Factbox: Auto executives' market perspectives

GENEVA (Reuters) - The annual Geneva Motor Show got underway on Tuesday against backdrop of a widespread automobile sector crisis, as the financial crisis saps consumer confidence and demand for new cars plunges.

Below are some comments from automotive sector executives at the show on their perspectives for key markets and the effectiveness of government measures designed to jumpstart sales, as they attempt to assess how much further the car market may have before it reaches its low-point.

NISSAN MOTOR CO (7201.T)

Executive Vice President Carlos Tavares, assigned last month to head the Americas region, traditionally Nissan's biggest source of profits, said the until demand returned to normal levels, the main task would be slashing costs and controlling inventories.

"We would like to see the bottom (of the U.S. market) but so far it's not visible yet. "Once we see three to four months of stabilization we could say we have hit bottom."

FIAT (FIA.MI)

Fiat Auto Chief Executive Lorenzo Sistino said he expected March sales in Italy to be "in line or slightly better than last year," thanks to incentives.

RENAULT (RENA.PA) (RENA.PA) Renault Chief Operating Officer Patrick Pelata said the group is already feeling the benefits of a scrapping incentive introduced by the German government. In Germany, the group is seeing "enormous growth - the problem is delivering Clios, Twingos, Sanderos and Meganes."

CITROEN (PEUP.PA)