‍Last year was a banner year for car sales around the world- especially in the United States and China.

That’s why the biggest automakers around the globe are pulling out all the stops, for the North American International Auto Show- better known as the Detroit Auto Show.

CGTN’s Nick Harper reports.

It’s the battle of the big and the bold versus the clean, green machines. And that makes for an uneasy mix of motors on the show floor.

Car companies are trying to push the plug ins, but know with prices remaining low, US consumers would rather stick with gas. Last year, pickup trucks and SUVs accounted for almost 60 percent of US sales.

One company looking to capitalize on that consumer demand is Nissan. It’s bringing its popular European Qashqai to the US for the first time, rebranded as the Rogue Sport, to help drive sales.

“We see a major trend towards crossovers – all-wheel drive capable products with a lot more functionality, pretty much same fuel economy as a compact car and pretty much same price point. So focusing on becoming a leader in crossover and growing trucks is pretty much our strategy going forward and we’re going to bring some new surprises and make it better and better,” Christian Meunier, Nissan’s senior VP of Sales & Marketing and Operations said.

Companies have also created more crossovers this year – vehicles built on a car platform but combining features of the SUV- like Audi’s new Q5 and Q8.

Volkswagen is hoping to clear the air with its electric concept vehicle, the ID Buzz. Though its color alone is probably not enough to divert attention away from the emissions test scandal, which has cost the company at least 11 billion US dollars and dented consumer confidence.

Plus terrible timing saw Volkswagen executive, Oliver Schmidt, appearing in Federal Court in Miami, Florida on Monday for his alleged role in the cover up.

(Source: CGTN America)