AutoEvent: The Tokyo Motor Show

Over 50 years old now, the Tokyo motor show has been a center of attraction since 1954, for all those interested in the automobile industry.

The show is popular for featuring state-of-the-art and futuristic technologies in the form of concept automobiles including trucks, buses and cars. You can expect to find huge array of fresh concepts all across the show. There are so many of 'em that you might find it tough to follow each of the exhibits in detail.

History

During the early history of the show, its focus remained on passenger vehicles viz. truck and buses. However, in the wake of the growing Japanese auto industry and trading of Japanese cars around the world it expanded focus to include passenger cars. Even now when the auto industry in the western hemisphere finds itself under rough weather, the Japanese auto industry hopes for landmark performance.

Organizers of the show, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, changed the format of the show beginning with last year's event (i.e. Tokyo Motor Show 2007). Now the show will be held once every two years, with the commercial vehicle show to be held in year in between. The next episode of the tradition is the forty-first, Tokyo Motor Show to be held in 2009.

The biennial event promises to include a comprehensive range of passenger cars, motorcycles, commercial vehicles, commercial vehicle bodies, and vehicle parts.

Tokyo Motor Show 2007

Carrying the theme “Catch the News, Touch the Future,” the event was held at Makuhari Messe, Chiba and lasted a good 17 days, from October 26, 2007 (Friday) to November 11, 2007 (Sunday).

Visitors

Close to 1,425,800 people visited the show, however this number was considerably less than numbers who visited the show in 2005. In 2005 about 1,512,100 had come to the show.

Premieres

Considering both the Japan and the world, a good number of premieres surfaced at the event. Numerically, there were 77 World Premieres (5 commercial vehicles, 36 passenger cars, 32 motorcycles, 4 vehicle bodies) and 103 Japanese premieres (2 commercial vehicles, 75 passenger cars, 26 motorcycles).

Technology Featured

The themes and focus of the recent past shows have showcased drivetrains and its components viz. transmission, drivelines, etc, and fuel-cell and hybrid vehicles.

During the 2007 event fuel-cell and the hybrid vehicles stole the limelight. For instance, Toyota featured a concept vehicle "1/X" or "one-Xth."

Similar to a Prius, the vehicle claims to achieve twice as much fuel economy. It features a featherweight automotive frame made from carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic, which also helps to save gas.

The concept further has an additional plug-in hybrid powertrain, which can run on either gasoline or E85 (a mix of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline).

Tokyo Motor Show 2009

The 41st Tokyo Motor Show 2009 will run for 17 days, from October 23 through November 8, 2009. The public would however be allowed entry from October 24.

The show like the previous years would include passenger cars, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, commercial vehicle bodies, automobile parts, machinery and automotive tools as exhibits.

Entertainment is supposed to be a key feature of the event, that would encourage audience-participation, hands-on events to make the contact the man and the machine more meaningful.

Following is the key information of the upcoming show:

Show Name: The 41st Tokyo Motor Show 2009.

Organizer: Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc.

Important Dates: Friday, October 23 - Sunday, November 8 (17 days)

• Press Days: October 21 and October 22 (2 days)
  

• Special Guest Day: Friday, October 23 (1 day)

• General Public Days: October 24 - November 8 (16 days)

Venue: Makuhari Messe, Chiba City.

If you'd like more information on automobile trade shows worldwide, here's a great resource replete with information on automotive trade shows. You might also want see the review of auto trade show SEMA 2008 that I did earlier.