The Automobile Barcelona fair gains 10% of visitors in its 43rd edition

BarcelonaThe Automobile Barcelona—the Montjuïc motor show—arrives on its final day, confirming expectations and closing out its 43rd edition with a 10% increase in attendees, reaching 350,000 visitors, according to its president, Enrique Lacalle. During the show, visitors were able to test models from around thirty brands, with a special emphasis on electrified vehicles and Chinese brands. "Only the Barcelona car show beats us; there are no shows in Europe or Spain that have so many visitors; it's a success for Barcelona," Lacalle told the media. The show's president emphasized that the fair has become a driving force for vehicle sales and has contributed to rejuvenating the vehicle fleet, which is 14 years old on average.

The show, which is held every two years, is preparing for its 44th edition, which will coincide with the renovation work on the Montjuïc Fair grounds. Lacalle declined to confirm whether the fair will be held in another location. "In two years, imagination, enthusiasm, and a rescheduling of the show will be necessary," he said, emphasizing its growing role while major European shows like those in Geneva have closed in recent years or, like the one in Paris, have lost brand representation. "While some are closing shows, we are opening them," he emphasized.

The event included the presentation of a dozen firsts, with a world-class first, the Ebro S400, manufactured at the Barcelona plant in the Zona Franca, and another European first, the MG S5. The list of vehicles that could be seen for the first time in Spain is completed by the Ford Puma Gen-E, the KGM Torres EVX and KGM Torres Actyon, the BYD Denza Z9 GT, the Hyundai Ioniq 9, the Renault 4, the Mobilize Duo and the Mobilize Bento, and the Omoda 9.

Lacalle stressed that the brands that chose not to attend "made a mistake" because those that did invest in the show made "many sales." "Those who don't attend don't exist, and those who didn't attend lost, while those who did. The show has also served to ensure that lesser-known brands, such as Chinese ones, had spectacular success," he said. Specifically, brands from Asian giants such as BYD, Lynk&Co, Omoda, MG, and Xpeng have doubled their presence among the exhibitors, now accounting for a third of the total.

The 106-year-old show filled halls 1 and 8 of the Fira de Montjuïc venue, Avenida Maria Cristina, and Plaza del Universo. The latter was completely occupied by Seat-Cupra, which is celebrating the brand's 75th anniversary and has displayed 75 historic models, from the first 1400 and the legendary 600, 124, and 850, iconic models such as the 1200 Bocanegra and the first Ibiza, to the latest models.

Visitors to the show also had the opportunity to drive the cars on display, passing through the exhibition area. Test drive and drive around the historic Montjuïc circuit. "The number of citizens who have tested the vehicles at the motor show has been spectacular. It's a good idea to fill this avenue with cars and pit stops for testing," added Lacalle, who emphasized that "it's very difficult" to find a space like the motor show that concentrates "everything on offer," and you can.