The Automobile Barcelona exceeds 755,000 visitors

Barcelona (ACN).- The 39th edition of the Automobile Barcelona show closed its doors with a record figure of more than 755,000 visitors, about 5,000 more than in the past edition in 2015. Sales agreements increased 15% compared to the last edition, reaching almost 80,000 vehicles sold. “This year’s edition has marked a before and after for automobile shows worldwide,” stated the chairman of Automobile Barcelona, Enrique Lacalle. “We have invented the automobile show of the future, introducing a new format and a new philosophy of trade shows that have been well received by the public and the sector professionals. And this has significantly increased the number of visitors and sales,” Lacalle added. The chairman also informed that 47% of the visitors who came to buy a car, showed interest in the “connected car” innovation.

Barcelona hosted the 39th edition of the city’s biggest motorshow event from May 11 to 21 with the record figure of 755,000 visitors, about 5,000 more than in the past edition in 2015. According to the chairman of the Automobile Barcelona show, Enrique Lacalle, it was precisely their commitment to combining the motorshow with the latest innovations in connectivity that marked a success, which has exceeded all expectations. And which, according to Lacalle, gave the automobile show a very important push toward speeding up brands’ sales and attracting younger attendees.

According to a survey, 63.3% of the visitors were less than 40 years old and 34% went to the show because they are interested in ecological vehicles (when two years ago this percentage was only 15%). “This data confirms that consumers want to address the future by preserving the environment,” assured Lacalle, who also highlighted the growing interest in the show among the young public as well as the evidence of the economic recovery, both of which “made a mark” on this year’s edition.

The survey also revealed that 58% of the visitors believe Automobile Barcelona provides the best opportunity to buy a new car because of the attractive discounts and the financial funding offered by the different brands. “This demonstrates the huge commercial weight of the show and its vitalizing effect on the industry, which has established one of the main automobile events in Europe,” Lacalle pointed out. “As a matter of fact, the car industry represents 11.7% of the Spain's GDP,” he added. However, apart from the significant increase in younger visitors, the survey also reflects that the automobile show attracts mainly families, with a percentage of 60.3%.

2019, a centenary edition

The next Automobile Barcelona edition will take place in May 2019 and mark the centenary of the show. According to the organizers, the centenary edition will be focused again on the impact of the digital transformation and the new technologies in the car industry. “We will start working in the centenary edition starting today,” Lacalle promised, and confirmed the show’s commitment to combine the “Connectivity Hub” with the “Motorshow” even more closely.

Automobile Barcelona, a global reference

This year’s edition was expected to host a total of 90 different companies, 30 automotive brands, 43 international, European, and national launches, 108 speakers, and 25 start-ups. One of the strategically outstanding highlights was the “Connectivity Hub”, a professional conference in which key leading motor companies and manufacturers were able to connect with digital entrepreneurs and start-ups. According to the show’s organizers, the Automobile Barcelona is nowadays the only motor show with this new approach and positions Barcelona as a global reference for the connected car concept.