The 40th Tokyo Motor Show 2007 (Organizer: Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association Inc.; Chairman: Fujio Cho) closed its doors at 7:00 p.m. today. The show was held at Makuhari Messe, Chiba for a period of 17 days, from October 26 (Friday) to November 11 (Sunday). A total of 1,425,800 visitors were recorded.
The show's theme for this year was "Catch the News, Touch the Future." Under this theme, the "new-style comprehensive show" combined exhibits of passenger cars, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, vehicle bodies, parts and machinery to create the first change in the show's format in 10 years. The Tokyo Motor Show attracted attention in the media for the many advanced products and technologies that were displayed, including large numbers of World Premieres in all automotive categories. Together with the exhibits was a broad lineup of entertainment events that emphasized audience participation and hands-on experiences and encouraged visitors to feel for themselves "the dreams, fun and splendor of the automobile". The milestone 40th show received high praise from the 1,425,800 visitors and 246 exhibitors alike.
Enthusiastically Received The accumulated number of visitors for the show period reached 1,425,800, a decrease of 86,300, 94.3% compared with the 1,512,100 recorded for the previous show (the 39th show in 2005), but was nonetheless second to the 1,431,900 attendance figure for the 2006 Paris International Motor Show. One of the chief factors reducing attendance was that Culture Day (November 3) fell on a Saturday, giving this year's show one less holiday.
A total of 14,300 members of the domestic and foreign press covered the show, up more than 1,000 from the previous show and a new record for Tokyo. Coverage extended to all media, including television, newspapers, magazines and the web, an indication of the high degree of interest in the new combined format of the Tokyo Motor Show. The new "μ-Chip" press passes were also highly acclaimed among the press.
The number of premieres at the Tokyo Motor Show continues to be among the top in the world. This year there were 77 World Premieres (36 passenger cars, 5 commercial vehicles, 32 motorcycles, 4 vehicle bodies) and 103 Japan Premieres (75 passenger cars, 2 commercial vehicles, 26 motorcycles). Visitors and the press alike were enthusiastic about models incorporating leading-edge environmental and safety technologies, and also about sporty models that focus on the essential joys and pleasures of driving.
For the show, JAMA placed much more emphasis on "audience-participation, hands-on" events as part of its basic policy of demonstrating the "dreams, fun and splendor of the automobile." Among the most popular were five different test-ride opportunities, including the Clean Energy Vehicles Test Ride, Safety Experience Test Drive and 4 x 4 Adventure Test Ride. Together they attracted a total of 30,000 visitors. There was also a "Users Meeting" to allow 30 general car users to exchange frank opinions on the attractions of the automobile with JAMA Chairman Cho which attracted 600 people. Through the show, visitors were able to learn firsthand what the automotive industry is doing to address environmental and safety concerns and to reaffirm how much fun cars can be.
The Tokyo Motor Show will be off in 2008. The next show is scheduled for the fall of 2009 at Makuhari Messe and will maintain the combined format of exhibiting passenger cars, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, vehicle bodies, parts and machinery. The specific schedule for the 2009 show will be announced next spring.
| Name: | The 41st Tokyo Motor Show 2009 (name tentative) |
|---|---|
| Organizer: | Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc. |
| Dates: | Fall, 2009 |
| Venue: | Makuhari Messe, Chiba, Japan |
