The New Car Dealers Association will put on a happy face to offset the economic doldrums when it showcases polished new beauties at the San Diego International Auto Show, scheduled for Dec. 31 through Jan. 4, 2009. Smiling through the auto industry’s turbulent times is brave theater amid talk of mergers and bankruptcy. But the Convention Center show must roll along. The “Looky Lous” obviously will focus on these new models, so easy to touch but right now out of buying reach. But there won’t be any sales pitches. Overall, though, maybe they should color the Center a bright green. Its Eco-Center will lay out the industry’s commitment to developing fuel-efficient, low-emission technologies for a cleaner and healthier environment to cut through the smog. It will feature alternative and flex fuel vehicles, hybrids and a VW Dieselution. The experts claim alternative power will see continued innovation with hybridization and battery technology toward environmentally sustainable transportation. Micro-, mild- and full-hybridization are said to be undergoing extensive development, and study participants believe that within a decade all new vehicles will have some level of hybridization. Engine/fuel options include a variety of advanced lightweight vehicles: internal combustion engine vehicles fueled with gasoline or hydrogen, compressed natural gas, diesel, Fischer–Tropsch liquids or methanol. The hydrogen fuel-cell car apparently stands out as having the lowest external costs of any option and when mass-produced could have the least projected life cycle cost. Therefore, attention is given to strategies that would enhance the prospects that the hydrogen fuel-cell car can become the Car of the Future. Other show features offer the hottest trends in automotive customizing and aftermarket accessories with club-style entertainment. The Expo, located upstairs in the Sails Pavilion, will have tricked-out cars, mini-trucks, exotics and celebrity rides. Of course, there will be several concepts fashioned to zoom into warp time. Actually, this is only one of many shows scattered about the country over the next five months. Hopefully the nation’s tight-fisted consumers can be swayed into buying somewhere on this circuit, which tours California, Florida, Illinois, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and New York. Counting Frankfurt, Tokyo and Paris, 30 shows are on a lengthy schedule. The calendar hardly has room for more. The basic auto show format has been around since the turn of the 20th century. Prospective customers then would take home pamphlets and brochures to make a choice. It used to be that simple. *** To get an idea how important car sales are in San Diego, an economic impact report reveals that as a group, the new car dealers are one of the larger employers in the county. These 2007 figures offer some of the contributions to San Diego’s economy: • Total dollar vehicle sales last year was $7 billion for 233,017 sold. The dealerships employ 11,208 workers. • Financial contributions include $4.8 billion in dealership taxable sales and sales tax at $425 million, while federal, state and local taxes paid or collected was $586 million and payroll taxes at $97.8 million. • In addition, real estate/business property taxes paid out $24.7 million, local advertising came in at $97.9 million and charitable contributions were $10.2 million.
