FRANKFURT, Germany - Jens Wagner has worked the Frankfurt motor show for 20 years, selling hats emblazoned with car emblems for around 35 euros a pop, alongside T-shirts, jackets and miniature replica cars. "If you look around, you`ll see for yourself what`s happening," said Wagner, 47, pointing toward the thin crowds. "Less people, less exhibitors, less everything." He pines for what he remembers as the good old days, when roaring engines took pride of place ahead of whirring electric, when free markets prevailed over protectionism and when industry shows like this one really heaved. While the 10-day show still draws tens of thousands of visitors, the number of...
|
