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Volkswagen boycotts the Paris Motor Show, and he's not alone

The German manufacturer Volkswagen has announced that it was giving up its stand at the Paris Motor Show, which will be held from 4 to 14 October. Bad news for the French show, neglected by several international labels.

Volkswagen will not participate in the Paris Motor Show
Volkswagen will not participate in the Paris Motor Show

AFP - HAROLD CUNNINGHAM
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Volkswagen, the number one manufacturer of sales in Europe, justified this decision by the absence of new models to present, while stating that it was planning events in Paris during the show. "The Volkswagen brand is continually reassessing the relevance of its participation in international car shows, which is mainly based on the (...) launch campaigns for new products," she said in a statement. An amazing decision, given that the arrival of the small SUV T-Cross is planned for the coming months, and that this future model seems tailor-made for the French market.

The brand explained "that it would not participate in the Paris Motor Show with its own stand". But she "is currently evaluating the fact of being present in Paris during the show through various communication actions". The Volkswagen Group, however, will be very present, with its other brands Audi, Skoda, Seat and Porsche. The announcement of Volkswagen adds to several other defections. According to a first count, the brands Ford, Opel, Nissan, Infiniti, Volvo and Mazda will also be absent from the Parisian stands this year. And according to information from Challenges, the participation of FCA (Fiat, Abarth, Maserati, Ferrari, Jeep and Alfa Romeo) remains to be confirmed.

The return of Chinese automakers to the Paris Motor Show
"This is a phenomenon that affects all shows," regretted Jean-Claude Girot, general commissioner of the World, joined on the phone by AFP. "There are certain brands that decide not to come because they have no novelty or have another strategy, but there are new brands that come," he said, citing in particular the arrival of the Chinese manufacturer GAC: "This year, it is the first time that there will be a Chinese manufacturer at the World of the car."

On the subject of Volkswagen, he hoped for a return of the German giant in the next edition in 2020. Remember that the Geneva Motor Show, in March 2018, also saw the defection of many manufacturers, among which were DS, Mini, Tesla or Opel. The latter manufacturer has therefore not participated in any international trade show in 2018, since its acquisition by the PSA Group.

The list of defections that is growing "is not good news" for the World Cup, believes on his side Flavien Neuvy, director of Cetelem Observatory of the automobile. Among the absentees are "major brands that sell a lot of cars each year in France", it is "budget choices", but this evolution is "astonishing" because trade shows remain "popular hits" that also "a strong media impact". The Paris Motor Show is the busiest in the world with more than a million visitors in 2016. This expert does not think that the absence of a few brands affects for the moment the attendance of the Paris show. "But it should not be that it continues and there are still others who do not come", because then "it is its attractiveness that would suffer".

From the bike to the Mondial de l'Automobile
Faced with the difficulties that affect all shows, the Mondial de Paris, which will celebrate its 120th anniversary in October, has embarked on a major renewal by opening up to mobility services and new technologies that are shaking up the automotive industry. This year, it will host the Mondial de la moto, reviving a tradition of exhibition of two wheels that goes back to its origins. At the same time, it will launch a new mass-market event, the Mondial de la mobilité, on the theme of services and shared vehicles, as well as a new trade fair, Mondial.Tech, dedicated to new automotive technologies. And it will host for the first time the French version of CES consumer electronics show in Las Vegas. Lastly, because of the work currently underway at the Parc des Expositions, the number of pavilions will be smaller than before.

Jean-Claude Girot underlined that he particularly regretted the defection of Nissan, Japanese partner of Renault in an alliance which, with Mitsubishi, became the first car manufacturer in the world. "Renault is a shareholder of the show and celebrates 120 years this year at the same time" that the World Cup, the absence of Nissan "shocked me," he told AFP.