Motor Shows Around The World

World Motor Shows

The new car industry is booming at the moment, due to unrivalled appeal and innovation. Here at UK Car Discount we are a huge supporter of new car development, as we travel to as many motor shows as we can to get the latest sneak peeks and info on new cars around the world. Our latest venture was the 2014 Geneva Motor Show and that’s where we’ll start.

Geneva Motor Show (Switzerland) March 2014

 The International Geneva Motor Show (Salon International de l’Auto) is an annual motor show traditionally held in March in the Swiss city of Geneva. The show is historically located at the Geneva Palexpo, which is conveniently located near to the Geneva Cointrin International Airport. First held in 1905, the Salon has hosted most of the major internal combustion engine models in the history of automobile, along with benzene and steam-powered cars from the beginning of the century. Exotic supercars often take the spotlight during their debuts at the show. The Geneva Motor Show is a huge event for manufacturers to show off their latest models and technology.

Paris Motor Show (France) September 2014

The Paris Motor Show is a biennial auto show in Paris. Held in October, it is one of the most popular auto shows, with many new production cars and concept car debuts. The show was the very first motor show in the world, started in 1898 by an industry pioneer, Albert de Dion. After 1910 it was traditionally held at the Grand Palais in the Champs-Élysées. During the First World War all motor shows were suspended, meaning that the show of October 1919 was only the 15th motor show. There was again no Paris Motor Show in 1925, the venue having already been booked instead for an Exhibition of Decorative Arts. In October 1926 the Motor Show returned, this being the 26th Paris Salon de l'Automobile.

Tokyo Motor Show (Japan) November 2014

The show, known as the All Japan Motor Show was first held in an outdoor venue called Hibiya Park, the show was considered a success with 547,000 visitors over ten days and 254 exhibitors displaying 267 vehicles, but of the amount of vehicles just 17 of them were passenger cars as the show was brimming with commercial vehicles. In 1958, due to construction of the subway and underground parking lot near Hibiya Park, the show was shifted to the new Korakuen Bicycle Racing Track. The show, as the previous year was marred by heavy rain, in 1959 the event moved indoor to it’s newly opened Harumi Showplace venue which was more than three times the size of its previous venue.

Frankfurt Motor Show (Germany) September 2014

The Frankfurt Motor Show, in Germany known as the Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (IAA - International Automobile Exhibition), is the world's biggest motor show. It is held biennially in Frankfurt am Main, Hesse, Germany. The show occupies a massive 12 buildings. The IAA is organized by the Verband der Automobilindustrie (VDA – Association of the German Automotive Industry). Since 1991 the show has been split in two: Even-numbered years show commercial vehicles in Hanover and odd-numbered years passenger vehicles (including motorcycles) in Frankfurt. The show is scheduled and organised by the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles.

Detroit Motor Show (North America) January 2015

The first north American auto show was held in Detroit in 1907 at Beller's Beer Garden at Riverside Park and ever since then annually except 1941-1953. During the shows first decades of existence it portrayed only a regional focus. In 1987 the Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA) proposed it to become international. The members of the DADA went to places such as Europe and Japan in the attempt to convince those unveiling their new brands/vehicles in those countries to bring those previews to the North American Auto show. That attempt proved successful, the North American Auto show was then renamed the North American International Auto Show back in 1989. The North American International Auto Show has been hosted in Detroit, Michigan for just over a Century. Since 1965 the show has been held at Cobo Center where it occupies nearly 1 million square feet of floor space.

Los Angeles Motor Show (America) November 2014

The LA Auto Show is an annual motor show held at the Los Angeles Convention Center in late November/early December. The LA Auto Show is an OICA sanctioned international exhibition and also supported by the Greater Los Angeles New Car Dealers Association. It is open to the public for ten days every year, filling 760,000 square feet of exhibit space with the latest and greatest of new cars. Every year the LA Auto Show kicks off with two press days packed full of activity for journalists, designers and industry representatives alike. In 2008, the show had a record number of debuts with 23 world debuts and 15 North American debuts.