Paris, September 24:

The Paris Motor Show will roar into life next Saturday when international car makers converge on the French capital hoping to wow crowds with prototype models and woo critics with green technologies. This year, the mix of exhibits is expected to underscore two key developments for the industry and the global economy, namely concern about global warming and the emergence of China as a world manufacturing force.

After being thrown on the defensive last week by a ground-breaking court case in California, the industry is ready to prove its environmental credentials by showcasing hybrid cars, biofuel technology and emission innovations. The US state of California said last Wednesday it was suing six US and Japanese automakers for their alleged contribution to global warming, the first such legal fight in the United States.

The 2006 Paris event show will be the first time Chinese manufacturers display their wares at the show in the French capital, underlining their ambition to compete with the leading sellers in Europe: Volkswagen of Germany, PSA Peugeot Citroen of France and Ford of the United States. The Chinese presence, which was established at the Frankfurt auto show last year, will be led by manufacturers Landwind and Great Wall Motor.