The world's carmakers are hoping that smaller, greener vehicles will take them through a choppy period for the global economy as they gathered to showcase new models in Frankfurt. The industry, which suffered through the recession caused by the 2007-09 financial crisis, has been riding the global recovery but now is looking at shakier prospects amid Europe's debt crisis and worries about the US economy. Fears of possible government debt defaults, starting from bailed-out Greece, are threatening to engulf Fiat's home market of Italy and are sapping consumer confidence: car sales there are forecast at about 1.8m this year, the lowest level since 1983. However, there are still 1,007 exhibitors at the show – up from 781 last time – and German carmakers including BMW, Daimler, Volkswagen and Porsche have posted strong profits recently thanks in part to rising sales in fast-growing emerging markets.