The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, (JAMA; Chairman: Yoshihide Munekuni) will sponsor the 37th Tokyo Motor Show–Passenger Cars and Motorcycles– (2003) for 13 days from Friday, October 24 to Wednesday, November 5 (exhibition open to the general public beginning Saturday, October 25) at Makuhari Messe(Japan Convention Center) in, Chiba. The theme of the show is: "The Challenge: Driving toward a Better Future." .
At press time, the show has signed up 263 companies, 4 governments and 1 organization from 14 countries including Japan have signed up as exhibitors. While this is a slight decrease in numbers from the previous passenger car and motorcycle show (the 35th show in 2001), with 10 fewer companies, 2 fewer governments and 1 fewer organization, the exhibition area is about the same; approximately 42,000 square meters. The show also expects additional exhibits in the Carrozzeria division, which should bring this year up to the levels of the preview show in terms of numbers as well.
This will be the first "passenger cars and motorcycles" show held since JAMA and the Japan Motor Industrial Federation, the previous Motor Show organizer, merged to form the new Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (May 2002). The show will have a new approach and style, including greater variety in the exhibits and a number of special programs that will make the show more attractive to visitors.
Special programs will feature events designed to communicate to the public what the automotive industry is doing about issues such as the environment, safety and globalization. The Tokyo Motor Show is moving towards a more "participation-oriented" and "interactive" format with these events.
Another special event this year is the Carrozzeria Exhibit featuring original car makers and tuning makers from around the world. A variety of symposiums and forums are also scheduled for experts as well as the general public. In addition, there will be test rides in fuel cell vehicles, hybrid vehicles and CNG vehicles, and a special stage in the West Rest Zone for fun, where entertaining events will be held on traffic safety, the relationship between people and their cars, and audience-participation events that will teach children about environment and safety issues while they play.
Advance tickets go on sale on Monday, September 1. For the first time in its history, the show is free of charge to elementary school children and under in order to give them an opportunity to learn about cars directly. Likewise, high-school students will enjoy half-price admission this year rather than paying full price as in the past. The show will also start "evening" admission at 15:00, an hour earlier than usual.
Several improvements have been made in visitor services. The "Motor Info Gate" (sponsored by Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.) will e-mail motor show information throughout the venue using visitors' mobile telephones. A special viewing time has also been set aside for visitors in wheelchairs from 13:00 to 18:00 on Thursday, October 23, the second press day. Visitors in wheelchairs together with two accompanying persons will be admitted free of charge during the wheelchair show. Further information on applications for the special viewing time will be available on the Tokyo Motor Show web site (http://www.tokyo-motorshow.com) beginning Friday, August 1.
We are confident that visitors will enjoy the new "participation-oriented" and "interactive" Tokyo Motor Show.
Visitors will have the opportunity to ride in fuel cell vehicles, hybrid vehicles, CNG vehicles and other clean energy vehicles at the Makuhari Marine Park adjacent to Makuhari Messe. This event takes place with the cooperation of automakers.
A special Carrozzeria exhibit will be held in the Makuhari Messe Event Hall. Currently we plan to exhibit 30 vehicles from 12 original and tuning makers. Also on display in the hall will be the top three entries in the "2003 All-Japan Student Formula Contest" (sponsored by the Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan). In conjunction with the Carrozzeria Exhibit, there will be a special "Carrozzeria Cafe" where visitors will be able to enjoy unique foreign and Japanese vehicles in a classy, relaxing setting.
Symposiums will be held on weekdays during the show in the International Conference Hall at Makuhari Messe and also on the Special Stage in the West Rest Zone. A total of 16 symposiums and forums are scheduled on topics such as the environment, safety, design, new technologies, motorcycles, motor shows and motor sports. Sponsors include the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of the Environment, the Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan and the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association.
Several traffic safety events are scheduled. The West Rest Zone at Makuhari Messe (the west side of the Event Hall) will feature a "trial bike demonstration." The special stage will have a talk show-style event on "safe driving tips." The Chiba Prefectural Police will provide a "seat belt convincer" and "driving aptitude test" car to allow visitors to participate directly.
Entertainment events on the relationship between people and their cars and performances by student bands and the Chiba Prefectural Police Band will also take place on the special stage.
" Motor Info Gate" (sponsored by Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.) will e-mail information throughout the venue using mobile telephones. The system distributes non-contact IC tags to visitors, with scanners for special themes set up at some locations of the show site. When the IC tag passes through a scanner, visitors immediately receive e-mail containing show information on their mobile telephones. The organizers expect to distribute about 150,000 IC tags over the 13-day period.
A special viewing has been scheduled for visitors in wheelchairs from 13:00 to 18:00 on Thursday, October 23, the second press day. Visitors in wheelchairs together with two accompanying persons will be admitted free of charge. Further information on the wheelchair viewing will be available on the Tokyo Motor Show web site (http://www.tokyo-motorshow.com) beginning Friday, August 1. This was originally planned for the previous "passenger cars and motorcycles" show (the 35th show in 2001), but was cancelled due to security concerns in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on United States.
Art Director Ryoji Tsukada has completed the design for this year's poster. His dynamic design is in the style of popular American comic books, with a "pop" image set against a lively background. It visually expresses the dynamism of the Tokyo Motor Show as it moves powerfully forward, adapting to the challenges placed before it.
| Admission | General public¾ | Junior /senior high school |
Elementary and under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advance tickets (Monday, September 1 – Friday, October 24) | ¥1,000 | ¥500 | Free |
| Regular admission (Saturday, October 25 – Wednesday, November 5) | ¥1,200 | ¥600 | Free |
| After 15:00 tickets (available only at the box office) |
¥1,000 | ¥500 | Free |
*Prices include consumption tax.
Ticket sales channels have greatly expanded this year with the addition of computerized ticket sales at 9600 Seven-Eleven stores around Japan and other outlets. Tickets are also available from JR East Japan Midori no Madoguchi and View Plaza offices, travel agents (JTB, Tokyu Tourist etc.), ticket vendors (Ticket Pia, CN Playguide, other Playguide outlets in the greater Tokyo area), and convenience stores (Seven-Eleven, Lawson etc.).
| 35th (2001) | 37th (2003) | Change | |
| Passenger cars | 37 companies | 38 companies | 1 company (Kia and Buggati new; Isuzu not participating) |
| Motorcycles | 11 companies | 12 companies | 1 company (Triumph, KTM new; Piaggio not participating) |
| Parts | 225 companies, 6 governments, 2 organizations | 201 companies, 4 governments, 1 organization | -24 companies, 2 governments, 1 organization |
| Carrozzeria | - | 12 companies | 12 companies |
| Total | 273 Companies, 6 governments, 2 organizations | 263 companies, 4 governments, 1 organization | -10 companies, 2 governments, 1 organization |
| Exhibition space | 42,119 m2 | 41, 631 m2 | -488 m2 |
| Exhibiting countries | 13 countries | 14 countries | 1 country(Austria, Denmark new; Belgium not participating) |
