Breaking out of the colourless car show

CAR MANUFACTURERS’ attempts to square what US consumers want against the clean vehicles regulators and investors demand will be on display in Los Angeles this week at a car show that has moved away from calling itself just a car show.

Carmakers today will begin previewing new models for the media at an event called AutoMobility LA, reflecting an emphasis on digital technology and the new ways to get around, such as self-driving cars.

On Friday, the Los Angeles Auto Show will open to the public for 10 days, attracting visitors from one of the world’s most affluent and culturally influential metropolitan markets.

For now, self-driving cars are not ready for consumers, and sales of the battery-powered vehicles demanded by California regulators remain marginal and money-losing.

Profits are generated by petrol-fuelled sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and trucks.

Carmakers between the petrol past and the digital future will send muddled messages.

Volkswagen will try to replace memories of the diesel emissions cheating scandal that tarnished its image with many California customers by promoting its $40 billion (R554.5bn) wave of electric vehicles.

In the next breath, the German carmaker will tout its petrol-fuelled Audi A8 large luxury sedan, which can pilot itself under limited circumstances, but is out of step with a market where buyers are switching to SUVs.

Rivals overshadowed by electric vehicle pioneer Tesla are in a quandary, too. Despite a booming stock market, sales for luxury brands BMW, Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz and Toyota Motor Corporation’s Lexus are down for the first 10 months of 2017.

BMW is expected to roll out new versions of its i8 plug-in hybrid sports car at the event.

But for those not interested in electrification, the company will use the show to promote a high-performance version of its 5 Series sedan.