A major automobile show in the city of Changchun - one of China's three most influential auto expositions - has shown the revitalization of the nation's auto manufacturing industry, the organizers are saying.

The theme of the eighth China Changchun International Automobile Expo, which ran July 15 to 24, was "new energy and new power".

And it was the largest in history, covering a 170,000-square-meter space, with 132 manufacturers of auto and auto parts from China and abroad taking part, and 1,036 vehicles on display.

Chinese brands this year played an important role in the exhibition, with the leaders - Geely, Chery, First Automobile Works, Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co, and Shanghai Automotive Industry Holding Co - presenting their strongest lineup ever.

Every automaker had at least one model making its debut, and there were more than 40 new energy cars on exhibit, an increase of 18 percent over last year. This year's fair also included more than 30 concept vehicles, up 36 percent.

One of its major novelties was the interactivity, meaning the visitors could actually get their hands on cars for a test drive over an 80,000-sq-m area.

Another feature was the technology forum, where specialists from Tsinghua, Tongji, and Jilin universities joined leading manufacturers to talk about the industry.

"The speakers were from the highest academic levels and covered just about every aspect of the industry, so the forum was a very influential part of the expo," local government officials remarked.

There were also a number of cultural events accompanying exhibition, including paintings and photos of automobiles, and competitions to shine the light on Changchun's automobile culture. After all, the city is popularly known as the cradle of China's auto industry.

To make this year's event safer and more comfortable, the organizers provided the best services and facilities. From food to transportation, from signboards to visitor routes, a people-oriented service system was clearly visible.

(China Daily 07/27/2011 page14)