The North American International Auto Show, held in Detroit, is the first international auto gathering of the year.

This year’s comparatively subdued show reflected the automakers’ current situation, but the industry’s leaders used the gathering to show their views and plans to the public.

General Motors plans to restructure and thrive even though it’s on the edge of bankruptcy.

GM chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner regarded the Detroit auto show as a new beginning. His confidence in a promising future came from 17 new and coming cars and crossovers, including four global premieres, and its efforts to develop more eco-friendly vehicles.

"In many ways, today marks a new beginning for General Motors, as we dramatically accelerate and expand the restructuring that we’ve been driving for the past several years."

The company also believes the success story of its China operation is a good example of GM’s capabilities to run a profitable businesses.

Ford Motor Co. is planning to put a fully electric car in showrooms by 2011 that will get up to 100 miles (160 km) on a single charge and plans to offer plug-in versions of its gas-electric hybrid vehicles a year later.

Executive Chairman Bill Ford Jr. said the company is working on four high-mileage battery-electric vehicles, as its strategy to escape the industry downturn.

Ford said the company’s electrification strategy is "perfectly aligned with our nation’s growing interest in advanced technologies that can help reduce our usage of gasoline."

The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker said it also plans to have a battery-powered commercial van on the market in 2010.

German automaker Volkswagen AG said it set a new record in yearly sales in 2008 with 6.23 million vehicles, an increase of 0.6 per cent over vehicles sold in 2007, at a time when most automakers have reported sales slipping amid the global economic slump.

"This shows that our group’s multi-brand strategy is paying off and our young and attractive model range is popular with customers all over the world," Board Chairman Martin Winterkorn said.