SINGAPORE - Despite an increasingly uncertain economic outlook and a smaller certificate of entitlement quota this year, the Singapore Motorshow opened on Thursday (Jan 9) across three floors at the Suntec Convention Centre - up from two last year.

The show sees the arrival of several new electric models, including those from Chinese-owned brands MG and BYD.

The latter will introduce the Song Max, which is the first battery-powered multi-seater here. Available in six or seven-seater form, it is expected to go on sale in the second quarter.

Audi will also unveil its battery-powered e-tron crossover, while Nissan will show off a Tokidoki version of its Leaf electric car.

The show sees the first Indian-made passenger car in Singapore, the Kia Seltos crossover.

Other debuts include the Land Rover Defender, Jaguar XE, Toyota Altis, and two plug-in hybrid cars from Volvo.

In all, there will be 20 new model launches at the show, which runs from Thursday to Sunday.

Meanwhile, Singapore Power announced one-month free charging for those who buy an electric car at the show.

Oil giant Shell announced a "carbon-neutral" driving initiative, where fleet customers can opt in on a programme which allows the oil firm to obtain carbon credits to offset whatever CO2 emission the customer's fuel purchase produces.

The cost to the customer is an additional 1.5 cents a litre, which Shell Singapore chairman Aw Kah Peng said "is not a lot, to do our bit for the environment".

Shell is the only oil company to have charging points for electric cars at its stations. Ten out of its network of 57 petrol stations are equipped with this facility.

