Five great changes during twenty years

　　July 3, 1990, at the square of China International Exhibition Center, next to Beijing North Third Ring East Road, with the rumbling sound of firecrackers and a grand ribbon-cutting ceremony, Beijing International Auto Show established.

　　Citing an undisclosed source from SOHU AUTO, after twenty years’ ups and downs, setting aside these cold figures about such as changing number of visitors and exhibition areas, Beijing auto show also appeared many different features.

　　Content: a simple auto industry achievement show to a comprehensive exhibition

　　At the very beginning, Beijing Auto Show was only a stage for auto manufacturer to demonstrate their strength through models and technologies. However, as time goes by, the substances of Beijing Auto Show have been enriched continuously.

　　Till 1994, the organizers started to use the influence of Beijing Auto Show to hold various forums and seminars. Nowadays, a variety of activities such as models performances and test-drives experiences appear at Beijing Auto Show, reflecting that Beijing Auto Show is not only a occasion for product publicity and brand promotion but also a distinguished gathering to promote and popularize the auto culture and knowledge.

　　Form: simple visit to interactive participatory

　　At the very beginning, visitors of Beijing auto show may just have a feeling of “we can only appreciate remotely instead of touching closely”. Surrounded by railings around shining show cars are placed in the high stand, which no doubt widen the gap between cars and consumers.

　　However, as cars are more and more popularized, Beijing auto show has become increasingly open that railings are pulled down and visitors can go onto the booths, get into cars to experience themselves or even immediately order their favorite models. In addition, a variety of interactive games are introduced to enhance the audience’s participation such as also Ford’s simulated racing games and Toyota’s shooting games cooperated with NBA.

　　Show Car: professional-orientation to market-oriented

　　According to some predecessor, at Beijing auto show in 1990s, cars displayed basically could not be seen in the street because at that time there were not so many domestic auto manufacturers and many show cars were to demonstrate the latest technological achievements. Many foreign auto manufacturers took their most advanced technological achievements to Beijing auto show, with the hope of impressing joint-venture partners and the competent authorities and successfully entering Chinese market.

　　However, nowadays at the show, what we see more is in order to grab the market auto enterprises constantly introduce new models which will be generally produced by lager-scale within one to two years. Consumers will soon see these cars running high streets and back lanes. Auto show has already become the publicity channel for auto manufacturers to expand the markets.

　　Participants: automotive professionals to a wider range of audiences

　　During the first few years, Beijing auto show seemed to be a large gathering of the automotive industry, manufacturers, experts, government authorities and car enthusiasts to discuss the development of the automotive industry. Nowadays, visiting auto show has almost become the desire of ordinary people, whether owning a car or not. Not only luxury cars and beautiful models are attractive, the kind of atmosphere at the auto show alluring.

　　Size: regional to global, to become one of the world’s top auto show

　　Presently, Beijing auto show can be said the most open auto show in China. Even though Beijing Automotive Group has a home advantage here, unlike Shanghai, Guangzhou, Changchun and Wuhan auto shows, Beijing auto show has never been partial to manufacturers. Beijing auto show is more willing to accept guests and friends all at home and abroad. Along with the upgraded status of China’s auto market, no one can be able to ignore China now and at Beijing auto show, the number of car manufacturers show up are highest globally. Only on this virtue, Beijing auto show can be classified into the world’s top auto shows.

　　(translator: yalong/ Jessie)

　　See original Chinese report Please click:

    http://auto.sohu.com/20100318/n270922787.shtml