Japan brands fend off rivals at China auto show
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A Toyota concept car is set at the company's booth during the Guangzhou Auto Show in China's southern city of Guangzhou on Thursday, Nov 22, 2012. Beleaguered Japanese carmakers have suffered sharp drops in their China sales since a territorial dispute over islands in the East China Sea flared in September, inflaming anti-Japanese sentiment and sparking sometimes violent protests. -- PHOTO: AP
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Staff uncover a Great Wall Motors Haval M4 mini SUV during the media preview of the 10th China International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou on Nov 22, 2012. The auto show opens to the public from Nov 22 to Dec 2. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Staff stand next to a Mini Coupe during the media preview of the 10th China International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou on Nov 22, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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A Mercedes-Benz concept car is displayed at the company's booth during the Guangzhou Auto Show in China's southern city of Guangzhou on Thursday, Nov 22, 2012. China's second largest auto show kicked off Thursday. -- PHOTO: AP
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A plug for the BMW i8 Concept Spyder hybrid gas/electric car is displayed during the media preview of the 10th China International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou on Nov 22, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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The BMW i8 Concept Spyder hybrid gas/electric car is displayed during the media preview of the 10th China International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou on Nov 22, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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A Toyota Dear compact sedan is displayed at the company's booth during the Guangzhou Auto Show in China's southern city of Guangzhou on Thursday, Nov 22, 2012. China's second largest auto show kicked off Thursday. -- PHOTO: AP
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People visit the Guangzhou Auto Show in China's southern city of Guangzhou on Thursday, Nov 22, 2012. China's second major largest show kicked off Thursday. -- PHOTO: AP
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Models pose with a Great Wall Haval sports utility vehicle at the Chinese carmaker's booth during the Guangzhou Auto Show in China's southern city of Guangzhou on Thursday, Nov 22, 2012. -- PHOTO: AP
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An Audi R8 China Edition sports car is displayed at the company's booth during the Guangzhou Auto Show in China's southern city of Guangzhou on Thursday, Nov 22, 2012. China's second largest auto show kicked off Thursday. -- PHOTO: AP
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A model poses with a BYD (Build Your Dream) M6 minivan at the Chinese carmaker's booth during the Guangzhou Auto Show in China's southern city of Guangzhou on Thursday, Nov 22, 2012. -- PHOTO: AP
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A GAC GS5 sports utility vehicle is displayed at the Chinese carmaker's booth during the Guangzhou Auto Show in China's southern city of Guangzhou on Thursday, Nov 22, 2012. China's second largest auto show kicked off Thursday. -- PHOTO: AP
A Toyota concept car is set at the company's booth during the Guangzhou Auto Show in China's southern city of Guangzhou on Thursday, Nov 22, 2012. Beleaguered Japanese carmakers have suffered sharp drops in their China sales since a territorial dispute over islands in the East China Sea flared in September, inflaming anti-Japanese sentiment and sparking sometimes violent protests. -- PHOTO: AP
Staff uncover a Great Wall Motors Haval M4 mini SUV during the media preview of the 10th China International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou on Nov 22, 2012. The auto show opens to the public from Nov 22 to Dec 2. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Staff stand next to a Mini Coupe during the media preview of the 10th China International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou on Nov 22, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A Mercedes-Benz concept car is displayed at the company's booth during the Guangzhou Auto Show in China's southern city of Guangzhou on Thursday, Nov 22, 2012. China's second largest auto show kicked off Thursday. -- PHOTO: AP
A plug for the BMW i8 Concept Spyder hybrid gas/electric car is displayed during the media preview of the 10th China International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou on Nov 22, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
The BMW i8 Concept Spyder hybrid gas/electric car is displayed during the media preview of the 10th China International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou on Nov 22, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A Toyota Dear compact sedan is displayed at the company's booth during the Guangzhou Auto Show in China's southern city of Guangzhou on Thursday, Nov 22, 2012. China's second largest auto show kicked off Thursday. -- PHOTO: AP
People visit the Guangzhou Auto Show in China's southern city of Guangzhou on Thursday, Nov 22, 2012. China's second major largest show kicked off Thursday. -- PHOTO: AP
Models pose with a Great Wall Haval sports utility vehicle at the Chinese carmaker's booth during the Guangzhou Auto Show in China's southern city of Guangzhou on Thursday, Nov 22, 2012. -- PHOTO: AP
An Audi R8 China Edition sports car is displayed at the company's booth during the Guangzhou Auto Show in China's southern city of Guangzhou on Thursday, Nov 22, 2012. China's second largest auto show kicked off Thursday. -- PHOTO: AP
A model poses with a BYD (Build Your Dream) M6 minivan at the Chinese carmaker's booth during the Guangzhou Auto Show in China's southern city of Guangzhou on Thursday, Nov 22, 2012. -- PHOTO: AP
A GAC GS5 sports utility vehicle is displayed at the Chinese carmaker's booth during the Guangzhou Auto Show in China's southern city of Guangzhou on Thursday, Nov 22, 2012. China's second largest auto show kicked off Thursday. -- PHOTO: AP
GUANGZHOU, China (AP) - Global carmakers and their Chinese rivals put on sleek displays of new cars at a major auto show in Guangzhou, the southern Chinese stronghold of Japanese brands that have been hard hit by tensions between Tokyo and Beijing.
Nissan Motor, Toyota Motor and Honda Motor were among the dozens of brands showcasing new vehicles at the auto show in bustling, prosperous Guangzhou, near Hong Kong.
The beleaguered Japanese carmakers have suffered sharp drops in their China sales since a territorial dispute over islands in the East China Sea flared in September, inflaming anti-Japanese sentiment and sparking sometimes violent protests. But they did not shy away from showing off new models, going head to head with less established rivals sensing an opportunity to seize market share.
The show caps a year of relatively slow sales for carmakers in China, where competition is stiffening after years of white-hot growth. Despite the slowdown, the country remains the world's biggest auto market, underscoring its importance to carmakers.
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