Fans reassure themselves. The Montreal Auto Show, which will open its doors on Friday, will lift the veil on a string of novelties. But the Palais des Congrès, place of this high mass of the automobile, knew appointments more fervent and more raised vintages.
We will look in vain for several American, Japanese and European brands. A phenomenon that is observed all over the world. The Geneva show has disappeared, that of Frankfurt has stopped in favor of another, in Munich, focused on mobility. Those of Detroit, Tokyo, Paris and Shanghai have become regional. Montreal is no exception.
Sobriety
Gone are the days of glitz, fanfare and Hollywood presentations. The cost of participation is not the only reason invoked to explain the withdrawal of certain manufacturers. The shortage of semiconductors (essential for the assembly of modern vehicles) has also had a negative impact. It alone has crippled global supply chains and delayed the launch of several models.
Added to all these factors is the transition to all-electric. In some respects, the list of exhibitors this year reflects, in part, this ongoing or future change. Tesla’s return to the Montreal Auto Show bears witness to this, as does the arrival – a Canadian preview – of VinFast.
Showcase
Forget the traditions, the Auto Show has changed.
Moreover, this year, the Montreal exhibition no longer resembles a labyrinth (the exhibition area is concentrated on one floor). It compares less to a giant exhibition hall and more to a sort of crossroads for anticipating emerging automotive trends.
A place where we unveil novelties, but also, and on an equal footing, the most recent (and numerous) advances in the industry.
This is why visitors will nevertheless find their account at the Auto Show. The latter offers them a showcase on the new automotive world which promises to be safer, more ecological and more connected. In addition, the new products presented at the Show reflect the variety of public expectations, the growing importance of style in purchasing motivations and the success of models whose appeal is less due to performance than to their adaptation to the practice of hobbies. The automobile is also a passion. A whole section of the Show is devoted to sports cars and other top-of-the-range products that are not often seen on our streets.