The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc. (Chairman: Itaru Koeda; "JAMA") will hold the 39th Tokyo Motor Show - Passenger Cars & Motorcycles - (2005) at the Makuhari Messe in Makuhari, Chiba City for 17 days from Friday, October 21 to Sunday, November 6 (exhibition open to the public beginning Saturday, October 22).

The theme for this year's show is "'Driving Tomorrow!' from Tokyo." It expresses the Tokyo Motor Show's commitment to being the festive place where people can experience the world's most advanced technologies and designs, while at the same time serving as a source of up-to-the-minute information on interactions between the automobile and motorized society, focusing on the evolution of the automobile in ever more environment-friendly directions.

At the current point in time, 238 companies, 4 governments and 1 organization from 12 countries and 1 region, including Japan, are expected to participate. The number of exhibitors declined by 26 companies in the Parts and Carrozzeria Sections compared to the 37th show (the most recent "Passenger Cars & Motorcycles" show, held in 2003), but the exhibition space is roughly on par with the 37th show at approximately 40,000 m2. Exhibitors will have their most advanced models and technologies on hand for the show, including a large number of World Premieres.

The Tokyo Motor Show has more than half a century of history behind it, having first begun at Hibiya Park in 1954. This year's show marks the start of a new half-century, and a number of special events are on the calendar to commemorate this milestone. As in previous years, the show also features a wide variety of "audience participation, hands-on" special programs and is designed to appeal to a broad spectrum of visitors, including women and families.

To alleviate congestion, this year's show has been extended by four days to 17 days and includes three weekends. It has also scheduled a special viewing for people in wheelchairs on the afternoon of Thursday, October 20, the second Press Day, to provide wheelchair users with an opportunity to see the show more comfortably (viewing begins at 1:00 p.m.). To further enhance visitor services, the number of "priority seats" reserved for elderly visitors will be substantially increased from 450 at the 37th show to 600 seats at this year's show. Advance tickets are scheduled to go on sale on Saturday, October 1.

This is the last year that a show devoted to "passenger cars & motorcycles" will be held. Beginning 2007 the Tokyo Motor Show will be redesigned as a new integrated show that includes commercial vehicles and commercial vehicle bodies and is held every two years.

Show extended to 17 days, including 3 weekends, to alleviate congestion

The show has been extended by four days to 17 days, including three weekends, to help alleviate congestion. This makes it the longest of any major international motor show in the world, exceeding even the 16 days of the Paris Motor Show (2004). This year's target is 1.5 million visitors, well above the 1.42 million recorded for the 37th show.

Press Days are scheduled for Wednesday, October 19 and Thursday, October 20. The Special Guest Day (Opening Ceremony) will be on Friday, October 21. The show will be open to the public from Saturday, October 22 to Sunday, November 6. Opening hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekdays and from 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturdays and holidays.

Commemorative events for the show's 50 years, and "audience-participation, hands-on" special programs appeal to a wide range of visitors

This year, the Tokyo Motor Show plans a number of special events that will look back on its first half-century of history. It also has a wide lineup of special "audience-participation, hands-on" programs to satisfy visitors regardless of their interests.

<Commemorative Events>

• Special Exhibit to Commemorate 50 Years of the Tokyo Motor Show: Special Exhibit Press Preview in Hibiya Park and Special Exhibit (Hibiya Park and Makuhari Messe Event Hall)
  The Tokyo Motor Show began in 1954 at Hibiya Park in Tokyo. It will commemorate its first half-century and take its first step into the next half-century this year with the "Special Exhibit Press Preview in Hibiya Park to Commemorate 50 Years of the Tokyo Motor Show," a special pre-show event scheduled for Tuesday, October 18 that gathers together in the park many of the classic cars that headlined the show from the 50s through the 70s. Demonstration drives around Hibiya Park are also planned for the classic vehicles that will be on display. During the show period, the Event Hall at Makuhari Messe will be the site of a special retrospective exhibit on the first 50 years of the Tokyo Motor Show featuring classic cars from throughout the last half-century, including the vehicles displayed at Hibiya Park.

<Special "audience-participation, hands-on" events>

• Clean Energy Vehicle Test Rides (Makuhari Seaside Park and other locations)
  We began to offer test rides of fuel cell, hybrid and other "clean energy" vehicles at the 37th show, and they will be available again this year, with nearby Makuhari Seaside Park serving as the main venue. The lineup includes 14 vehicles from 7 companies, with electric vehicles and hydrogen vehicles making their first appearances.
• Tokyo Motor Show Symposium 2005 (2F, International Conference Hall, Makuhari Messe and other locations)
  Symposiums are open to the general public and provide an opportunity to come in contact with the latest information on automobiles and the automotive industry. Eight themes are scheduled for this year, including safety, environment, taxation, barrier-free vehicles and carrozzeria.
• Carrozzeria Exhibit (Event Hall, Makuhari Messe)
  The Carrozzeria Exhibit gathers together a bunch of major original car manufacturers. The Tokyo Motor Show had its first Carrozzeria Exhibit at the 37th show, and it was so popular that we have brought it back again. Seven companies are currently scheduled to exhibit.
• Festival Park (West Rest Zone, Makuhari Messe)
  Festival Park is the site for experience-oriented traffic safety events and motorcycle trial demonstrations designed to educate visitors about traffic safety. A truck within the park provides a temporary stage for talk shows.
• Youth Motorcycle Sports School (Special Event Arena, Makuhari Messe)
  This event, which is geared towards elementary school-aged children to widen their horizons and experiences, provides the opportunity to experience motorcycles under the guidance of expert instructors. The Nippon Motorcycle Association (NMCA) has sponsored similar events around Japan and this is the first time to be held at the Tokyo Motor Show. School will be in session each Saturday and holiday during the show period (total of 7 days).

Improved visitor services make it easier for people in wheelchairs and the elderly to enjoy the show

The Tokyo Motor Show has made many improvements in visitor services. Below are the highlights:

• Special viewing for people in wheelchairs
  The Tokyo Motor Show held its first special viewing for people in wheelchairs during the 37th show. The viewing enables people in wheelchairs to enjoy the show in a more comfortable, un-crowded environment. This year's viewing is scheduled for the afternoon of Thursday, October 20, the second Press Day (viewing begins at 1:00 p.m.). Admission is free for people in wheelchairs and up to two attending persons. Prior application is required. Application will be announced at the Tokyo Motor Show Official Web Site (www.tokyo-motorshow.com) on Monday, August 1.
• Smoke-free environment in the hall, segregated smoking zones outside
  Beginning April 1, 2005, all exhibition halls and the second floor passageways in the Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Halls are no-smoking. Three smoking lounges have been provided on the second floor of the Central Mall. Outside, special smoking areas will be established within the rest zones.
• 600 priority seats
  During the 37th show, priority seats for elderly visitors were designated as their rest spaces, and they were so well received that we have substantially increased their number from 450 to 600 seats this year.

Advance tickets go on sale Saturday, October 1; discount afternoon tickets available

Advance tickets will go on sale on Saturday, October 1 at JR East Midori no Madoguchi and View Plaza, selected travel agencies (JTB, Tokyu Tourist etc.), ticket agencies (Ticket pia, CN Playguide, and other ticket agencies in the greater Tokyo area) and convenience stores (Seven-Eleven, Lawson etc.) (tentative). In addition, discount afternoon tickets, which can be available from 3:00 p.m. on weekdays will be offered (available only on-site during show days).

* No distinction between advance/regular tickets for groups (30 people or more). Available only through travel agencies or at the gate during show days.

<Reference>

Exhibitors (as of July 25)

Press embargo on exhibition contents

In the past, JAMA had set a press embargo on exhibitors' announcement of their exhibits and plans that was lifted approximately 1 week before the beginning of the show. The 39th Tokyo Motor Show, however, has no press embargo. Exhibitors will make announcements to the press at their convenience following the JAMA press conference on the outline of the show (scheduled for Tuesday, September 27, 2005). Exhibitors are expected to begin announcements from the next day, Wednesday, September 28 onwards.