2001 Tokyo Motorshow

Since its beginning in the 1950s, the Tokyo Motorshow has been held once every two years but from last year onwards, the event was scheduled to run every year. This was because the scope and scale had grown substantially and it was felt that the passenger cars/motorcycles and the commercial vehicles could each have their own events every other year. Thus, in 2000, the Tokyo Motorshow was only for commercial vehicles and so this year, it will be passenger cars and motorcycles.

This year’s event, the 35th, has the theme of “Open the door! The Automobiles Bright Future.” and will be held from October 26th to November 7th at the Makuhari Messe (Nippon Convention Center) outside Tokyo.

According to the organizers, the Japan Motor Industrial Federation, the theme chosen is fitting as it represents ‘the image of a curtain raising on a bright new era juxtaposed with that of doors opening for a vast succession of new automobiles’.

This year’s show will encompass exhibits from 276 companies, 6 governments, and one independent organization. In all, 13 countries will be represented countries. By category, the exhibitors include 39 automakers (10 from Japan and 29 from other countries), 12 motorcycle manufacturers (4 domestic companies and 8 from abroad), 6 governments and 225 corporate parts manufacturers (187 from Japan and 6 governments and 38 companies from other countries), and one organization exhibiting electric vehicles.

As has become common practice at all the major motorshows in recent years, exhibits will be grouped or arranged around corporate groups – the Toyota group, the Ford group, the GM group, and so on. Different brands under one corporate group will be displayed on a big booth, an arrangement which is expected to be more appealing to visitors and reflect the cohesion and identity of each group.

The special events during the Tokyo Motorshow ill include a Focus on History of Technology, an area where Japan is justifiably proud. Many technologies in the form of actual vehicles and components will be on display that trace
the evolution of the automobile.

The motorshow will also feature a public forum, an event that was highly acclaimed at the Commercial Vehicle Show of the last year. Hoping to draw in visitors to the motorshow, the “Talk-in” (as the activity will be known) will be held while it is in progress.

The motorshow opening times will be 10 am ~ 7 pm on weekdays and 9:30 am ~ 7 pm on weekends and holidays. Admission fees are ¥1200 (about RM36) for adults and ¥600 (about RM18) for school children. Entries after 4 pm will be at a discounted price.