ALMOST ONE MILLION VISITORS TO THE BOLOGNA MOTOR SHOW
The last day of the 33rd Bologna Motor Show during a press conference – entitled “The colour of numbers” – some data related to the International Automobile Exhibition were commented.Giada Michetti – Managing director of Promotor International S.p.A., organisers of the Motor Show – and Domenico De Masi, Professor in Labour Sociology in the Faculty of Sociology at Rome La Sapienza University, took part in the press meeting, which was chaired by Gian Primo Quagliano, Director of the Promotor Study Centre.
After a brief introduction by Gian Primo Quagliano, Giada Michetti opened the press conference: “I would like to tell you how extremely satisfied we are for having organised such a rich Motor Show in the current economic scenario, with very few defections, and for how, once again, we organised an event that just could not be missed. This was all possible thanks to the enormous effort by all the car manufacturers, the event partners and the support of all the Category Associations, and the amazing professional organisational skills of Promotor International. The limelights were all pointed at the Motor Show during these last 10 days, and the exhibition has been taken as an example as a real indicator of the state of health and economy of the country.
Now let’s look at the figures: the Bologna Motor Show had a downturn in visitors this year which we assess somewhere between 12 and 14%, because we do not have today’s figures yet, and given the trend of the rest of the week we feel we should reach a total of around 970.000 visitors. Given the current economic scenario we presumed that our figures would have been in line with the general market trend, which registered a fall in October 2008 of 34.39% in car production, and a fall in car registrations in November of -29.5% and in car orders of -29,6%. This means that our result is really excellent and confirms the love that the Italians have for cars, and gives a boost of trust to the entire sector”.
Afterwards Professor De Masi spoke and read the Motor Show numbers – from a sociological viewpoint – “An event like the Motor Show can be successful if its satisfies four fundamental aspects: impeccable organisation, warm but discreet welcome, complete and stimulating communications and, finally, an exciting atmosphere.
The fall in car production and sales cannot be denied in Italy at the moment: the Motor Show with a downturn of 13% must be taken as an example of this positive moment for the entire sector. In this economic scenario, the public tends not to really enjoy the present and therefore hopes for satisfaction in the future. This is where one of the Motor Show’s other reasons for success lies: in Bologna there is the union between fantasy and concreteness, we can see the cars of the future and we can dream. Professor De Masi continued by declaring how the Bologna Motor Show is like an invisible yet very visible university: visitors come to the Motor Show and it is like attending a master class in cars that lasts five or six hours.
To conclude the press conference Giada Michetti reminded those present that innovation – the base theme for Innovation Cube – will be the key to reignite the car sector, reminding them that, “after the car there will be another car”, different without doubt, but it will be there and for always.
THE NUMBERS OF THE 2008 MOTOR SHOW
The 2008 edition of the Motor Show occupied 140,000 square meters of indoor exhibition area and 90,000 square meters outdoors; 320 exhibitors – of which 74 from abroad from 19 different companies; 51 car brand stands showing 107 premieres, of which 8 world and 11 European. There were 16 companies exhibiting on the outdoor areas. On the 7 renewed circuits in the MotorSport Stadium, 300 drivers were involved in the various races and exhibitions, including 7 world champions who together hold 22 titles.
To date, there have been around 970,000 visitors, more than 22,000 trade professionals and around 2,500 press correspondents.