor Show in Japan.

Japanese auto makers Toyota, Honda and Lexus are all debuting new concept vehicles which embrace lower carbon technologies in comparison to traditional petrol engines.

STORY-LINE:

Automobiles are coming in all shapes and sizes at the Tokyo Motor Show in Japan, on Toyota's stand they're even glowing like something out of a sci-fi movie.

On home soil, Toyota President Akio Toyoda introduced a collection of concept cars accompanied by popular Japanese Major League baseball player, Ichiro Suzuki.

"It is truly tough to compete in a global field. We need to meet many new challenges in order to survive," says the baseball player.

"Those are the thoughts when I am standing at the batter's box. I am curious to what sort of 'wow' Toyota will show us."

The Toyota president took the opportunity to declare the company's intention to play a leading role in the auto industry, wowing drivers in the process.

"Toyota will produce better and better cars and will make an effort towards realising an enjoyable mobility environment," says Toyoda.

"'What wows you' is to be brave and meet the challenge. We will always continue to stand in the batter's box to meet the challenges in the future. Let's do it together!"

The key concept car Toyota is unveiling this year is this new generation fuel cell vehicle called the 'Toyota FCV Plus'.

The vehicle has the capability to generate electricity by using hydrogen stored outside the vehicle.

That way, the car can function not only as a vehicle but also be used as a sort of portable power plant.

The automaker also unveiled this lightweight sports car concept called the 'Toyota S-FR'. Weighing only 980kg, it's designed for nimble driving.

Hans Greimel, an auto journalist who specialises in Asia's auto industry, says this year's motor show features a range of eco-themed cars.

"At this year's Tokyo Motor Show, you're going to see a lot of activities from Japanese makers in particular on their home turf coming out with new kinds of green cars, new environmentally friendly cars - everything from fuel cells, you'll have those from Honda and from Toyota, to electric vehicles which is just about represented by just about everybody here," he says.

"The other trend you're gonna see is autonomous driving trend, self-driving cars. All of the automakers are gonna have some kind of version of their vision for where that kind of self-driving car technology will go. And that's gonna be a centrepiece of the presentations here."

Volkswagen representatives used their presentation at the motor show to again apologise for the company's recent emissions scandal.

Despite none of the affected vehicles being sold in Japan, the company acknowledged the problems have "damaged Japanese trust" in the brand.

They also used the event to present the company's new Tiguan GTE concept car to Asian audiences.

Previously unveiled at last month's Frankfurt Motor Show, the concept is an SUV which boasts hybrid drive technology.

Volkswagen's CEO of Passenger Cars, Herbert Diess, says the car starts in full electric mode which has a range of 50 kilometres that will cover most daily drives.

"Depending on the amount of sunshine, it can be driven even further. That is because a solar module can contribute enough energy for an additional 1,000 kilometres per year," he says.

Honda claims their new Clarity Fuel Cell vehicle is the first production model to consolidate the fuel-cell power train under the vehicle's hood.

That means it allows spacious areas in the rest of the vehicle, something some previous fuel cell vehicles didn't deliver.

The Japanese automaker also showed the latest version of its NSX.

Originally introduced in 1990, the new version is a hybrid sports car which uses both petrol and electric power.

The NSX has been a popular sports car for the brand, many see this as a reflection of Honda's F1 race technology.

"This new NSX boasts the light weight body frame and with newly-developed twin-turbocharged V6 engines installed in the middle part of the car," says Takahiro Hachigo, the president and CEO of Honda Motor Co.

"This is a super sports car equipped with a three-motor hybrid system so that it can meet both demands, the fun of driving and good fuel mileage."

Nissan is showing off this 'Teatro for Dayz' concept car which boasts seats and surfaces that can be used to display videos and images. Passengers can enjoy playing games that surround them in the car.

The automaker's president and CEO, Carlos Ghosn, says the EV minicar resembles a digital gadget just as much a car.

Nissan also unveiled its other major concept called the 'IDS Concept', sharing its vision for future autonomous driving technology in the process.

This concept vehicle is loaded with laser scanners, a 360-degree camera setup, radar and computer technology that makes autonomous navigation possible.

Nissan plan to offer some autonomous driving features in its vehicles by the end of next year in Japan.

By 2018, the company says vehicles with the technology will be able to conduct lane changes on highways.

By 2020, such vehicles will be able to make their way through intersections on regular urban roads.

The IDS vehicle is also electric and can travel long distances on a single charge, also recharging quickly.

"I think it's empowering. It's empowering!" says Ghosn.

"When you're in an autonomous car, it's empowering because you switch on, you switch off. If you want to drive, you switch it off."

"If you don't want to drive, you're in the city, you're in a traffic jam, you receive a phone call, you need to have a conversation with somebody near you, you switch it on. It's empowering. I think that's great."

"That's why young people are going to love it, senior people are going to love it, families are going to love it, because it's going to give you more freedom to do whatever you want."

Lexus, Toyota's luxury car brand, is unveiling this stylish hybrid coupe concept called 'LF-FC'.

"We hope that with this design, drivers will experience a ride that is full of emotion and joy," says Lexus International President, Tokuo Fukuichi.

The original version was unveiled in 2012, but it's yet to go to market.

There was no confirmation given at this year's motor show whether the car will eventually be available commercially.

More than 70 different concept cars are being presented at this year's Tokyo Motor Show.

The event runs until 8 November.

LEAD IN:

Eco-friendly rides and self-driving vehicles are stealing all the headlines at the annual Tokyo Motor Show in Japan.

Japanese auto makers Toyota, Honda and Lexus are all debuting new concept vehicles which embrace lower carbon technologies in comparison to traditional petrol engines.

STORY-LINE:

Automobiles are coming in all shapes and sizes at the Tokyo Motor Show in Japan, on Toyota's stand they're even glowing like something out of a sci-fi movie.

On home soil, Toyota President Akio Toyoda introduced a collection of concept cars accompanied by popular Japanese Major League baseball player, Ichiro Suzuki.

"It is truly tough to compete in a global field. We need to meet many new challenges in order to survive," says the baseball player.

"Those are the thoughts when I am standing at the batter's box. I am curious to what sort of 'wow' Toyota will show us."

The Toyota president took the opportunity to declare the company's intention to play a leading role in the auto industry, wowing drivers in the process.

"Toyota will produce better and better cars and will make an effort towards realising an enjoyable mobility environment," says Toyoda.

"'What wows you' is to be brave and meet the challenge. We will always continue to stand in the batter's box to meet the challenges in the future. Let's do it together!"

The key concept car Toyota is unveiling this year is this new generation fuel cell vehicle called the 'Toyota FCV Plus'.

The vehicle has the capability to generate electricity by using hydrogen stored outside the vehicle.

That way, the car can function not only as a vehicle but also be used as a sort of portable power plant.

The automaker also unveiled this lightweight sports car concept called the 'Toyota S-FR'. Weighing only 980kg, it's designed for nimble driving.

Hans Greimel, an auto journalist who specialises in Asia's auto industry, says this year's motor show features a range of eco-themed cars.

"At this year's Tokyo Motor Show, you're going to see a lot of activities from Japanese makers in particular on their home turf coming out with new kinds of green cars, new environmentally friendly cars - everything from fuel cells, you'll have those from Honda and from Toyota, to electric vehicles which is just about represented by just about everybody here," he says.

"The other trend you're gonna see is autonomous driving trend, self-driving cars. All of the automakers are gonna have some kind of version of their vision for where that kind of self-driving car technology will go. And that's gonna be a centrepiece of the presentations here."

Volkswagen representatives used their presentation at the motor show to again apologise for the company's recent emissions scandal.

Despite none of the affected vehicles being sold in Japan, the company acknowledged the problems have "damaged Japanese trust" in the brand.

They also used the event to present the company's new Tiguan GTE concept car to Asian audiences.

Previously unveiled at last month's Frankfurt Motor Show, the concept is an SUV which boasts hybrid drive technology.

Volkswagen's CEO of Passenger Cars, Herbert Diess, says the car starts in full electric mode which has a range of 50 kilometres that will cover most daily drives.

"Depending on the amount of sunshine, it can be driven even further. That is because a solar module can contribute enough energy for an additional 1,000 kilometres per year," he says.

Honda claims their new Clarity Fuel Cell vehicle is the first production model to consolidate the fuel-cell power train under the vehicle's hood.

That means it allows spacious areas in the rest of the vehicle, something some previous fuel cell vehicles didn't deliver.

The Japanese automaker also showed the latest version of its NSX.

Originally introduced in 1990, the new version is a hybrid sports car which uses both petrol and electric power.

The NSX has been a popular sports car for the brand, many see this as a reflection of Honda's F1 race technology.

"This new NSX boasts the light weight body frame and with newly-developed twin-turbocharged V6 engines installed in the middle part of the car," says Takahiro Hachigo, the president and CEO of Honda Motor Co.

"This is a super sports car equipped with a three-motor hybrid system so that it can meet both demands, the fun of driving and good fuel mileage."

Nissan is showing off this 'Teatro for Dayz' concept car which boasts seats and surfaces that can be used to display videos and images. Passengers can enjoy playing games that surround them in the car.

The automaker's president and CEO, Carlos Ghosn, says the EV minicar resembles a digital gadget just as much a car.

Nissan also unveiled its other major concept called the 'IDS Concept', sharing its vision for future autonomous driving technology in the process.

This concept vehicle is loaded with laser scanners, a 360-degree camera setup, radar and computer technology that makes autonomous navigation possible.

Nissan plan to offer some autonomous driving features in its vehicles by the end of next year in Japan.

By 2018, the company says vehicles with the technology will be able to conduct lane changes on highways.

By 2020, such vehicles will be able to make their way through intersections on regular urban roads.

The IDS vehicle is also electric and can travel long distances on a single charge, also recharging quickly.

"I think it's empowering. It's empowering!" says Ghosn.

"When you're in an autonomous car, it's empowering because you switch on, you switch off. If you want to drive, you switch it off."

"If you don't want to drive, you're in the city, you're in a traffic jam, you receive a phone call, you need to have a conversation with somebody near you, you switch it on. It's empowering. I think that's great."

"That's why young people are going to love it, senior people are going to love it, families are going to love it, because it's going to give you more freedom to do whatever you want."

Lexus, Toyota's luxury car brand, is unveiling this stylish hybrid coupe concept called 'LF-FC'.

"We hope that with this design, drivers will experience a ride that is full of emotion and joy," says Lexus International President, Tokuo Fukuichi.

The original version was unveiled in 2012, but it's yet to go to market.

There was no confirmation given at this year's motor show whether the car will eventually be available commercially.

More than 70 different concept cars are being presented at this year's Tokyo Motor Show.

The event runs until 8 November.

AP TELEVISION

Tokyo, Japan - 28 October 2015

1. Close of wheel of Toyota Motor Corp.'s concept car "FCV plus" on show at Tokyo Motor Show

2. Wide of FCV plus

3. Close of glowing ring on FCV plus

4. Wide of Toyota's world and Japan premiere vehicles on display

5. Close of Toyota's world and Japan premiere vehicle "SFR"

6. Wide of Ichiro Suzuki, American Major League Baseball Player, and Akio Toyoda, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Co., shaking hands onstage

7. Close of Suzuki and Toyoda onstage

8. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Ichiro Suzuki, American Major League Baseball Player:

"It is truly tough to compete in a global field. We need to meet many new challenges in order to survive. Those are the thoughts when I am standing at the batter's box. I am curious to what sort of 'wow" Toyota will show us."

9. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese/English) Akio Toyoda, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Co.:

"Toyota will produce better and better cars and will make an effort towards realising an enjoyable mobility environment. 'What wows you' is to be brave and meet the challenge. We will always continue to stand in the batter's box to meet the challenges in the future. Let's do it together!"

10. Various of Hans Greimel, Automotive News, Asia Editor, looking at car at Tokyo Motor Show

11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hans Greimel, Automotive News, Asia Editor:

"At this year's Tokyo Motor Show, you're going to see a lot of activities from Japanese makers in particular on their home turf coming out with new kinds of green cars, new environmentally friendly cars - everything from fuel cells, you'll have those from Honda and from Toyota, to electric vehicles which is just about represented by just about everybody here. The other trend you're gonna see is autonomous driving trend, self-driving cars. All of the automakers are gonna have some kind of version of their vision for where that kind of self-driving car technology will go. And that's gonna be a centrepiece of the presentations here."

12. Wide of Sven Stein, Representative Director, Volkswagen Group Japan (left) and Herbert Diess, Volkswagen's CEO Passenger Cars brand (right) unveiling Tiguan GTE concept car with solar roof

13. SOUNDBITE: (English) Herbert Diess, Volkswagen's CEO Passenger Cars brand:

"Depending on the amount of sunshine, it can be driven even further. That is because a solar module that can contribute enough energy for an additional 1,000 kilometres per year."

14. Wide of Diess standing in front of concept car while detailing safety features

UPSOUND: (English) "And it is precisely this type of progress that makes the Tiguan a Volkswagen."

15. Various of Stein and Diess posing for photographs next to Tiguan GTE concept car

16. Various of Honda's concept car "Clarity"

17. Wide of Takahiro Hachigo, President and CEO of Honda Motor Co., walking onstage

18. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Takahiro Hachigo, President and CEO of Honda Motor Co.:

"This new NSX boasts the light weight body frame and with newly-developed twin-turbocharged V6 engines installed in the middle part of the car. This is a super sports car equipped with a three-motor hybrid system so that it can meet both demands, the fun of driving and good fuel mileage."

19. Various of Honda's NSX

20. Close of Nissan's concept car "Teatro for Dayz"

21. Wide of Nissan Teatro

22. Close of car dashboard

23. Close of dashboard graphics

24. Wide of Nissan Teatro interior with doors wide open showing LED panels changing designs of interior

25. Wide of Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO of Nissan Motor Co., speaking onstage at presentation

26. SOUNDBITE: (English) Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO of Nissan Motor Co.:

"Above all, they want a car to be a versatile tool for self-expression and connecting with friends just like a smart phone."

27. Wide of Nissan's "IDS" autonomous car

28. Pull out of Nissan's "IDS"

29. SOUNDBITE: (English) Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO of Nissan Motor Co.:

"I think it's empowering. It's empowering! When you're in an autonomous car, it's empowering because you switch on, you switch off. If you want to drive, you switch it off. If you don't want to drive, you're in the city, you're in a traffic jam, you receive a phone call, you need to have a conversation with somebody near you, you switch it on. It's empowering. I think that's great. That's why young people are going to love it, senior people are going to love it, families are going to love it, because it's going to give you more freedom to do whatever you want."

30. Wide of Lexus's world premiere vehicle LF-FC driving onstage

31. Pan left from photographer to car

32. Pull focus of Lexus logo

33. Wide of Lexus's world premiere vehicle LF-FC

34. Close of LF-FC rear

35. Close of markings, reading (English): 'Fuel Cell' on LF-FC

36. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Tokuo Fukuichi, Lexus International President:

"We hope that with this design, drivers will experience a ride that is full of emotion and joy."

37. Tilt down to Tokyo Motor Show floor

38. Wide of motor show floor

39. Long shot of visitors walking through motor show

LEAD IN:

Eco-friendly rides and self-driving vehicles are stealing all the headlines at the annual Tokyo Motor Show in Japan.

Japanese auto makers Toyota, Honda and Lexus are all debuting new concept vehicles which embrace lower carbon technologies in comparison to traditional petrol engines.

STORY-LINE:

Automobiles are coming in all shapes and sizes at the Tokyo Motor Show in Japan, on Toyota's stand they're even glowing like something out of a sci-fi movie.

On home soil, Toyota President Akio Toyoda introduced a collection of concept cars accompanied by popular Japanese Major League baseball player, Ichiro Suzuki.

"It is truly tough to compete in a global field. We need to meet many new challenges in order to survive," says the baseball player.

"Those are the thoughts when I am standing at the batter's box. I am curious to what sort of 'wow' Toyota will show us."

The Toyota president took the opportunity to declare the company's intention to play a leading role in the auto industry, wowing drivers in the process.

"Toyota will produce better and better cars and will make an effort towards realising an enjoyable mobility environment," says Toyoda.

"'What wows you' is to be brave and meet the challenge. We will always continue to stand in the batter's box to meet the challenges in the future. Let's do it together!"

The key concept car Toyota is unveiling this year is this new generation fuel cell vehicle called the 'Toyota FCV Plus'.

The vehicle has the capability to generate electricity by using hydrogen stored outside the vehicle.

That way, the car can function not only as a vehicle but also be used as a sort of portable power plant.

The automaker also unveiled this lightweight sports car concept called the 'Toyota S-FR'. Weighing only 980kg, it's designed for nimble driving.

Hans Greimel, an auto journalist who specialises in Asia's auto industry, says this year's motor show features a range of eco-themed cars.

"At this year's Tokyo Motor Show, you're going to see a lot of activities from Japanese makers in particular on their home turf coming out with new kinds of green cars, new environmentally friendly cars - everything from fuel cells, you'll have those from Honda and from Toyota, to electric vehicles which is just about represented by just about everybody here," he says.

"The other trend you're gonna see is autonomous driving trend, self-driving cars. All of the automakers are gonna have some kind of version of their vision for where that kind of self-driving car technology will go. And that's gonna be a centrepiece of the presentations here."

Volkswagen representatives used their presentation at the motor show to again apologise for the company's recent emissions scandal.

Despite none of the affected vehicles being sold in Japan, the company acknowledged the problems have "damaged Japanese trust" in the brand.

They also used the event to present the company's new Tiguan GTE concept car to Asian audiences.

Previously unveiled at last month's Frankfurt Motor Show, the concept is an SUV which boasts hybrid drive technology.

Volkswagen's CEO of Passenger Cars, Herbert Diess, says the car starts in full electric mode which has a range of 50 kilometres that will cover most daily drives.

"Depending on the amount of sunshine, it can be driven even further. That is because a solar module can contribute enough energy for an additional 1,000 kilometres per year," he says.

Honda claims their new Clarity Fuel Cell vehicle is the first production model to consolidate the fuel-cell power train under the vehicle's hood.

That means it allows spacious areas in the rest of the vehicle, something some previous fuel cell vehicles didn't deliver.

The Japanese automaker also showed the latest version of its NSX.

Originally introduced in 1990, the new version is a hybrid sports car which uses both petrol and electric power.

The NSX has been a popular sports car for the brand, many see this as a reflection of Honda's F1 race technology.

"This new NSX boasts the light weight body frame and with newly-developed twin-turbocharged V6 engines installed in the middle part of the car," says Takahiro Hachigo, the president and CEO of Honda Motor Co.

"This is a super sports car equipped with a three-motor hybrid system so that it can meet both demands, the fun of driving and good fuel mileage."

Nissan is showing off this 'Teatro for Dayz' concept car which boasts seats and surfaces that can be used to display videos and images. Passengers can enjoy playing games that surround them in the car.

The automaker's president and CEO, Carlos Ghosn, says the EV minicar resembles a digital gadget just as much a car.

Nissan also unveiled its other major concept called the 'IDS Concept', sharing its vision for future autonomous driving technology in the process.

This concept vehicle is loaded with laser scanners, a 360-degree camera setup, radar and computer technology that makes autonomous navigation possible.

Nissan plan to offer some autonomous driving features in its vehicles by the end of next year in Japan.

By 2018, the company says vehicles with the technology will be able to conduct lane changes on highways.

By 2020, such vehicles will be able to make their way through intersections on regular urban roads.

The IDS vehicle is also electric and can travel long distances on a single charge, also recharging quickly.

"I think it's empowering. It's empowering!" says Ghosn.

"When you're in an autonomous car, it's empowering because you switch on, you switch off. If you want to drive, you switch it off."

"If you don't want to drive, you're in the city, you're in a traffic jam, you receive a phone call, you need to have a conversation with somebody near you, you switch it on. It's empowering. I think that's great."

"That's why young people are going to love it, senior people are going to love it, families are going to love it, because it's going to give you more freedom to do whatever you want."

Lexus, Toyota's luxury car brand, is unveiling this stylish hybrid coupe concept called 'LF-FC'.

"We hope that with this design, drivers will experience a ride that is full of emotion and joy," says Lexus International President, Tokuo Fukuichi.

The original version was unveiled in 2012, but it's yet to go to market.

There was no confirmation given at this year's motor show whether the car will eventually be available commercially.

More than 70 different concept cars are being presented at this year's Tokyo Motor Show.

The event runs until 8 November.

LEAD IN:

Eco-friendly rides and self-driving vehicles are stealing all the headlines at the annual Tokyo Motor Show in Japan.

Japanese auto makers Toyota, Honda and Lexus are all debuting new concept vehicles which embrace lower carbon technologies in comparison to traditional petrol engines.

STORY-LINE:

Automobiles are coming in all shapes and sizes at the Tokyo Motor Show in Japan, on Toyota's stand they're even glowing like something out of a sci-fi movie.

On home soil, Toyota President Akio Toyoda introduced a collection of concept cars accompanied by popular Japanese Major League baseball player, Ichiro Suzuki.

"It is truly tough to compete in a global field. We need to meet many new challenges in order to survive," says the baseball player.

"Those are the thoughts when I am standing at the batter's box. I am curious to what sort of 'wow' Toyota will show us."

The Toyota president took the opportunity to declare the company's intention to play a leading role in the auto industry, wowing drivers in the process.

"Toyota will produce better and better cars and will make an effort towards realising an enjoyable mobility environment," says Toyoda.

"'What wows you' is to be brave and meet the challenge. We will always continue to stand in the batter's box to meet the challenges in the future. Let's do it together!"

The key concept car Toyota is unveiling this year is this new generation fuel cell vehicle called the 'Toyota FCV Plus'.

The vehicle has the capability to generate electricity by using hydrogen stored outside the vehicle.

That way, the car can function not only as a vehicle but also be used as a sort of portable power plant.

The automaker also unveiled this lightweight sports car concept called the 'Toyota S-FR'. Weighing only 980kg, it's designed for nimble driving.

Hans Greimel, an auto journalist who specialises in Asia's auto industry, says this year's motor show features a range of eco-themed cars.

"At this year's Tokyo Motor Show, you're going to see a lot of activities from Japanese makers in particular on their home turf coming out with new kinds of green cars, new environmentally friendly cars - everything from fuel cells, you'll have those from Honda and from Toyota, to electric vehicles which is just about represented by just about everybody here," he says.

"The other trend you're gonna see is autonomous driving trend, self-driving cars. All of the automakers are gonna have some kind of version of their vision for where that kind of self-driving car technology will go. And that's gonna be a centrepiece of the presentations here."

Volkswagen representatives used their presentation at the motor show to again apologise for the company's recent emissions scandal.

Despite none of the affected vehicles being sold in Japan, the company acknowledged the problems have "damaged Japanese trust" in the brand.

They also used the event to present the company's new Tiguan GTE concept car to Asian audiences.

Previously unveiled at last month's Frankfurt Motor Show, the concept is an SUV which boasts hybrid drive technology.

Volkswagen's CEO of Passenger Cars, Herbert Diess, says the car starts in full electric mode which has a range of 50 kilometres that will cover most daily drives.

"Depending on the amount of sunshine, it can be driven even further. That is because a solar module can contribute enough energy for an additional 1,000 kilometres per year," he says.

Honda claims their new Clarity Fuel Cell vehicle is the first production model to consolidate the fuel-cell power train under the vehicle's hood.

That means it allows spacious areas in the rest of the vehicle, something some previous fuel cell vehicles didn't deliver.

The Japanese automaker also showed the latest version of its NSX.

Originally introduced in 1990, the new version is a hybrid sports car which uses both petrol and electric power.

The NSX has been a popular sports car for the brand, many see this as a reflection of Honda's F1 race technology.

"This new NSX boasts the light weight body frame and with newly-developed twin-turbocharged V6 engines installed in the middle part of the car," says Takahiro Hachigo, the president and CEO of Honda Motor Co.

"This is a super sports car equipped with a three-motor hybrid system so that it can meet both demands, the fun of driving and good fuel mileage."

Nissan is showing off this 'Teatro for Dayz' concept car which boasts seats and surfaces that can be used to display videos and images. Passengers can enjoy playing games that surround them in the car.

The automaker's president and CEO, Carlos Ghosn, says the EV minicar resembles a digital gadget just as much a car.

Nissan also unveiled its other major concept called the 'IDS Concept', sharing its vision for future autonomous driving technology in the process.

This concept vehicle is loaded with laser scanners, a 360-degree camera setup, radar and computer technology that makes autonomous navigation possible.

Nissan plan to offer some autonomous driving features in its vehicles by the end of next year in Japan.

By 2018, the company says vehicles with the technology will be able to conduct lane changes on highways.

By 2020, such vehicles will be able to make their way through intersections on regular urban roads.

The IDS vehicle is also electric and can travel long distances on a single charge, also recharging quickly.

"I think it's empowering. It's empowering!" says Ghosn.

"When you're in an autonomous car, it's empowering because you switch on, you switch off. If you want to drive, you switch it off."

"If you don't want to drive, you're in the city, you're in a traffic jam, you receive a phone call, you need to have a conversation with somebody near you, you switch it on. It's empowering. I think that's great."

"That's why young people are going to love it, senior people are going to love it, families are going to love it, because it's going to give you more freedom to do whatever you want."

Lexus, Toyota's luxury car brand, is unveiling this stylish hybrid coupe concept called 'LF-FC'.

"We hope that with this design, drivers will experience a ride that is full of emotion and joy," says Lexus International President, Tokuo Fukuichi.

The original version was unveiled in 2012, but it's yet to go to market.

There was no confirmation given at this year's motor show whether the car will eventually be available commercially.

More than 70 different concept cars are being presented at this year's Tokyo Motor Show.

The event runs until 8 November.

AP TELEVISION

Tokyo, Japan - 28 October 2015

1. Close of wheel of Toyota Motor Corp.'s concept car "FCV plus" on show at Tokyo Motor Show

2. Wide of FCV plus

3. Close of glowing ring on FCV plus

4. Wide of Toyota's world and Japan premiere vehicles on display

5. Close of Toyota's world and Japan premiere vehicle "SFR"

6. Wide of Ichiro Suzuki, American Major League Baseball Player, and Akio Toyoda, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Co., shaking hands onstage

7. Close of Suzuki and Toyoda onstage

8. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Ichiro Suzuki, American Major League Baseball Player:

"It is truly tough to compete in a global field. We need to meet many new challenges in order to survive. Those are the thoughts when I am standing at the batter's box. I am curious to what sort of 'wow" Toyota will show us."

9. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese/English) Akio Toyoda, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Co.:

"Toyota will produce better and better cars and will make an effort towards realising an enjoyable mobility environment. 'What wows you' is to be brave and meet the challenge. We will always continue to stand in the batter's box to meet the challenges in the future. Let's do it together!"

10. Various of Hans Greimel, Automotive News, Asia Editor, looking at car at Tokyo Motor Show

11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hans Greimel, Automotive News, Asia Editor:

"At this year's Tokyo Motor Show, you're going to see a lot of activities from Japanese makers in particular on their home turf coming out with new kinds of green cars, new environmentally friendly cars - everything from fuel cells, you'll have those from Honda and from Toyota, to electric vehicles which is just about represented by just about everybody here. The other trend you're gonna see is autonomous driving trend, self-driving cars. All of the automakers are gonna have some kind of version of their vision for where that kind of self-driving car technology will go. And that's gonna be a centrepiece of the presentations here."

12. Wide of Sven Stein, Representative Director, Volkswagen Group Japan (left) and Herbert Diess, Volkswagen's CEO Passenger Cars brand (right) unveiling Tiguan GTE concept car with solar roof

13. SOUNDBITE: (English) Herbert Diess, Volkswagen's CEO Passenger Cars brand:

"Depending on the amount of sunshine, it can be driven even further. That is because a solar module that can contribute enough energy for an additional 1,000 kilometres per year."

14. Wide of Diess standing in front of concept car while detailing safety features

UPSOUND: (English) "And it is precisely this type of progress that makes the Tiguan a Volkswagen."

15. Various of Stein and Diess posing for photographs next to Tiguan GTE concept car

16. Various of Honda's concept car "Clarity"

17. Wide of Takahiro Hachigo, President and CEO of Honda Motor Co., walking onstage

18. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Takahiro Hachigo, President and CEO of Honda Motor Co.:

"This new NSX boasts the light weight body frame and with newly-developed twin-turbocharged V6 engines installed in the middle part of the car. This is a super sports car equipped with a three-motor hybrid system so that it can meet both demands, the fun of driving and good fuel mileage."

19. Various of Honda's NSX

20. Close of Nissan's concept car "Teatro for Dayz"

21. Wide of Nissan Teatro

22. Close of car dashboard

23. Close of dashboard graphics

24. Wide of Nissan Teatro interior with doors wide open showing LED panels changing designs of interior

25. Wide of Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO of Nissan Motor Co., speaking onstage at presentation

26. SOUNDBITE: (English) Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO of Nissan Motor Co.:

"Above all, they want a car to be a versatile tool for self-expression and connecting with friends just like a smart phone."

27. Wide of Nissan's "IDS" autonomous car

28. Pull out of Nissan's "IDS"

29. SOUNDBITE: (English) Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO of Nissan Motor Co.:

"I think it's empowering. It's empowering! When you're in an autonomous car, it's empowering because you switch on, you switch off. If you want to drive, you switch it off. If you don't want to drive, you're in the city, you're in a traffic jam, you receive a phone call, you need to have a conversation with somebody near you, you switch it on. It's empowering. I think that's great. That's why young people are going to love it, senior people are going to love it, families are going to love it, because it's going to give you more freedom to do whatever you want."

30. Wide of Lexus's world premiere vehicle LF-FC driving onstage

31. Pan left from photographer to car

32. Pull focus of Lexus logo

33. Wide of Lexus's world premiere vehicle LF-FC

34. Close of LF-FC rear

35. Close of markings, reading (English): 'Fuel Cell' on LF-FC

36. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Tokuo Fukuichi, Lexus International President:

"We hope that with this design, drivers will experience a ride that is full of emotion and joy."

37. Tilt down to Tokyo Motor Show floor

38. Wide of motor show floor

39. Long shot of visitors walking through motor show

Green cars rolled into the spotlight at the Tokyo auto show on Wednesday as Japan's automakers look to fuel efficient technology to reinvigorate growth after tough times.

The Tokyo Motor Show previewed for media ahead of its opening to the public on Saturday.

The show has been scaling back in recent years, underlining the waning importance of Japan as a global auto market.

Automakers are increasingly looking to China, India and other markets with growth potential more than Japan, which has made competition stiff.

"The time when an automaker could focus only on the vehicle is over. Look at the concept cars here today," said Nissan Motor Co CEO Carlos Ghosn, adding that today's cars should be "viable transport solutions for tomorrow's digitally connected urban societies where smart houses and smart communities support zero emission mobility."

Very few US and European car companies featured at the show, and so, with the Japanese being the stars, the focus was on ecological technology, such as plug-in hybrids and electric cars.

Toyota President Akio Toyoda became emotional as he talked of the the country's tough challenges after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.

Japanese automakers, including Toyota Motor Corp., were forced to scale back production as supply chains in northeastern Japan were damaged.

Toyoda promised that Toyota would "not turn its back" on the earthquake damaged regions, nor on Toyota plants in flood-ravaged Thailand.

"Toyota will work together with people in these regions and aims to be the driving force of their restoration and reconstruction," Toyoda said.

Toyota's display at the motor show featured the plug-in version of its Prius hybrid.

More than 3.4 (m) million Toyota hybrids have been sold worldwide so far, and the company is hoping Prius plug-in sales will reach 60-thousand per year globally.

Nissan Motor Co. had an updated version of its futuristic-looking electric car called Pivo 3, which can automatically drive itself, find parking spaces, and swerve around in almost a complete circle.

Nissan also showed concept cars such as the AC-X plug-in hybrid, EV-STER electric roadster convertible, and a tiny electric car called Micro Commuter Concept.

Honda displayed a portable battery that is small enough to be carried inside electric cars and plug-ins, and even on small electric scooters.

However, even with the green innovations, Koji Endo, auto analyst with Advanced Research Japan, says that Japanese automakers are still struggling.

"The car industry in Japan is still in really big trouble. And many of the car makers including Toyota, Honda - they are struggling in making money," he said.

Tokyo Motor show opens to the public on Saturday 3 December and runs until 11 December.

1. Tracking shot of Nissan "Pivo3", pan to Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO of Nissan Motor Company walking onto stage, AUDIO: presentation music

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO of Nissan Motor Co:

"The time when an automaker could focus only on the vehicle is over. Look at the concept cars here today. These are not exercises in design fantasy but viable transport solutions for tomorrow's digitally connected urban societies where smart houses and smart communities support zero emission mobility."

3. Various of unveiling of the newest plug-in hybrid "Prius PHV", AUDIO: presentation music

4. Wide of President of Toyota Motor Corp, Akio Toyoda, appearing on stage

5. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corp:

"Through manufacturing, we aim to envision the future together with our communities. Toyota will not turn its back on Tohoku nor Thailand. Rather, Toyota will work together with people in these regions and aims to be the driving force of their restoration and reconstruction."

6. Pull focus of Toyota emblem on car

7. Various of Toyota "FCV-R" (Fuel Cell Vehicle)

8. Cutaway audience

9. Various of Honda's "Micro Commuter Concept" car

10. Set up of auto analyst Koji Endo looking at cars

11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Koji Endo, auto analyst, Advanced Research Japan:

"The car industry in Japan is still in really big trouble. And many of the car makers including Toyota, Honda - they are struggling in making money. Actually Toyota and Honda are not making any money in the automotive division, partly because of the Tohoku earthquake and partly because of the flood situation in Thailand. But more importantly, strong yen, relatively weak economy here, slowing down Chinese market, and the US market is still kind of struggling, so to speak."

12. Logos of various automakers

13. Various of people attending the auto show

SHOTLIST:

AP Television

Tokyo - 18 November, 2010

1. Close up of woman test driving Toyota's electric vehicle, iQ

2. Various of test drive

3. Wide of news conference

4. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Executive Vice President, Toyota Motor Corporation :

"We think we should develop electric vehicles focusing on short commuter use so as to expand the market. With that position, we are now aiming to put electric vehicles on the market by 2012 in Japan, the US and Europe."

AP FILE

Tokyo - 21 July, 2007

5. Various of Toyota plug-in hybrid Prius being charged

AP Television -

Tokyo - 18 November, 2010

6. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Executive Vice President, Toyota Motor Corporation :

"The PHV (plug-in hybrid) is a hybrid car which does not use much gasoline and also is an electric vehicle whose battery does not run out. PHV is the amalgamation and evolution of both technologies and we think it will be the mainstream of electric vehicles."

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Hans Greimel, Asia Editor, Automotive News :

"Well it's a good question whether Toyota can maintain the lead in the environmental vehicle race. They had an early start with Prius which was well accepted and established Toyota's name as the leader, but yet you see companies something like Nissan coming out with the Leaf and trying to take the - to leapfrog ahead of Toyota. So we will see where it goes. A lot will depend on the development on these batteries which is the key power source for these cars."

8. Various of Toyota electric vehicle, iQ

9. Various of the charge inlet

10. Close up of the battery

11. Wide of iQ

LEAD IN :

The next generation of Toyota's electric cars are to go on sale in the US, Japan and Europe by 2012.

The new version will be a compact hybrid vehicle best suited for short haul trips.

STORY-LINE:

This little car is what Toyota's excited about.

The company says its next generation of eco-friendly vehicles will be gasoline-electric hybrid, which will remain the standard for green cars so drivers won't have to worry about running out of electricity on the road.

Given a test drive it sped around a short test-course without any problem, making whirring motor noises instead of the usual roar of an engine.

Toyota's executive vice president, Takeshi Uchiyamada says the new eco car, based on Toyota's iQ, has been designed is to focus on short haul use.

"We think we should develop electric vehicles focusing on short commuter use so as to expand the market. With that position, we are now aiming to put electric vehicles on the market by 2012 in Japan, the US and Europe."

The eco car is going on sale in the US, Japan and Europe from 2012 , with the company targeting sales of 50,000 vehicles a year at 3 million yen ($36,000) each without subsidies, as the automaker strengthens its green lineup to keep pace with growing competition.

Toyota, the world's biggest automaker, is banking on hybrids, which switch between gasoline and electric engines, after the success of its top-selling Prius hybrid. The company says they are planning to introduce 11 new hybrid models by the end of 2012, including revamps of existing models.

Uchiyamada says the plug-in hybrid gives drivers the best of both worlds.

"The PHV (plug-in hybrid) is a hybrid car which does not use much gasoline and also is an electric vehicle whose battery does not run out. PHV is the amalgamation and evolution of both technologies and we think it will be the mainstream of electric vehicles."

Besides developing an electric car in-house, Toyota is working on an electric sport-utility vehicle with U.S. luxury electric car maker Tesla. A concept model which is being shown at the Los Angeles Auto Show is planned for sale in the U.S. in 2012, with a range of 100 miles on a single charge.

Other car manufacturers are playing catch up however with Japanese rivals Nissan and Mitsubishi dashing ahead in the race to bring new hybrid to market, as Asia Editor of Automotive News, Hans Greimel explains.

"Well it's a good question whether Toyota can maintain the lead in the environmental vehicle race. They had an early start with Prius which was well accepted and established Toyota's name as the leader, but yet you see companies something like Nissan coming out with the Leaf and trying to take the - to leapfrog ahead of Toyota. So we will see where it goes. A lot will depend on the development on these batteries which is the key power source for these cars."

Mitsubishi's eco car, the iMiEV, is already on sale.

Analysts say electric vehicles and other futuristic vehicles will still only make up a tiny fraction of the auto market for years.

Recharging stations will be needed for electric vehicles and hydrogen fuelling stations will be needed if fuel cells are ever to become practical.

Toyota sorely needs a boost to its image after a series of massive recalls totalling more than 11 million vehicles globally over the last year, mostly in the U.S., for faulty gas pedals, floor mats that can trap accelerators, defective braking and stalling engines.

The maker of the Camry sedan and Lexus luxury model also faces lawsuits in the U.S. over accidents suspected of being related to those defects.

Its image, once equated with near impeccable quality, has been badly tarnished, especially after widespread criticism it was slow and reluctant to come forward with the recalls.

While next-generation eco-cars in Japan have been dominated by Toyota's hybrid Prius and Nissan's electronic vehicle Leaf, both companies are rolling out not just greener, but sleeker functions and designs this year.

Carlos Ghosn, chief executive at Nissan, heralds the connection of cars to infrastructure.

"The time when an automaker could focus only on the vehicle is over" Ghosn said. Pointing to Nissan's latest line up of vehicles, he stressed "these are not exercises in design fantasy but viable transport solutions for tomorrow's digitally connected urban societies where smart houses and smart communities support zero emission mobility."

The updated version of its futuristic-looking electric car called Pivo 3 - can drive itself, find parking spaces, charge its own battery and even come and pick you up once summoned through your smartphone.

In about a decade, electric vehicles will make up 10 percent of the market as concerns grow about global warming, and governments in the U.S., Japan, Europe and China encourage their sales, says Ghosn.

Meanwhile, Japan's biggest automaker Toyota, flexed its R&D muscles and presented 5 world premiere vehicles at the show. For the auto giant, variety was key.

It rolled out its Prius Plug-in Hybrid vehicle (PHV), equipped with a high-capacity lithium ion-battery that can be charged from a household outlet.

Toyota also premiered a concept fuel-cell vehicle (FCV-R) which uses hydrogen as power source and is slated to launch in 2015, as well as a compact electric vehicle (FT-EV III) designed for short-distance trips, scheduled to launch in 2012.

And in the hopes of attracting younger buyers back into the market by making cars "fun to drive, again" - Toyota's new slogan - the auto giant debuted a prototype "86" compact rear-wheel-drive sports car.

"When we talk about the car of the future, we're not just going to be talking about whether its hybrid or plug-in hybrid." Toyota President Akio Toyoda said. "Customers will make their decisions, but their choices will not be limited to just one. I believe there is a place for different cars with different advantages."

Japanese automakers have had a tough few years due to image problems from Toyota's massive recalls and the large production disruptions from the March disasters in northeastern Japan. But green technology remains a strong selling point for car makers such as Toyota Motor Corp. which pioneered broad consumer acceptance of gasoline-electric hybrid cars with its hit Prius.

So with hybrids, plug-in hybrids, electronic vehicles, fuel cells and more coming down the pipeline, where is the next generation eco-friendly car headed? Koji Endo, auto analyst at Advanced Research Japan says despite all the fanfare, he expects hybrids to stay on for the time being.

"I think, looking at 10 years from now, or maybe beyond, electric vehicles seem to be getting more and more attention as practical way. At the same time, there are going to be fuel cell, more advanced type of diesel, and a lot of number of new types of eco-friendly cars available. Still, people's focus is till on the hybrid," says Endo.

As for the Tokyo Motor Show itself, there seems to be a little more hype this year with 52 world premiere vehicles, 15 domestic brands and 24 foreign brands participating. That's a drastic improvement from just 9 foreign brands that were present for the previous show in 2009 that was held in the midst of the global financial crisis after the collapse of Lehman Brothers.

Still, Ford Motor Co. of the U.S. skipped the show, and General Motors Co. had only a tiny corner booth. Just a handful of European manufacturers like Volkswagen AG and BMW are back in Japan this time aiming to woo rich Japanese buyers had full-scale booths.

The show been scaling back in recent years because of the waning importance of Japan as an auto market. Car makers _ including Japan's _ are increasingly looking to China, India and other nations with greater growth potential.

This year, organisers of the show are hoping to attract over 800,000 visitors during the event by bringing it back to Tokyo for the first time in 24 years, extending opening hours, and offering cheaper tickets for visitors who come in the evening.

The Tokyo Motor Show will be open to the public from December 3-11.

AP Television

Tokyo, Japan - November 30, 2011

1. Close of Nissan "PIVO3"2. Wide of Carlos Ghosn appearing on stage

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO of Nissan Motor Co.

"The time when an automaker could focus only on the vehicle is over. Look at the concept cars here today. These are not exercises in design fantasy but viable transport solutions for tomorrow's digitally connected urban societies where smart houses and smart communities support zero emission mobility."

4. Pull focus on Nissan's emblem

5. Wide of Pivo 3 on stage

6. Close of Pivo 3 tyres

7. Mid of Pivo 3

8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Koji Endo, auto analyst of Advanced Research Japan

"I must say, everybody's talking about still eco-friendly cars such as hybrid and plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles. And at the same time, everybody is now trying to focus on small cars, more fuel economical cars, cheap cars, that people can afford to buying those cars."

9. Wide of Toyota's Fuel Cell Vehicle "FCV-R"

10. Close of FCV-R

11. Frontal shot of FCV-R

12. Wide of stage with the newest plug-in hybrid "Prius PHV" and electronic vehicle "FT-EV III" with President of Toyota, Akio Toyoda, standing in front of stage

13. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corp.

"When we talk about the car of the future, we're not just going to be talking about whether its hybrid or plug-in hybrid. Customers will make their decisions, but their choices will not be limited to just one. I believe there is a place for different cars with different advantages."

14. Pull focus of BMW emblem on car

15. Frontal shot of BMW concept sports car

16. Frontal shot of BMW world premiere hybrid series 5 "Active Hybrid 5"

17. Close pull focus of "Active Hybrid 5" sign on BMW car 18. Mid of display with sign "world premiere" with BMW car 19. Focus shift of Citroen emblem on car 20. Wide of Citroen booth 21. Frontal shot of Volkswagen's "New Bulli"

22. Close of Volkswagen's emblem on car

23. Wide of Volkswagen booth

24. SOUNDBITE: (English) Koji Endo, auto analyst of Advanced Research Japan

"I think, looking at 10 years from now, or maybe beyond, electric vehicles seem to be getting more and more attention as practical way. At the same time, there are going to be fuel cell, more advanced type of diesel, and a lot of number of new types of eco-friendly cars available. Still, people's focus is till on the hybrid."

25. Close of Honda's emblem on its concept electronic vehicle "Micro Commuter"

26. Mid of Honda's Micro Commuter

27. Close of the Micro Commuter with sign: "See you!"

28. Wide of Tokyo Motor Show

29. Wide of logos of various automakers

30. Wide of people attending the auto show

LEADIN:

The race for greener cars is on. Plug-in hybrids and electric cars took centre stage at the Tokyo Auto Show as manufacturers look to fuel efficient technology to reinvigorate growth.

The showcase for Japan's auto industry was holds the media preview on Wednesday ahead of opening to the public on Saturday.

SHOTLIST:

Lordstown, Ohio - 18 November 2008

1. Wide exterior of the General Motors (GM) plant in Lordstown

2. Wide of the building, traffic passing

3. Wide pan across building exterior

4. Various of Lordstown village sign

5. Low-angle shot of street with snow

6. Low-angle interior of GM workers at a bowling alley

7. Low-angle of bowling ball rolling down lane towards pin

8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Carl Krawiec, GM Plant Employee:

"Well a lot of people are kind of nervous, they don't know what's going on."

9. Wide of men bowling

10. Low-angle shot pins going down as bowling ball hits

11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Leonard Schober, GM Plant Employee:

"I believe it would really hurt. It would be devastating to this whole area."

13. Various exteriors of Lordstown Diner

14. Lordstown Diner owner, Theresa Golden, folding napkins

15. Close-up of Golden wrapping cutlery in napkins

16. SOUNDBITE: (English) Theresa Golden, Lordstown Diner owner:

"If this plant would have close it's going to devastate this area. It's going to devastate all the businesses, the school systems, everything."

17. Mid of sign for Scarsella's Pizzeria

18. Various of Scarsella's Pizzeria owner, Sean Kushman, making pizzas behind counter

19. SOUNDBITE: Sean Kushman, Scarsella's Pizzeria owner:

"I think Lordstown will be a ghost town. There's not much out here. There's you know, basically the plant, a few other businesses out here that the plant deals with, whether it's the seeding companies or the companies that make the interior for the vehicles and if they close obviously there wouldn't be jobs for the other folks and they would probably shut down as well, it would just leave the town a ghost-town."

20. Wide of United Auto Workers President, Jim Graham sitting at his desk

21. Cutaway of nameplate on desk

22. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jim Graham, United Auto Workers President:

"If they don't get the loan, it's... I don't want to even think what's going to happen. Locally shutting down our plant would be devastating. Nationally, shutting down General Motors, Ford and Chrysler are going to affect about 3 (m) million people directly; indirectly the ripple effect is going to be astronomical. That's going to literally drive us deeper into this depression that we're already in."

Georgetown, Kentucky - 18 November 2008

23. Wide of Main Street

24. Close up of Main Street sign

25. Various of Toyota plant sign

26. Mid interior of people in Georgetown diner

27. Various of diners inside restaurant

28. SOUNDBITE: (English) Benjamin Bynum, Georgetown resident:

"Well I think Toyota has made some better decisions as far as more economical and environmentally friendly cars, which have proved to be a wiser business choice. I feel at the moment, better that Toyota is here and doing well even with their Prius sales in the area, as opposed to GM and Chrysler and Ford needing a bailout from Washington."

29. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sheri Gruchow, Georgetown Diner manager:

"You haven't seen Toyota on the news at all, you know saying about job cuts or anything basically like GM and Ford. You know they haven't laid off anybody that I know of, you know so, or has been on the news at least, that I know of, so it makes this community safer basically. Feel safer at least."

30. Mid of people in diner

31. Wide pull out of car driving past Toyota sign

STORYLINE

Residents in Ohio are considering how the collapse of the auto industry could set off a catastrophic chain reaction in the US economy, as the Senate's top Democrat on Wednesday called off a planned vote this week on a US 25 (b) billion bailout package.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said on Wednesday that while he wanted to figure out some way to help Detroit's struggling Big Three - efforts to do so had stalled.

With the vote stalled - residents in Lordstown, Ohio are preparing for the worst.

Earlier this month, GM announced that about 3,600 workers will be laid off indefinitely, beginning early next year at 10 of its assembly plants.

Those cuts will hit Lordstown hard, eliminating 850 jobs from the assembly plant there, roughly 25-percent of the workforce.

Another 162 jobs will come from the GM fabricating plant in Lordstown, resulting in total job losses of more than one thousand people.

At the Wedgewood Bowling alley, where many GM employees head to after work, the upcoming layoffs were top of mind.

Workers were concerned about their own jobs, and also the wider implications for the whole Ohio Rust Belt area.

Diner owner Theresa Golden expects her business to be hit hard in the coming months and she fears that with plant workers out of work, the whole town will be facing decreased tax revenues and losses across the board.

Local pizzeria owner Sean Kushman shared Golden's concerns and said Lordstown will become a ghost town.

Residents of Lordstown have held high hopes for a congressional bailout of the auto industry but with talks on Capitol Hill stalled optimism is dwindling.

The president of the United Auto Workers Union, Jim Graham said a failure of GM would be "astronomical" for the entire nation.

US auto companies employ nearly a quarter-million workers, and more than 730-thousand other people have jobs producing the materials and parts that go into cars.

About 1 (m) million on top of that work in dealerships nationwide.

If just one of the auto giants were to go belly up, some estimates put US job losses next year as high as 2.5 (m) million.

In Georgetown, Kentucky, where the foreign owned Toyota plant is based, optimism was a little higher.

Residents there said pointed to success of Toyota's Prius car as a reason they believe the company was not in the same dire situation as its competitors.

However on Wednesday Toyota said it would be forced to reduce production in the United States to cope with slowing sales in the world's largest economy.

The company said it will stop production at all its plants in the US and Canada for two extra days in addition to the regular Christmas holidays next month and cut about half of 500 temporary workers at the Kentucky plant by March.

The White House and congressional Republicans rejected Democrats' plan to dip into the 700 (b) billion US dollar Wall Street rescue fund to finance loans to US Automakers.

However a bipartisan group from auto industry states is working to cut a deal on a scaled-down aid package.

If agreement can be reached, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said the Senate could still vote on it as part of a measure to extend jobless benefits.

General Motors will cut up to 14,000 workers in North America and put five plants up for possible closure as it abandons many of its car models and restructures to focus more on autonomous and electric vehicles, the automaker announced Monday.

The reductions could amount to as much as 8 percent of GM's global workforce of 180,000 employees.

The restructuring reflects changing North American auto markets as manufacturers continue to shift away from cars toward SUVs and trucks. In October, almost 65 percent of new vehicles sold in the U.S. were trucks or SUVs. That figure was about 50 percent cars just five years ago.

GM is shedding cars largely because it doesn't make money on them, Citi analyst Itay Michaeli wrote in a note to investors.

The layoffs come amid the backdrop of a trade war between the U.S., China and Europe that likely will lead to higher prices for imported vehicles and those exported from the U.S. Barra said the company faces challenges from tariffs but she did not directly link the layoffs to them.

The planned reduction includes about 8,000 white-collar employees, or 15 percent of GM's North American white-collar workforce. Some will take buyouts while others will be laid off.

At the factories, around 3,300 blue-collar workers could lose jobs in the U.S. and another 2,600 in Canada, but some U.S. workers could transfer to truck or SUV factories that are increasing production. The cuts mark GM's first major downsizing since shedding thousands of jobs in the Great Recession.

General Motors Co.'s pre-emptive strike to get leaner before the next downturn likely will be followed by Ford Motor Co., which has said it is restructuring and will lay off an unspecified number of white-collar workers. Toyota Motor Corp. also has discussed cutting costs, even though it's building a new assembly plant in Alabama.

GM isn't the first to abandon much of the car market. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles got out of small and midsize cars two years ago, while Ford announced plans to shed all cars but the Mustang sports car in the U.S. in the coming years.

Factories that could be closed include assembly plants in Detroit and Oshawa, Ontario, and Lordstown, Ohio, as well as transmission plants in Warren, Michigan, and near Baltimore.

New York - 27 November 2018

1. Joseph Foudy, Professor of Economics, NYU Stern School of Business at desk

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Joseph Foudy, Professor of Economics, NYU Stern School of Business:

"This is a pretty significant cut when you consider that the company has been pretty successful since its turn around after the Great Recession. It's also happening at the top of the business cycle when the economy has been quite strong. And so I think it's quite surprising to a number of people but it tells you both where they think the car market is going as well as there are fears for the macro economy moving forward."

3. Foudy with charts

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Joseph Foudy, Professor of Economics, NYU Stern School of Business:

"There's three different issues I think they're facing. Number one is it's clearly continuing to move away from sedans and towards SUVs and so the factories being closed are really a further sort of move away from the car market towards crossovers and SUVs. Secondly they worry that the overall car market is going to be slowing down - that the economy is right now sort of at its peak and it's hard to imagine it's going to do better moving forward. The third thing they have to worry about is just a change towards both electric and self-driving cars along with that you know changes in car ownership. You know they see a world in which there are fewer car sales, cars last longer and the nature of car technology will be quite different."

5. Foudy explaining chart

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Joseph Foudy, Professor of Economics, NYU Stern School of Business:

"They know that capital investment in these new technologies is going to be in the billions. And so they're trying to get ahead of this curve."

7. General Motors chart

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Joseph Foudy, Professor of Economics, NYU Stern School of Business:

"You know they're trying to position themselves for a piece of that where they don't sell cars but sell services or rides. Whether they can do that I think is a really open question and I'd be a bit skeptical but they see a wave coming and they're trying to get ahead of it."

9. Foudy at desk

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Joseph Foudy, Professor of Economics, NYU Stern School of Business:

"Well the tariff cost, tariffs are adding to the cost of steel and other raw materials and so that's sort of increasing the pressure that the companies on. But this is really a broader reaction to where they think the economy and the car market is going."

11. Wide of Foudy

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Joseph Foudy, Professor of Economics, NYU Stern School of Business:

"And you know there's a short term cyclical trend where they think the car market and the economy may soften over the next year or two. But there's a longer term trend where they really think we're moving to electric cars where we're moving to self driving cars that they think the market is fundamentally changing."

13. Foudy at computer

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Joseph Foudy, Professor of Economics, NYU Stern School of Business:

"So innovation is shorthand for electric and autonomous vehicles not just in the United States but they think they could be launching about 20 models over the next couple of years that are electric in China. GM now sells more cars in China than it does in the United States."

15. Foudy with desk

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Joseph Foudy, Professor of Economics, NYU Stern School of Business:

"The average car quality is going up you routinely run into people whose cars are over 100,000 miles that have very few problems. The industry is a victim of its own success in that the average quality of an American car has jumped enormously. We don't see any difference now between American or Japanese carmakers."

17. Foudy upward view

18. SOUNDBITE (English) Joseph Foudy, Professor of Economics, NYU Stern School of Business:

"Electric cars in contrast to the internal combustion engine have far fewer parts and will last much longer. Some people hypothesize that an electric car like a Chevy Volt or a Tesla could last a million miles before it wears out."

19. Foudy at computer

20. SOUNDBITE (English) Joseph Foudy, Professor of Economics, NYU Stern School of Business:

"There's a real risk around the world for car companies that they'll face increasing regulation on emissions - even if we don't focus on that in the United States right now with the current administration - they have to sell cars for China and for Europe where emission standards are only going to get tougher and tougher."

21. Foudy talking

22. SOUNDBITE (English) Joseph Foudy, Professor of Economics, NYU Stern School of Business:

"And so if you look at the layoffs it's 15,000 workers. The good news is this is happening during a period when the economy is relatively strong but the horrible news is that it's concentrated in a number of communities for whom it's going to be devastating. You know we had a bankruptcy of Toys R Us that was 30,000 employees twice as many. Toys R Us didn't even give severance packages to the vast majority of its employees. But Toys R Us is dispersed across the entire country. This is concentrated in a handful of industrial towns that you know really can't recover from this."

23. Foudy wide shot at desk

General Motors will cut up to 14,000 workers in North America and put five plants up for possible closure as it abandons many of its car models and restructures to focus more on autonomous and electric vehicles, the automaker announced Monday.

The reductions could amount to as much as 8 percent of GM's global workforce of 180,000 employees.

The restructuring reflects changing North American auto markets as manufacturers continue to shift away from cars toward SUVs and trucks. In October, almost 65 percent of new vehicles sold in the U.S. were trucks or SUVs. That figure was about 50 percent cars just five years ago.

GM is shedding cars largely because it doesn't make money on them, Citi analyst Itay Michaeli wrote in a note to investors.

The layoffs come amid the backdrop of a trade war between the U.S., China and Europe that likely will lead to higher prices for imported vehicles and those exported from the U.S. Barra said the company faces challenges from tariffs but she did not directly link the layoffs to them.

The planned reduction includes about 8,000 white-collar employees, or 15 percent of GM's North American white-collar workforce. Some will take buyouts while others will be laid off.

At the factories, around 3,300 blue-collar workers could lose jobs in the U.S. and another 2,600 in Canada, but some U.S. workers could transfer to truck or SUV factories that are increasing production. The cuts mark GM's first major downsizing since shedding thousands of jobs in the Great Recession.

General Motors Co.'s pre-emptive strike to get leaner before the next downturn likely will be followed by Ford Motor Co., which has said it is restructuring and will lay off an unspecified number of white-collar workers. Toyota Motor Corp. also has discussed cutting costs, even though it's building a new assembly plant in Alabama.

GM isn't the first to abandon much of the car market. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles got out of small and midsize cars two years ago, while Ford announced plans to shed all cars but the Mustang sports car in the U.S. in the coming years.

Factories that could be closed include assembly plants in Detroit and Oshawa, Ontario, and Lordstown, Ohio, as well as transmission plants in Warren, Michigan, and near Baltimore.

New York - 27 November 2018

1. Joseph Foudy, Professor of Economics, NYU Stern School of Business at desk

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Joseph Foudy, Professor of Economics, NYU Stern School of Business:

"This is a pretty significant cut when you consider that the company has been pretty successful since its turn around after the Great Recession. It's also happening at the top of the business cycle when the economy has been quite strong. And so I think it's quite surprising to a number of people but it tells you both where they think the car market is going as well as there are fears for the macro economy moving forward."

3. Foudy with charts

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Joseph Foudy, Professor of Economics, NYU Stern School of Business:

"There's three different issues I think they're facing. Number one is it's clearly continuing to move away from sedans and towards SUVs and so the factories being closed are really a further sort of move away from the car market towards crossovers and SUVs. Secondly they worry that the overall car market is going to be slowing down - that the economy is right now sort of at its peak and it's hard to imagine it's going to do better moving forward. The third thing they have to worry about is just a change towards both electric and self-driving cars along with that you know changes in car ownership. You know they see a world in which there are fewer car sales, cars last longer and the nature of car technology will be quite different."

5. Foudy explaining chart

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Joseph Foudy, Professor of Economics, NYU Stern School of Business:

"They know that capital investment in these new technologies is going to be in the billions. And so they're trying to get ahead of this curve."

7. General Motors chart

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Joseph Foudy, Professor of Economics, NYU Stern School of Business:

"You know they're trying to position themselves for a piece of that where they don't sell cars but sell services or rides. Whether they can do that I think is a really open question and I'd be a bit skeptical but they see a wave coming and they're trying to get ahead of it."

9. Foudy at desk

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Joseph Foudy, Professor of Economics, NYU Stern School of Business:

"Well the tariff cost, tariffs are adding to the cost of steel and other raw materials and so that's sort of increasing the pressure that the companies on. But this is really a broader reaction to where they think the economy and the car market is going."

11. Wide of Foudy

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Joseph Foudy, Professor of Economics, NYU Stern School of Business:

"And you know there's a short term cyclical trend where they think the car market and the economy may soften over the next year or two. But there's a longer term trend where they really think we're moving to electric cars where we're moving to self driving cars that they think the market is fundamentally changing."

13. Foudy at computer

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Joseph Foudy, Professor of Economics, NYU Stern School of Business:

"So innovation is shorthand for electric and autonomous vehicles not just in the United States but they think they could be launching about 20 models over the next couple of years that are electric in China. GM now sells more cars in China than it does in the United States."

15. Foudy with desk

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Joseph Foudy, Professor of Economics, NYU Stern School of Business:

"The average car quality is going up you routinely run into people whose cars are over 100,000 miles that have very few problems. The industry is a victim of its own success in that the average quality of an American car has jumped enormously. We don't see any difference now between American or Japanese carmakers."

17. Foudy upward view

18. SOUNDBITE (English) Joseph Foudy, Professor of Economics, NYU Stern School of Business:

"Electric cars in contrast to the internal combustion engine have far fewer parts and will last much longer. Some people hypothesize that an electric car like a Chevy Volt or a Tesla could last a million miles before it wears out."

19. Foudy at computer

20. SOUNDBITE (English) Joseph Foudy, Professor of Economics, NYU Stern School of Business:

"There's a real risk around the world for car companies that they'll face increasing regulation on emissions - even if we don't focus on that in the United States right now with the current administration - they have to sell cars for China and for Europe where emission standards are only going to get tougher and tougher."

21. Foudy talking

22. SOUNDBITE (English) Joseph Foudy, Professor of Economics, NYU Stern School of Business:

"And so if you look at the layoffs it's 15,000 workers. The good news is this is happening during a period when the economy is relatively strong but the horrible news is that it's concentrated in a number of communities for whom it's going to be devastating. You know we had a bankruptcy of Toys R Us that was 30,000 employees twice as many. Toys R Us didn't even give severance packages to the vast majority of its employees. But Toys R Us is dispersed across the entire country. This is concentrated in a handful of industrial towns that you know really can't recover from this."

23. Foudy wide shot at desk

LEAD IN:

200mph electric supercars and cars that park themselves with just a swish of their owner's wrist are just some of the latest hi-tech motors at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The auto industry is increasingly using the technology show to demonstrate its latest gadgets and advances.

STORY-LINE:

This futuristic looking electric supercar can reach speeds of up to 200mph according to its maker Faraday.

The single-seater Faraday FFZero1 features all of the latest hi-tech gadgetry expected in a car making its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Page Beermann, Exterior Design Chief of Faraday Future says: "This car is a technology test bed for us. We're exploring things like aerodynamics, chassis development, materials, as well as the design language."

For example, a smartphone can be embedded in the steering wheel to give the driver real-time data and can even be used to tune and alter the way the car is set-up.

The FFZero1 is the brainchild of California-based car maker Faraday Future and is strictly a concept for now... and even if it ever does go into production then you're unlikely to ever see one on the road.

"I envisage this as much more of like a track enthusiast's car. You know, someone that would probably not even drive it on the road," says Beermann.

The modular chassis design can be converted to make it longer or shorter - so various configurations can enable more battery packs to be added for greater range.

Although the FFZero1 might be a concept, Faraday is planning to build its first production cars within two years and is already being tipped as a rival for local electric car makers Tesla.

If 200mph supercars are a bit too much for your needs, then Chevrolet's new Bolt might make a more practical electric alternative.

The 2017 production model was also unveiled at CES - which is fast becoming an important platform for car makers to reinforce their technological credentials.

The Bolt is designed as an affordable long-range electric vehicle and the successor to Chevrolet's Volt. Chevrolet claims the Bolt has a range of more than 200 miles.

Josh Tavel, the Vehicle Chief Engineer for Chevrolet Bolt EV, says: "With every step we've made at Chevrolet - from the Volt EV to the Spark EV to the second gen Volt and now the Bolt EV - we've really built a good heritage and we keep increasing that pedigree. We know what the customers want, more importantly we know how the customers use the vehicles and everything that we've learnt is going into these vehicles."

The Bolt was first introduced as a concept a year ago and production could begin by the end of 2016.

The car could come with an app that will make car sharing easier and also include advanced GPS route mapping which can predict precise range based on driving habits, weather conditions and the number of hills on the planned route.

But is range anxiety and the worry about being an early adopter of a relatively new technology still putting off motorists from going electric in 2016.

"There'll always be some people that still have fear, right? Until it's a completely mainstream product perhaps that won't happen. My biggest thing is going to be about getting the people in the vehicles, letting them experience all the good things that electrification brings to a vehicle, it's a completely different driving experience," says Tavel.

Outside the show hall BMW is demonstrating its self-parking cars.

Ok, so cars parking themselves is nothing new - but this BMW i3 has been fitted with gesture control. Its driver swipes his wrist and the smart watch he is wearing communicates with the car... the car rolls slowly into life and parks itself.

Philipp Reinisch from the BMW Group says: "With gesture control parking, it's possible to move your car using a gesture. You activate the car first by shaking your arm like this and then you're doing like a tennis forehand and sending the car into the free parking space."

Volkswagen's old Microbus is getting a major update and could be in a garage near you in around three years.

The company unveiled a futuristic battery-powered concept of the bus called the BUDD-e. VW expects it to be able to go 373 miles (600 kilometres) on a single charge, far longer than electric vehicles today, due to a more efficient battery technology.

Herbert Diess, Chairman of the board of management at Volkswagen says: "It's much more, it's high technology, it's a long-range electric car, it's fully-connected, it's a very emotional car and it will be state of the art by the end of this decade."

The Budd-e has internet connections to smart home devices and can be charged to 80 percent of its battery capacity in about 15 minutes, VW claims.

It also has gesture recognition technology to control the infotainment screen, and the doors can be controlled by voice commands.

VW didn't say in its releases if the new Microbus will actually go into production, but said that the BUDD-e "demonstrates what electric mobility could be like by the year 2019."

"The car will be an integral part of the internet, probably the most important part in the internet. The car will be always online, fully connected, we will have automotive cloud which will make the car really safe to drive, very convenient," says Diess.

VW says it's likely that the Budd-e will become a production model.

While some auto makers like General Motors will be looking to boost current car sales, companies like Rinspeed will be looking years - perhaps decades - into the future.

The Swiss car makers unveiled a self-driving concept car called 'Etos'.

A total of eight HD exterior cameras visually monitor the vehicle's surroundings, establishing 180-degree panoramic views, virtual exterior mirrors and no blind spots.

Inside, there's a retracting steering wheel which creates added space when in auto-pilot mode, allowing drivers to explore two curved 21.5-inch Ultra HD widescreen monitors or simply read a book.

Frank Rinderknecht, CEO of Rinspeed says: "In my opinion, whether you drive a sports car or a sedan, once you're traffic you're stuck and then you want to do something else, you want to maybe work, you want to entertain yourself, you want to read and that means that you need space and the steering wheel for those activities are just simply in the way."

The Etos comes complete with an on-board DJI drone to snap road selfies during journeys... or even more unusual missions.

"The drone is for us a sign of connectivity, it's also a twinkle of the eye. Let's assume it's valentines day, you forgot to order roses for your wife, you order them online, the drones goes and picks them up and even delivers them," says Rinderknecht.

It may seem like science fiction for some, but Rinspeed's Etos concept vehicle may inspire cars of the future.

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) runs 6-9 January in Las Vegas and over 3,600 exhibitors are showing off their latest consumer tech products and services.

LEAD IN:

200mph electric supercars and cars that park themselves with just a swish of their owner's wrist are just some of the latest hi-tech motors at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The auto industry is increasingly using the technology show to demonstrate its latest gadgets and advances.

STORY-LINE:

This futuristic looking electric supercar can reach speeds of up to 200mph according to its maker Faraday.

The single-seater Faraday FFZero1 features all of the latest hi-tech gadgetry expected in a car making its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Page Beermann, Exterior Design Chief of Faraday Future says: "This car is a technology test bed for us. We're exploring things like aerodynamics, chassis development, materials, as well as the design language."

For example, a smartphone can be embedded in the steering wheel to give the driver real-time data and can even be used to tune and alter the way the car is set-up.

The FFZero1 is the brainchild of California-based car maker Faraday Future and is strictly a concept for now... and even if it ever does go into production then you're unlikely to ever see one on the road.

"I envisage this as much more of like a track enthusiast's car. You know, someone that would probably not even drive it on the road," says Beermann.

The modular chassis design can be converted to make it longer or shorter - so various configurations can enable more battery packs to be added for greater range.

Although the FFZero1 might be a concept, Faraday is planning to build its first production cars within two years and is already being tipped as a rival for local electric car makers Tesla.

If 200mph supercars are a bit too much for your needs, then Chevrolet's new Bolt might make a more practical electric alternative.

The 2017 production model was also unveiled at CES - which is fast becoming an important platform for car makers to reinforce their technological credentials.

The Bolt is designed as an affordable long-range electric vehicle and the successor to Chevrolet's Volt. Chevrolet claims the Bolt has a range of more than 200 miles.

Josh Tavel, the Vehicle Chief Engineer for Chevrolet Bolt EV, says: "With every step we've made at Chevrolet - from the Volt EV to the Spark EV to the second gen Volt and now the Bolt EV - we've really built a good heritage and we keep increasing that pedigree. We know what the customers want, more importantly we know how the customers use the vehicles and everything that we've learnt is going into these vehicles."

The Bolt was first introduced as a concept a year ago and production could begin by the end of 2016.

The car could come with an app that will make car sharing easier and also include advanced GPS route mapping which can predict precise range based on driving habits, weather conditions and the number of hills on the planned route.

But is range anxiety and the worry about being an early adopter of a relatively new technology still putting off motorists from going electric in 2016.

"There'll always be some people that still have fear, right? Until it's a completely mainstream product perhaps that won't happen. My biggest thing is going to be about getting the people in the vehicles, letting them experience all the good things that electrification brings to a vehicle, it's a completely different driving experience," says Tavel.

Outside the show hall BMW is demonstrating its self-parking cars.

Ok, so cars parking themselves is nothing new - but this BMW i3 has been fitted with gesture control. Its driver swipes his wrist and the smart watch he is wearing communicates with the car... the car rolls slowly into life and parks itself.

Philipp Reinisch from the BMW Group says: "With gesture control parking, it's possible to move your car using a gesture. You activate the car first by shaking your arm like this and then you're doing like a tennis forehand and sending the car into the free parking space."

Volkswagen's old Microbus is getting a major update and could be in a garage near you in around three years.

The company unveiled a futuristic battery-powered concept of the bus called the BUDD-e. VW expects it to be able to go 373 miles (600 kilometres) on a single charge, far longer than electric vehicles today, due to a more efficient battery technology.

Herbert Diess, Chairman of the board of management at Volkswagen says: "It's much more, it's high technology, it's a long-range electric car, it's fully-connected, it's a very emotional car and it will be state of the art by the end of this decade."

The Budd-e has internet connections to smart home devices and can be charged to 80 percent of its battery capacity in about 15 minutes, VW claims.

It also has gesture recognition technology to control the infotainment screen, and the doors can be controlled by voice commands.

VW didn't say in its releases if the new Microbus will actually go into production, but said that the BUDD-e "demonstrates what electric mobility could be like by the year 2019."

"The car will be an integral part of the internet, probably the most important part in the internet. The car will be always online, fully connected, we will have automotive cloud which will make the car really safe to drive, very convenient," says Diess.

VW says it's likely that the Budd-e will become a production model.

While some auto makers like General Motors will be looking to boost current car sales, companies like Rinspeed will be looking years - perhaps decades - into the future.

The Swiss car makers unveiled a self-driving concept car called 'Etos'.

A total of eight HD exterior cameras visually monitor the vehicle's surroundings, establishing 180-degree panoramic views, virtual exterior mirrors and no blind spots.

Inside, there's a retracting steering wheel which creates added space when in auto-pilot mode, allowing drivers to explore two curved 21.5-inch Ultra HD widescreen monitors or simply read a book.

Frank Rinderknecht, CEO of Rinspeed says: "In my opinion, whether you drive a sports car or a sedan, once you're traffic you're stuck and then you want to do something else, you want to maybe work, you want to entertain yourself, you want to read and that means that you need space and the steering wheel for those activities are just simply in the way."

The Etos comes complete with an on-board DJI drone to snap road selfies during journeys... or even more unusual missions.

"The drone is for us a sign of connectivity, it's also a twinkle of the eye. Let's assume it's valentines day, you forgot to order roses for your wife, you order them online, the drones goes and picks them up and even delivers them," says Rinderknecht.

It may seem like science fiction for some, but Rinspeed's Etos concept vehicle may inspire cars of the future.

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) runs 6-9 January in Las Vegas and over 3,600 exhibitors are showing off their latest consumer tech products and services.

AP TELEVISION

Las Vegas, US - 4 January 2015

1. Mid of Faraday FFZERO1 electric concept car

Las Vegas, US - 6 January 2015

2. Various of Faraday FFZERO1 electric concept car on display at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES)

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Page Beermann, Exterior Design Chief, Faraday Future:

"This car is a technology test bed for us. We're exploring things like aerodynamics, chassis development, materials, as well as the design language."

4. Various of Faraday FFZERO1 electric concept car on display

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Page Beermann, Exterior Design Chief, Faraday Future:

"I envisage this as much more of like a track enthusiast's car. You know, someone that would probably not even drive it on the road."

6. Mid of Josh Tavel, Vehicle Chief Engineer for Chevrolet Bolt EV, driving new Chevrolet Bolt EV

7. Wide of new Chevrolet Bolt EV coming to a stop

8. Various of new Chevrolet Bolt EV

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Josh Tavel, Vehicle Chief Engineer for Chevrolet Bolt EV:

"With every step we've made at Chevrolet - from the Volt EV to the Spark EV to the second gen Volt and now the Bolt EV - we've really built a good heritage and we keep increasing that pedigree. We know what the customers want, more importantly we know how the customers use the vehicles and everything that we've learnt is going into these vehicles."

10. Various of new Chevrolet Bolt EV

11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Josh Tavel, Vehicle Chief Engineer for Chevrolet Bolt EV:

"There'll always be some people that still have fear, right? Until it's a completely mainstream product perhaps that won't happen. My biggest thing is going to be about getting the people in the vehicles, letting them experience all the good things that electrification brings to a vehicle, it's a completely different driving experience."

12. Mid of BMW employee preparing to park car using gesture control technology

13. Close of BMW employee's hands demonstrating gesture-controlled parking technology with smart watch

14. Various of BMW i3 self-parking

15. SOUNDBITE: (English) Philipp Reinisch, BMW Group:

"With gesture control parking, it's possible to move your car using a gesture. You activate the car first by shaking your arm like this and then you're doing like a tennis forehand and sending the car into the free parking space."

16. Tilt up as BMW i3 drives away

17. Pull out of sign reading (English): "Think New." at Volkswagen CES booth

18. Various of Volkswagen BUDD-e concept bus on display

19. Setup shot of Herbert Diess, Chairman of the board of management, Volkswagen, talking to media

20. Cutaway of video camera screen

21. SOUNDBITE: (English) Herbert Diess, Chairman of the board of management, Volkswagen:

"It's much more, it's high technology, it's a long-range electric car, it's fully-connected, it's a very emotional car and it will be state of the art by the end of this decade."

22. Various of Volkswagen employee demonstrating BUDD-e gesture control technology

23. SOUNDBITE: (English) Herbert Diess, Chairman of the board of management, Volkswagen:

"The car will be an integral part of the internet, probably the most important part in the internet. The car will be always online, fully connected, we will have automotive cloud which will make the car really safe to drive, very convenient."

24. Wide high shot of CES show floor

25. High shot of CES attendees on show floor

25. Various of Toyota FCV Plus on display

26. Various of Rinspeed 'Etos' concept car on display

27. Various of Rinspeed employee demonstrating retractable steering wheel for autonomous driving

28. SOUNDBITE: (English) Frank Rinderknecht, CEO of Rinspeed:

"In my opinion, whether you drive a sports car or a sedan, once you're traffic you're stuck and then you want to do something else, you want to maybe work, you want to entertain yourself, you want to read and that means that you need space and the steering wheel for those activities are just simply in the way."

29. Various of drone sat on Rinspeed 'Etos' rear

30. SOUNDBITE: (English) Frank Rinderknecht, CEO of Rinspeed:

"The drone is for us a sign of connectivity, it's also a twinkle of the eye. Let's assume it's valentines day, you forgot to order roses for your wife, you order them online, the drones goes and picks them up and even delivers them."

31. Tilt down to Rinspeed 'Etos' concept car on display

LEAD-IN:

200mph electric supercars and cars that park themselves with just a swish of their owner's wrist are just some of the latest hi-tech motors at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The auto industry is increasingly using the technology show to demonstrate its latest gadgets and advances.

STORY-LINE:

This futuristic looking electric supercar can reach speeds of up to 200mph according to its maker Faraday.

The single-seater Faraday FFZero1 features all of the latest hi-tech gadgetry expected in a car making its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Page Beermann, Exterior Design Chief of Faraday Future says: "This car is a technology test bed for us. We're exploring things like aerodynamics, chassis development, materials, as well as the design language."

For example, a smartphone can be embedded in the steering wheel to give the driver real-time data and can even be used to tune and alter the way the car is set-up.

The FFZero1 is the brainchild of California-based car maker Faraday Future and is strictly a concept for now... and even if it ever does go into production then you're unlikely to ever see one on the road.

"I envisage this as much more of like a track enthusiast's car. You know, someone that would probably not even drive it on the road," says Beermann.

The modular chassis design can be converted to make it longer or shorter - so various configurations can enable more battery packs to be added for greater range.

Although the FFZero1 might be a concept, Faraday is planning to build its first production cars within two years and is already being tipped as a rival for local electric car makers Tesla.

If 200mph supercars are a bit too much for your needs, then Chevrolet's new Bolt might make a more practical electric alternative.

The 2017 production model was also unveiled at CES - which is fast becoming an important platform for car makers to reinforce their technological credentials.

The Bolt is designed as an affordable long-range electric vehicle and the successor to Chevrolet's Volt. Chevrolet claims the Bolt has a range of more than 200 miles.

Josh Tavel, the Vehicle Chief Engineer for Chevrolet Bolt EV, says: "With every step we've made at Chevrolet - from the Volt EV to the Spark EV to the second gen Volt and now the Bolt EV - we've really built a good heritage and we keep increasing that pedigree. We know what the customers want, more importantly we know how the customers use the vehicles and everything that we've learnt is going into these vehicles."

The Bolt was first introduced as a concept a year ago and production could begin by the end of 2016.

The car could come with an app that will make car sharing easier and also include advanced GPS route mapping which can predict precise range based on driving habits, weather conditions and the number of hills on the planned route.

But is range anxiety and the worry about being an early adopter of a relatively new technology still putting off motorists from going electric in 2016.

"There'll always be some people that still have fear, right? Until it's a completely mainstream product perhaps that won't happen. My biggest thing is going to be about getting the people in the vehicles, letting them experience all the good things that electrification brings to a vehicle, it's a completely different driving experience," says Tavel.

Outside the show hall BMW is demonstrating its self-parking cars.

Ok, so cars parking themselves is nothing new - but this BMW i3 has been fitted with gesture control. Its driver swipes his wrist and the smart watch he is wearing communicates with the car... the car rolls slowly into life and parks itself.

Philipp Reinisch from the BMW Group says: "With gesture control parking, it's possible to move your car using a gesture. You activate the car first by shaking your arm like this and then you're doing like a tennis forehand and sending the car into the free parking space."

Volkswagen's old Microbus is getting a major update and could be in a garage near you in around three years.

The company unveiled a futuristic battery-powered concept of the bus called the BUDD-e. VW expects it to be able to go 373 miles (600 kilometres) on a single charge, far longer than electric vehicles today, due to a more efficient battery technology.

Herbert Diess, Chairman of the board of management at Volkswagen says: "It's much more, it's high technology, it's a long-range electric car, it's fully-connected, it's a very emotional car and it will be state of the art by the end of this decade."

The Budd-e has internet connections to smart home devices and can be charged to 80 percent of its battery capacity in about 15 minutes, VW claims.

It also has gesture recognition technology to control the infotainment screen, and the doors can be controlled by voice commands.

VW didn't say in its releases if the new Microbus will actually go into production, but said that the BUDD-e "demonstrates what electric mobility could be like by the year 2019."

"The car will be an integral part of the internet, probably the most important part in the internet. The car will be always online, fully connected, we will have automotive cloud which will make the car really safe to drive, very convenient," says Diess.

VW says it's likely that the Budd-e will become a production model.

While some auto makers like General Motors will be looking to boost current car sales, companies like Rinspeed will be looking years - perhaps decades - into the future.

The Swiss car makers unveiled a self-driving concept car called 'Etos'.

A total of eight HD exterior cameras visually monitor the vehicle's surroundings, establishing 180-degree panoramic views, virtual exterior mirrors and no blind spots.

Inside, there's a retracting steering wheel which creates added space when in auto-pilot mode, allowing drivers to explore two curved 21.5-inch Ultra HD widescreen monitors or simply read a book.

Frank Rinderknecht, CEO of Rinspeed says: "In my opinion, whether you drive a sports car or a sedan, once you're traffic you're stuck and then you want to do something else, you want to maybe work, you want to entertain yourself, you want to read and that means that you need space and the steering wheel for those activities are just simply in the way."

The Etos comes complete with an on-board DJI drone to snap road selfies during journeys... or even more unusual missions.

"The drone is for us a sign of connectivity, it's also a twinkle of the eye. Let's assume it's valentines day, you forgot to order roses for your wife, you order them online, the drones goes and picks them up and even delivers them," says Rinderknecht.

It may seem like science fiction for some, but Rinspeed's Etos concept vehicle may inspire cars of the future.

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) runs 6-9 January in Las Vegas and over 3,600 exhibitors are showing off their latest consumer tech products and services.

LEAD-IN:

200mph electric supercars and cars that park themselves with just a swish of their owner's wrist are just some of the latest hi-tech motors at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The auto industry is increasingly using the technology show to demonstrate its latest gadgets and advances.

STORY-LINE:

This futuristic looking electric supercar can reach speeds of up to 200mph according to its maker Faraday.

The single-seater Faraday FFZero1 features all of the latest hi-tech gadgetry expected in a car making its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Page Beermann, Exterior Design Chief of Faraday Future says: "This car is a technology test bed for us. We're exploring things like aerodynamics, chassis development, materials, as well as the design language."

For example, a smartphone can be embedded in the steering wheel to give the driver real-time data and can even be used to tune and alter the way the car is set-up.

The FFZero1 is the brainchild of California-based car maker Faraday Future and is strictly a concept for now... and even if it ever does go into production then you're unlikely to ever see one on the road.

"I envisage this as much more of like a track enthusiast's car. You know, someone that would probably not even drive it on the road," says Beermann.

The modular chassis design can be converted to make it longer or shorter - so various configurations can enable more battery packs to be added for greater range.

Although the FFZero1 might be a concept, Faraday is planning to build its first production cars within two years and is already being tipped as a rival for local electric car makers Tesla.

If 200mph supercars are a bit too much for your needs, then Chevrolet's new Bolt might make a more practical electric alternative.

The 2017 production model was also unveiled at CES - which is fast becoming an important platform for car makers to reinforce their technological credentials.

The Bolt is designed as an affordable long-range electric vehicle and the successor to Chevrolet's Volt. Chevrolet claims the Bolt has a range of more than 200 miles.

Josh Tavel, the Vehicle Chief Engineer for Chevrolet Bolt EV, says: "With every step we've made at Chevrolet - from the Volt EV to the Spark EV to the second gen Volt and now the Bolt EV - we've really built a good heritage and we keep increasing that pedigree. We know what the customers want, more importantly we know how the customers use the vehicles and everything that we've learnt is going into these vehicles."

The Bolt was first introduced as a concept a year ago and production could begin by the end of 2016.

The car could come with an app that will make car sharing easier and also include advanced GPS route mapping which can predict precise range based on driving habits, weather conditions and the number of hills on the planned route.

But is range anxiety and the worry about being an early adopter of a relatively new technology still putting off motorists from going electric in 2016.

"There'll always be some people that still have fear, right? Until it's a completely mainstream product perhaps that won't happen. My biggest thing is going to be about getting the people in the vehicles, letting them experience all the good things that electrification brings to a vehicle, it's a completely different driving experience," says Tavel.

Outside the show hall BMW is demonstrating its self-parking cars.

Ok, so cars parking themselves is nothing new - but this BMW i3 has been fitted with gesture control. Its driver swipes his wrist and the smart watch he is wearing communicates with the car... the car rolls slowly into life and parks itself.

Philipp Reinisch from the BMW Group says: "With gesture control parking, it's possible to move your car using a gesture. You activate the car first by shaking your arm like this and then you're doing like a tennis forehand and sending the car into the free parking space."

Volkswagen's old Microbus is getting a major update and could be in a garage near you in around three years.

The company unveiled a futuristic battery-powered concept of the bus called the BUDD-e. VW expects it to be able to go 373 miles (600 kilometres) on a single charge, far longer than electric vehicles today, due to a more efficient battery technology.

Herbert Diess, Chairman of the board of management at Volkswagen says: "It's much more, it's high technology, it's a long-range electric car, it's fully-connected, it's a very emotional car and it will be state of the art by the end of this decade."

The Budd-e has internet connections to smart home devices and can be charged to 80 percent of its battery capacity in about 15 minutes, VW claims.

It also has gesture recognition technology to control the infotainment screen, and the doors can be controlled by voice commands.

VW didn't say in its releases if the new Microbus will actually go into production, but said that the BUDD-e "demonstrates what electric mobility could be like by the year 2019."

"The car will be an integral part of the internet, probably the most important part in the internet. The car will be always online, fully connected, we will have automotive cloud which will make the car really safe to drive, very convenient," says Diess.

VW says it's likely that the Budd-e will become a production model.

While some auto makers like General Motors will be looking to boost current car sales, companies like Rinspeed will be looking years - perhaps decades - into the future.

The Swiss car makers unveiled a self-driving concept car called 'Etos'.

A total of eight HD exterior cameras visually monitor the vehicle's surroundings, establishing 180-degree panoramic views, virtual exterior mirrors and no blind spots.

Inside, there's a retracting steering wheel which creates added space when in auto-pilot mode, allowing drivers to explore two curved 21.5-inch Ultra HD widescreen monitors or simply read a book.

Frank Rinderknecht, CEO of Rinspeed says: "In my opinion, whether you drive a sports car or a sedan, once you're traffic you're stuck and then you want to do something else, you want to maybe work, you want to entertain yourself, you want to read and that means that you need space and the steering wheel for those activities are just simply in the way."

The Etos comes complete with an on-board DJI drone to snap road selfies during journeys... or even more unusual missions.

"The drone is for us a sign of connectivity, it's also a twinkle of the eye. Let's assume it's valentines day, you forgot to order roses for your wife, you order them online, the drones goes and picks them up and even delivers them," says Rinderknecht.

It may seem like science fiction for some, but Rinspeed's Etos concept vehicle may inspire cars of the future.

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) runs 6-9 January in Las Vegas and over 3,600 exhibitors are showing off their latest consumer tech products and services.

Las Vegas, US - 4 January 2015

1. Mid of Faraday FFZERO1 electric concept car

Las Vegas, US - 6 January 2015

2. Various of Faraday FFZERO1 electric concept car on display at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES)

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Page Beermann, Exterior Design Chief, Faraday Future:

"This car is a technology test bed for us. We're exploring things like aerodynamics, chassis development, materials, as well as the design language."

4. Various of Faraday FFZERO1 electric concept car on display

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Page Beermann, Exterior Design Chief, Faraday Future:

"I envisage this as much more of like a track enthusiast's car. You know, someone that would probably not even drive it on the road."

6. Mid of Josh Tavel, Vehicle Chief Engineer for Chevrolet Bolt EV, driving new Chevrolet Bolt EV

7. Wide of new Chevrolet Bolt EV coming to a stop

8. Various of new Chevrolet Bolt EV

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Josh Tavel, Vehicle Chief Engineer for Chevrolet Bolt EV:

"With every step we've made at Chevrolet - from the Volt EV to the Spark EV to the second gen Volt and now the Bolt EV - we've really built a good heritage and we keep increasing that pedigree. We know what the customers want, more importantly we know how the customers use the vehicles and everything that we've learnt is going into these vehicles."

10. Various of new Chevrolet Bolt EV

11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Josh Tavel, Vehicle Chief Engineer for Chevrolet Bolt EV:

"There'll always be some people that still have fear, right? Until it's a completely mainstream product perhaps that won't happen. My biggest thing is going to be about getting the people in the vehicles, letting them experience all the good things that electrification brings to a vehicle, it's a completely different driving experience."

12. Mid of BMW employee preparing to park car using gesture control technology

13. Close of BMW employee's hands demonstrating gesture-controlled parking technology with smart watch

14. Various of BMW i3 self-parking

15. SOUNDBITE: (English) Philipp Reinisch, BMW Group:

"With gesture control parking, it's possible to move your car using a gesture. You activate the car first by shaking your arm like this and then you're doing like a tennis forehand and sending the car into the free parking space."

16. Tilt up as BMW i3 drives away

17. Pull out of sign reading (English): "Think New." at Volkswagen CES booth

18. Various of Volkswagen BUDD-e concept bus on display

19. Setup shot of Herbert Diess, Chairman of the board of management, Volkswagen, talking to media

20. Cutaway of video camera screen

21. SOUNDBITE: (English) Herbert Diess, Chairman of the board of management, Volkswagen:

"It's much more, it's high technology, it's a long-range electric car, it's fully-connected, it's a very emotional car and it will be state of the art by the end of this decade."

22. Various of Volkswagen employee demonstrating BUDD-e gesture control technology

23. SOUNDBITE: (English) Herbert Diess, Chairman of the board of management, Volkswagen:

"The car will be an integral part of the internet, probably the most important part in the internet. The car will be always online, fully connected, we will have automotive cloud which will make the car really safe to drive, very convenient."

24. Wide high shot of CES show floor

25. High shot of CES attendees on show floor

25. Various of Toyota FCV Plus on display

26. Various of Rinspeed 'Etos' concept car on display

27. Various of Rinspeed employee demonstrating retractable steering wheel for autonomous driving

28. SOUNDBITE: (English) Frank Rinderknecht, CEO of Rinspeed:

"In my opinion, whether you drive a sports car or a sedan, once you're traffic you're stuck and then you want to do something else, you want to maybe work, you want to entertain yourself, you want to read and that means that you need space and the steering wheel for those activities are just simply in the way."

29. Various of drone sat on Rinspeed 'Etos' rear

30. SOUNDBITE: (English) Frank Rinderknecht, CEO of Rinspeed:

"The drone is for us a sign of connectivity, it's also a twinkle of the eye. Let's assume it's valentines day, you forgot to order roses for your wife, you order them online, the drones goes and picks them up and even delivers them."

31. Tilt down to Rinspeed 'Etos' concept car on display