For the second year in a row, BMW will not have a presence at the upcoming New York Auto Show. But what’s even more surprising is the Bavarians intentions to also skip the Fall’s Paris Auto Show. According to one source (yet to be confirmed by the automaker), BMW will likely not attend this year’s Parisian motor show and will choose a different venue to display their latest products.
An even more interesting report comes today from the Netherlands. Autoblog.nl reports that the 2021 Frankfurt Auto Show is canceled, not only for BMW but for all the automakers. In 2019, the IAA attracted 550,000 visitors, a far cry from the usual 800,000 and 900,000 visitors.
So due to the low attendance, the IAA might be moving to another city in the future. There are currently three cities competing to organize the show: Berlin, Hamburg or Munich.
Over the last year, many carmakers have started to focus on experiential and activation events where customers have a hands-on experience with the latest products.
We’ve seen these type of activation events in the past, from Volvo (V60 launch in Stockholm) to Audi (e-tron launch in San Francisco) and to the BMW’s NextGen in Munich, but more are being planned in 2020. These unique type of venues will allow automakers to properly tell the stories of their cars, while allowing the general public some hands-on experience with the new products and services.
Some local auto shows will continue their tradition, but some of them will mostly receive local dealership support rather than a corporate budget. This year’s Chicago Auto Show will once again be skipped by BMW of North America, but it remains to be seen whether local dealers will choose to display their products.
With the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas growing year-over-year, the trend is clearly there – a focus on mobility shows with a technology angle. So we won’t be surprised to see new venues in the future taking a similar approach.
That’s a bummer. They’re already skipping the 2020 Philadelphia Auto Show which is a smaller show, so I wanted to see some of their new vehicles in New York in April, especially as I’m in the market for a new BMW with a lease coming to an end. The NYIAS would’ve been a great place to see them and the competitors without driving to a dozen different dealerships. Eventually they will realize events like NextGen only attract the hardcore fans and not general public who may be wooed by their vehicles and will likely decide to rejoin the pack.
What do you base ur consumer choices on? You don’t actually drive anything @ a car SHOW. i3 customers r new 2 the brand, NextGen attracts more of the same, does it not?
I go to a car show, see what cars impress me by walking around and getting in and out of them, feeling the materials on the interior, etc. Then based on the ones that impress me I go to test drive them at the dealer. The show though helps me narrow down the choices. Hope that answers your question.
True & good point.
In reality, you go to the “car dealers street” in your city, drive to BMW, spend 1 hour there, go to Audi/Mercedes and then go back to the brand that pleased you more.
Who is checking 10 different brands when he has a serious purchasing project ?
I guess I’m thorough and I don’t have a car dealer”street” by me but thanks for explaining “reality” to me, that was very helpful.
Just explaining you we are a dying breed. And even worse, many young people don’t even try a car before buying it … (that is if they even care getting the driving licence)
Traditional car shows are doomed, that is the harsch reality
Pricing. Aren’t Hyundai giving away Stingers? & FCAlfa?
We’ll see what happens, but everyone seems to follow that trend. I think auto shows were just too expensive and they just couldn’t justify the expense anymore.
Good riddance, IAA was a nightmare, you were spending most of the time walking outside between the halls.
In Frankfurt at this time of the year it usually meant “under the rain”
The best European Auto show is in Geneva, right next to the train station / airport, just the right size and neutral (not like Paris and Frankfurt where the local brands are obviously favored.)
Local brands? Nissan? Or world’s largest truck manufacturer?