San Francisco International Auto Show 2009

Manufacturers from the United States, Asia and Europe will be exhibiting vehicles that use less gas, some that use no gas and others that that use fuels that burn cleaner at the San Francisco Chronicle|SFGate.com 52nd Annual International Auto Show, presented by AutoTrader.com November 26 through December 2 at Moscone Convention Center.

One of the “plug-ins” on display at this year’s International Auto Show will be Nissan’s Leaf, which will be making its Northern American auto show debut in San Francisco for just four days (Nov. 26-29). The Leaf is powered by a lithium-ion battery pack that can be charged on a 110 or 220-volt charger at home or in the workplace. The Leaf, which won’t be on the market until December 2010, can be fully charged with 220-volts in seven hours.

Owners or prospective buyers who want to learn more about hybrids or vehicles that use alternative fuels can visit the AAA Greenlight initiative display in the AAA Northern California exhibit at the auto show. The Greenlight display provides an overview of alternative fuels available today and on the horizon and features AAA’s own Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid that gets more than 100 MPG, as well as vehicles from the California Fuel Cell Partnership. The Greenlight initiative, which is presently available in Northern California, Nevada and Utah, offers a variety of components including insurance discounts for owners of vehicles that use alternative fuels, including hybrids; to help hybrid owners get more fuel efficiency; and grants to organizations involved in alternative fuels.

The San Francisco International Auto Show, which is supported by the California Motor Car Dealers Association, is the largest auto exposition in Northern California and the only one held regionally that attracts the dazzling high-tech displays from the world's major manufacturers. This year’s show will be highlighted by the new 2010 models vehicles from the world’s major manufactures. In addition, the Auto Show will include the Big O Tires Extreme Autofest hosted by Verizon Wireless, hot rods from Dominator Street Rods, racecars, an auto accessory booth area with aftermarket products, interactive exhibits, simulators, slot car tracks and much more.

The Show will have more than 800 vehicles filling the 1.2 million sq. ft. Moscone Center and is expected to draw 350,000 spectators making it the largest exhibition of any kind in Northern California and the second largest auto show in the western United States.