Stripping the sexy image from products

Among the repercussions of the New Year's Eve fatal stampede in Shanghai are the over-deployment of police patrols at the Bund, turning it into a security showcase, and the elimination of human models at the upcoming Shanghai auto show.

Press reports are sprayed with breaths of relief from automakers, which want public attention on their products rather than on the sexy creatures standing next to them. But I suspect some visitors must sense a whiff of deprivation. For them, the fun of going to an auto show is almost equivalent to that of patronizing a nudie bar. The automobiles are an excuse, or an afterthought at best.

I've been to a couple of auto shows in the US. The person standing near an exhibit is usually a marketing type, a lady in business attire or a guy, ready to answer your questions or distributing glossy pamphlets. Never reclining on the exhibit, mind you, or striking any other pose for that matter.