The Centennial edition registered growth greater than 10%
Automobile Barcelona successfully closes a historic edition
Automobile Barcelona, the International Motor Show organised by Fira de Barcelona, closes the doors on its centennial anniversary edition this afternoon with historic figures: Forty-five brands present, 50% more than the previous edition, the participation of every automotive group, and 42 innovations presented to the public. The event, which has once again been a major sales booster factor, registered a major influx of attendees attracted by the proposals of automotive companies, the activities, and the shows part of the Centennial’s special programme of events.
Enrique Lacalle, President of the Barcelona International Motor Show, stated that “we have closed a historic edition, with major success in terms of visitors, number of brands, and sales. And something very important: the Motor Show once again attracted young people, and was a major catalyst for increasing automobile sales. Barcelona and the motor world have once again committed to its Motor Show, as shown by the fact that the Centennial edition registered growth greater than 10%”.
The Barcelona International Motor Show has once again been a great international showcase where the most important brands have presented their latest innovations. The Motor Show, the only one in Spain with the international recognition of the OICA (International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers), featured the presence of 45 brands, representing a growth of 50%, which presented a total of 42 firsts.
The brands that participated in this Centennial edition were Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Citroën, Cupra, Dacia, DR Automobiles, EasyMile, Ferrari, Fiat, Fiat Profesional, Ford, Hispano Suiza, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar, Jeep, Kia, Lamborghini, Land Rover, Lexus, Lotus, Maserati, Mazda, Mercedes Benz, Mercedes Benz Vans, Mini, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Pal-V, Piaggio Commercial Vehicle, Porsche, Renault, Seat, Skoda, Smart, Subaru, Suzuki, Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo. Among the 130 exhibitors present are other industry-related companies such as Repsol, Iberdrola, RACC, Servei Català de Trànsit and Circutor.
Success in terms of attendees and sales
The Barcelona International Motor Show also contributed to boosting sales thanks to the interest shown by visitors motivated by the Motor Show’s large offer. Electric or hybrid vehicles were the stars among the innovations presented at the motor show, and also aroused major interest among attendees. In particular, 55.3% of all visitors that intended to purchase a vehicle at the motor show were specifically interested in electric or hybrid cars. Thanks to the MOVES plan, purchasers were able to benefit from very favourable conditions in the purchase of these models.
In a visitor survey , 92.3% stated that the Barcelona International Motor Show met their expectations, and graded the quality of the brands presented with 4.19 out of 5. Furthermore, 60.7% of those surveyed considered that the Centennial edition was better than previous editions, and nine out of ten individuals surveyed said that they would return to the motor show in its next edition in 2021. As for the activities organised on the occasion of the Centennial, the most valued of them all was the immersive show Genesis, which received an average grade of 4.5 out of 5, followed by the centennial exhibition which received a grade of 4.42 out of 5.
Centenary
These activities were precisely the stars of the special centennial programme. The Genesis show transported attendees to the past and the future of automotion through an installation of more than 1,500 m2 of 3D and holographic projections which, accompanied by surround sound and a musical selection representing the last 100 years, turned into an authentic time machine, with the particularity that each session ended with widespread applause.
For its part, the exhibition on the last 100 years of the automobile also attracted a large influx of attendees. In the show, commissioned by experts Fermí Sulé and Pablo Gimeno, a total of 26 vehicles selected by decade, from the beginning of the Barcelona International Motor Show in 1919, were able to be seen in order to illustrate the advances experienced throughout the last 100 years. Among the models exhibited were the Fort T, symbol of chain production; the Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, icon of luxury; the Jeep Willys, precursor to off-road vehicles; James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5; or the Ferrari Testarrossa, symbol of the super-sport models of the 80s, among others.
The Centennial edition’s last space of activities was the Connected Street, where visitors were able to get to know and personally experience the future of mobility and its close relationship with technology. For the first time, visitors were able to travel in a vehicle without a driver or steering wheel, and to discover connectivity platforms that make it possible to be permanently connected, or even to see a flying vehicle, the PAL-V Liberty, during the first weekend.
Institutional Support
Finally, the President of the Show, Enrique Lacalle, wanted to appreciate and highlight the “major institutional and business support that the Centennial received, mainly with the presence of His Majesty the King in the inauguration”. “The Barcelona International Motor Show was an institutional oasis during the 11 days of the Show”, said Lacalle.
The Centennial edition was inaugurated by King Felipe VI who visited the stands of all the brands after presiding over a lunch with representatives from different administrations and the main leaders of the automobile industry; also attending, among others, were the President of the Generalitat, Quim Torra; the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Tourism, Reyes Maroto; the Counsellors to the Presidency, Meritxell Budó, and to Business, María Àngels Chacón; the Mayor of L’Hospitalet, Núria Marín; Government Delegate, Teresa Cunillera; the Editor of La Vanguardia, Javier Godó; the President of Antena 3 Media, José Crehueras; the President of the CEOE, Antonio Garamendi; the President of Foment de Treball, Josep Sánchez Llibre; the President of the Spanish Association of Automobile and Truck Manufacturers (ANFAC in Spanish ), José Vicente de los Mozos; and the President of Repsol, Antoni Brufau.
In addition, The Barcelona International Motor Show was also visited by the President of the Catalan Parliament, Roger Torrent; the Vice-President of the Government, Pere Aragonés; the Counsellor to Territory and Sustainability, Damià Calvet; the First Secretary of the PSC, Miquel Iceta; the candidates to the Mayorship of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, Josep Bou, and Miquel Valls; the candidate to the Mayorship of Badalona, Xavier Garcia Albiol; the Delegate to Catalunya de la Once, Enric Botí; the President of Prensa Ibérica, Javier Moll; the President of the Economics Circle, Juan José Bruguera; and different personalities, including, among others, Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida; the President of the RCD Español, Chen Yangsheng; Tottenham Hotspurs’ coach, Mauricio Pochettino; and former football player, Iván de la Peña.
Barcelona, 19th May 2019