A model stands beside an Infiniti G37 Coupe car, a luxury car division of Nissan Motor company, during the first media day of the 79th Geneva Car Show at the Palexpo in Geneva March 3, 2009. [Agencies] |
GENEVA -- Crisis-hit automobile giants entered battle for cash-strapped buyers at the Geneva Motor Show on Tuesday as they struggle to make the best of a fast shrinking market by unveiling new "green" models.
General Motors' European brand Opel unveiled its innovative mass production Ampera electric-hybrid saloon but the company made it clear it was in a fight for survival before the car is even put on sale in 2011.
GM Europe head Carl Peter Forster said Opel was expecting a response to its request for a 3.3-billion-euro (4.2-billion-dollar) aid package from Germany and other European governments, including Britain and Spain, in "days, maybe weeks."
About 50,000 people are directly employed by the company in Europe and with suppliers and dealers included, a potential 200,000 to 300,000 jobs are at stake, GM executives said.