The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA; Chairman: Yoshihide Munekuni) will hold the 37th Tokyo Motor Show from Friday, October 24 through Wednesday, November 5, a total of 13 days, at Makuhari Messe (Japan Convention Center) in the city of Chiba. The theme for this year is "The Challenge: Driving toward a Better Future."
Press days will be Wednesday, October 22 and Thursday, October 23, being followed by the special guest day of Friday, October 24.
The show will be open to the public for 12 days from Saturday, October 25 through Wednesday, November 5. Hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and from 9:30 a.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
Prior to the public opening, at 10:00 a.m., Friday, October 24, there will be an opening ceremony attended by the patron of the show, His Imperial Highness Prince Tomohito of Mikasa.
This is the first "passenger cars and motorcycles" show that JAMA has been involved with from the initial planning stages since the merger of May 2002 between JAMA and former organizer Japan Motor Industrial Federation (JMIF). This year features a full renovation of the show content to bring more of a "customer perspective" to the show. As in the past, the Tokyo Motor Show will continue to showcase the latest vehicles and technologies, but in addition it will also have more "customer-participation" and "experience" events that will attract children as well as younger male and female generations and greater visitor hospitality. JAMA is confident that the "new motor show" style will reaffirm the attraction of the Tokyo Motor Show for all guests.
This year's show features 263 companies, 4 governments and 1 organization from 14 countries (35th show of 2001: 273 companies, 6 governments and 2 organizations from 13 countries). Government exhibits are from Canada, Germany, Sweden and United States. Exhibits will be located in #1-11 of the International Exhibition Hall (West, Center, East, North) and the Event Hall at Makuhari Messe. The total floor space occupied by the show will be 41,559 square meters, roughly on par with the 42,119 square meters of the 35th show.
This year's show will feature 87 world premieres (41 passenger cars, 32 motorcycles and 14 carrozzeria) and 96 Japan premieres (62 passenger cars, 28 motorcycles and 6 carrozzeria). For the parts section, 40 world premieres and 16 Japan premieres will be exhibited. Since the current records of world premieres at major international motor shows indicate 40 to 70 units per show, the Tokyo Motor Show is among the world's top class level in terms of world premiere announcements.
The 37th Tokyo Motor Show boasts a wide lineup of special "audience participation" and "experience" events that will underscore to visitors how much the show has changed into a new and different one. A variety of attractions particularly for children as well as younger male and female generations are readily available at the show venue. Through these special events, we will provide visitors with an interactive communication, thereby having them understand hands-on the status quo of the automotive industry tackling on environmental and safety issues and so forth, while enjoying the events.
From the first Press Day on Wednesday, October 22 through the end of the show (10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.), clean energy vehicle test rides will be available at the Makuhari Marine Park adjacent to Makuhari Messe (500m course). The lineup includes 6 fuel cell vehicles, 5 hybrid vehicles and 1 CNG vehicle for a total of 12 vehicles in all.
First in its history, Tokyo Motor Show will introduce "Carrozzeria Exhibit" for younger generations. Carrozzeria is an Italian word that stands for "car design studio." The Carrozzeria Exhibit in the event hall will feature 31 vehicles from 13 original and turning car manufacturers in Japan and other countries. There will also be a Carrozzeria Café where guests can relax in a smart, classy atmosphere. The winners of the Student Formula SAE Competition of Japan 2003 (sponsored by the Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan) will also be on display.
Over the course of the show there will be a number of symposiums held at the International Conference Hall (the final one on special stage in the West Rest Zone) by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of the Environment, Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan, and JAMA. A total of 18 topics are planned. Symposiums are scheduled for weekdays and Saturdays.
The special stage in the West Rest Zone will host the traffic safety events and also serve as a general entertainment space for events geared towards families. Available here will be some events for children and elementary school students whose admission fees have become free for the first time in addition to attractions for female visitors, so that a wider range of visitors can enjoy the show from various perspectives. Below are the main events scheduled.
On the second Press Day, Thursday, October 23, time has been set aside for a special viewing by visitors in wheel chairs. Up to two accompanying persons will be admitted free of charge (Advance registration is required by Monday, September 22). This special viewing day was planned for the previous (35th) passenger car and motorcycle show, but because it was cancelled due to security concerns related to the 9-11 terrorism acts in the US, this will be the first time it is implemented.
Other improvements to guest hospitality include a "Motor Info Gate" service that provides information on the show to mobile telephones, 450 priority seats for the elderly in the rest areas, and better transportation access with special express trains running from Tokyo Station to Kaihin-Makuhari Station every 30 minutes.
This year marks the 50th volume of the Automobile Guidebook, which has been significantly revised and upgraded in honor of the event. The new guidebook will go on sale at bookstores around Japan on Wednesday, October 22, the first Press Day. The CD-ROM version of the automobile guidebook, "motor searcher 2004," will go on sale at the same time. In honor of the 50th volume, limited-edition reprints of the exhibition catalog dating back to the first Japan Motor Show at Hibiya Park in 1954 will be on sale at the show.
