The Granddaddy of Auto Shows: Unveiling the Frankfurt Auto Show

Overview of the Frankfurt Auto Show

The Frankfurt Auto Show, founded in 1897, is the world's first international auto show and also the world's largest auto show. It is known as the "Olympics" of the global automobile industry. The exhibition is usually held in mid-September every two years. The vehicles on display are mainly sedans, sports cars, commercial vehicles, special vehicles, modified cars, and auto parts. To coincide with the auto show, Germany also holds vintage car exhibitions of various scales.

History of the Frankfurt Auto Show

In 1897, a small-scale auto show was held in the Bristol Hotel in Berlin, Germany. Even though there were only eight vehicles on display, it was still regarded as the precursor of the Frankfurt Auto Show. Similar exhibitions were held every year before 1911. In this way, the Internationale Automobil Ausstellung started to become known and gradually evolved into a major event in the German automotive industry, and also began to attract attention from global automakers. However, after the outbreak of World War I, IAA had to suspend its operation, and it was not until 1921 that it was held again in Berlin, where there were 67 exhibitors and more than 100 vehicles on display, which was unprecedented at the time.

Frankfurt Auto Show

The IAA held its last auto show in 1939 before the start of World War II. The twenty-ninth exhibition attracted 825,000 visitors. At the same time, Volkswagen made its debut in this exhibition. That car is the Beetle, which holds an important position in the world automotive industry. The Frankfurt Auto Show was held in Germany for the first time in 1951. In April 1951, the exhibition center in Frankfurt attracted a total of 570,000 viewers. Compared with the 35th IAA car show held in Berlin in September of the same year, only 290,000 were attracted; therefore, IAA decided to abandon the tradition of holding in Berlin and shift its focus to Frankfurt. Since then, the Frankfurt Auto Show in Germany has become an annual event in the automotive world.

Features of the Frankfurt Auto Show

This auto show has a strong regional color because it's in the birthplace of luxury cars and is close to major car manufacturers' headquarters. European locals who come to see the Frankfurt Auto Show not only bring their families and form crowds, but they also have a very mature consumer psychology and a comprehensive understanding of automotive knowledge. At the show, there are many new models of various brands. Visitors who select models pay attention to the development of technological status, quality of auto parts, and even DIY maintenance issues, after-sales market products, with more elements of rationality and practicality. In addition, the Frankfurt Auto Show is rich in "professional spirit". For example, the two products that won the "Highest Innovation Award" in the show two years ago were auto parts. Compared with domestic exhibitions, exhibitors can more easily save equipment market costs, transportation time, and costs, so they use more high-tech methods, but the cost is higher because they need to use large-scale interactive media demonstrations, simulated driving, and personal experience. Not like some domestic exhibitions now, only some popular models are displayed, and the exhibition stand has to be surrounded by a rope, so viewers are not allowed in, let alone other demonstration effects.

Introduction to the Frankfurt Auto Show

Germany is the place where the International Auto Show was first held. The Frankfurt Auto Show originated from the Berlin Auto Show, which was established in 1897. In 1951, it moved to Frankfurt for exhibition and held annually, alternating between cars and commercial vehicles. The Frankfurt Auto Show is the largest in the world, known as the "Olympic Games of Cars". The biennial Frankfurt International Auto Show is generally scheduled to open in mid-September and lasts for about two weeks. The exhibitors mainly come from Europe, the United States, and Japan, especially European carmakers. The Frankfurt Auto Show is located in Germany, so naturally, the main roles are German companies， which seems to be quite similar to the regional nature of the Detroit Auto Show and the Tokyo Auto Show. Germany is the birthplace of modern cars and the old home of old brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, and Audi, and they take the Frankfurt Auto Show as a great opportunity.