Long-established and once popular traditional motor shows like the Turin exhibition and the RAI in Amsterdam have been consigned to the history books for some time now, with other world renowned static in-door exhibitions such as the annual Detroit Auto Show changing its date (from winter to summer) and format with more experiential attractions to ensure its survival. Despite this, a number of large manufactures such as Audi and Mercedes-Benz have withdrawn from exhibiting at the revised-format 2020 Detroit Show this summer.
One of the most important and celebrated of all global motor shows – early March’s once prestigious annual Geneva Salon – will see a record number of manufacturers withdrawing from exhibiting at the event, including the extensive PSA Groupe (Peugeot, Citroën, Opel-Vauxhall, et al.). plus BMW, Subaru, Mini, Lamborghini and numerous others. It will be a similar story at the 120th edition of the Paris Salon in October, with big brands such as Ford, Fiat and Opel being absent from the vast Porte de Versailles exhibition halls. After 70 years at the same venue, the bi-annual IAA Frankfurt Motor Show’s future is also currently under review and threat, with the event potentially being relocated to either Berlin, Munich or Hamburg for 2021 onwards.
A refreshing exception to this declining trend in traditional, static motor shows with diminishing car brand support is the now-annual Brussels Auto Salon, which ended its successful two-week run late last month, with a record attendance exceeding 550,000 visitors.