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The last Paris Motor Show was marked by tear gas and workers' violent protests against
job cuts. Now, the mood is different and industry bosses are back doing what they prefer: Showing
off the latest luxury models, supercars and hybrid motors.
Among the most anticipated cars at this week's event -- one of the biggest dates in the car
enthusiast's diary -- will be a plug-in hybrid Lamborghini, Ferrari 458 Speciale, Mercedes
AMG GT, and a five-door MINI. Manufacturers will unveil around 100 new models
and designs, three times more than at the last show two years ago.
Europe, while still fragile, has shaken off the financial crisis and the auto industry
has seen a 6% boost in car sales so far this year, to 8.3 million. It's the largest increase
since the crisis began in 2007. Renault bullish about new crossover Volvo
looks for growth in China Making car crashes history
Recovery faces hurdles European sales were badly damaged by the recession,
as people who already owned a vehicle put off buying a new one to cut their spending.
New car registrations plummeted throughout Europe, with its most troubled economies facing
the biggest drops: Registrations declined 80% in Greece, 57% in Spain and 53% in Portugal.
But as sales have picked up, geopolitical pressures have put the industry under renewed
strain. The West's trade war with Russia has had a significant knock-on effect, and sales
are expected to slow in the year's final months. Before the Ukraine crisis, Russia was tracking
to become Europe's largest car market, expected to surpass the UK and Germany by 2016.