Our assessment of an Auto Show that is coming back to life

With more than 500,000 visitors in 6 days and the return of European manufacturers, the Paris Motor Show is regaining its allure.

Some regulars of the Paris Motor Show were quite surprised to find closed doors in front of the grand Hall 1. The traditional Motor Show that used to fill the immense Halls 1 and 2 with hostesses and giveaways is a thing of the past, and we must come to terms with that. Similarly, it is unlikely we will see Ferrari, Lamborghini, or Porsche again in the aisles of the Parc des Expositions at Porte de Versailles.

However, the gathering of the main players in halls 4, 5, and 6 ultimately provided an interesting format where one could be sure not to miss anything, with a large central aisle each time. Moving from one hall to another provided some small breaks, and in this regard, it is a pity that the outdoor space was not better utilized.

The meeting place for car lovers has transformed into a gathering for curious onlookers, and isn’t it the role of a salon to inform? It would have been a shame to give up after a meager 2022 edition. With an announced attendance of 508,007 visitors, the Paris Motor Show confirmed this week that it still holds its legitimacy. An Ipsos study released during the event illustrates the persistent attachment of the French to cars, as 81% claim to be emotionally engaged with their vehicle. A little less passion, a lot more reason, but ultimately a great edition.

A Real Motor Show

With a total of 48 manufacturers and 158 exhibitors and partners, there was plenty to occupy a day, and the presence of some racing cars such as the Endurance Hypercars from Peugeot and BMW, as well as an Alpine F1 and a nice Matra exhibition, added a bit of glamour. In terms of new releases and scoops, we left wanting more, but this is not a surprise. Manufacturers are accustomed to unveiling their new models a few days before the shows to better control the communication.

However, we loved the concepts Alpine A390 and Renault Emblème. We disliked the Renault 4 but are increasingly fond of the Renault 5. We laughed at the excessiveness of the multi-level stand Hongqi, but liked the coverings on the Peugeot models. We rekindled our relationship with Cadillac over the very promising Optiq and were surprised by the quality of Xpeng models. We even wondered which Chinese manufacturers might not be around in 2 years… We learned a lot from ENGIE and Valeo and entered a Microlino and a Cybertruck. In short, it was a good show.

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