The show, which begins with a day of news conferences Tuesday, will be the first major automotive event since:
• GM and Chrysler went through bankruptcy.
• Italy’s Fiat gained control of Chrysler.
• GM and the German government spent months wrestling over Opel, long the critical piece of GM Europe.
• Volkswagen acquired Porsche in a bitter financial feud.
There will be a few cars there, too.
The massive Frankfurt show, which occupies a compound the size of the Michigan State Fairgrounds, has downsized as the global economy faltered this year. Several automakers have pulled out of the show, and some buildings usually filled with expensive displays, executives and new vehicles will sit vacant. More at
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