Motown resembles a ghost town

DETROIT: It was showtime again in the Motor City, but not as glaring, full-blown and bustling as before.

A heavy snow on the eve of the opening day added to the chilly atmosphere at the North American International Auto Show. The annual event heads the list of international auto shows for 2009, which is shaping up as possibly the most difficult year in the history of the now-reeling industry.

"The empty, desolate and cold exhibition hall with infrequent visitor traffic far beat my expectation," said Lara Zhang, a sales assistant from China's BYD Auto Sales Co Ltd who visited the Detroit auto show for the first time.