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

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.