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The Los Angeles Auto Show

This column was written by CBS News Early Show Co-Anchor Harry Smith.


White Washington and the rest of America consider the bailout for Detroit's big three automakers. The rest of the world's car companies are preparing for the Los Angeles Auto Show.

According to the Wall Street Journal, only Ford will be making a substantial effort to woo visitors to the exhibition which opens tomorrow.

The L.A. car show has become increasingly important as a platform to show off green technology in a state where consumers and state laws demand it. So BMW for instance will display its new Mini E; an all electric two seat Mini Cooper.

The Wall Street Journal says almost 10,000 people have signed up to lease the new car, which illustrates that while auto sales have collapsed, the business has not.

While America's car makers are shutting down plants. Honda and Toyota are opening new ones in Indiana and Mississippi.

If the big three promise to become more like their competition then maybe they should get the money.

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