Might as well dressed like Arab women, covered from head to toe !
Sexy models replaced at Auto Shanghai
Staff Reporter
2015-04-22
Hostesses at the 2015 Auto Shanghai, April 20. (Photo/CNS)
A model in a body-hugging but relatively less revealing outfit than seen in previous years at the 2015 Auto Shanghai, April 20. (Photo/CNS)
A hostess with a VW XL1, April 20. (Photo/Xinhua)
A visitor talks to sales assistants at the show, April 20. (Photo/CNS)
Those looking for trim models at this year's Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition (Auto Shanghai) have been disappointed by the ban on scantily dressed ladies from the show.
The exhibitors, however, have compromised in their own slick way by turning the models into sales assistants holding tablets, US-based Chinese news outlet Duowei reports.
The emphasis at car shows in China has gradually turned into fleshy live model performances to draw more visitors, the kind of display that routinely gets internet platforms in China in trouble for "pornography."
On Jan. 9, the organizer of Auto Shanghai called for a "civilized exhibition" and banned sexy models, hoping to shift the focus of the exhibition back to the automobile itself and an emphasis on technology, development and innovation. Gu Chunting, CEO of the organizing body, said if exhibitors still hire models, the organizers may take action accordingly, "but we allow performances that are more 'normal'," said Gu.
While exhibitors have complied with the new policy, some of them have adjusted their requirements for their booth hostesses, sales assistants and even flier ladies. In addition to being good-looking, the hostesses for Fords are all above 1.68 meters tall; Rolls-Royce hires only fit figures above 1.7 meters tall, without hair dye and with an impeccable complexion. Some of the manufacturers request that their flier ladies be over 1.65 meters in height.
Some exhibitors have turned instead to foreign bodybuilders, performers in ancient dress or instrumental performances to catch attention.
The models were missing from the press conference prior to the show. Instead, elegant-looking hostesses tread back and forth among the visitors and exhibits. Some of them held tablets, explaining the specs of certain models (of car) to the guests.
"Something seems to be missing," said a journalist at the event in response to the new rule, who continued that while the focus of the car show is certainly the cars, automobiles without beautiful women posing beside them can be rather dreary for someone who is used to the scene. The other reporter said it is much easier to have a good look of the exhibits as there are no crowds trying to snap pictures of the hot models.
"I don't really like the idea of sexy car girls as an attraction because the crowd they bring may be interested in other things than the cars," said Xu Jun, vice-chairman of Changan PSA Automobiles. "We hope to bring in people who are here for the cars." Hubertus Troska, CEO of Daimler Greater China, welcomed the new policy. "The cars are the stars of the exhibition," he said.
But Chinese netizens think differently. "What is there to see if the models are taken out of the show?" Many voiced their discontent online.
More than 2,000 exhibitors attend the exhibition, which displays 109 newly-launched cars, 103 new energy cars and 47 concept automobiles over the 350,000 square meter venue. The show runs from April 22-29 and is expected to attract more than 100,000 visitors per day.
