[reignofchaos]

No from my end. I hated crowds before the pandemic and now it is basically a question of life and death. All large scale physical expos are dead in the near future to most people until this pandemic disappears.

[RedTerrano]

Voted YES.

Internet can do lots of things. But it has it's limitations. As of today no technology can replicate the joy of certain aspects. Such as the new car smell. Or the awe of being in the physical presence of a magnificently crafted automobile. Or getting the rare chance to touch cars which most of us can never afford. Or getting selfies, casually leaning against some futuristic ceramic skinned beast. Or feel the vibrations while the engine growls and purrs.

Besides the joy haptics bring, there is an economic aspect as well. Expos mean earning as well as spending opportunities for so many. This is especially important in today's virus stricken world.Cash flow is one huge step towards reviving the economy.

And in the end, the bragging rights. For me, expos are like rock shows. Sure my Bose system can deliver wonderful sound and my 48" flat screen TV can bring even the tiniest pixel to life, but I would rather attend a Pink Floyd concert in person, if they are performing in my vicinity. Later on I can tell all my friends, I was there!

[vigneshkumar31]

Auto Expos are in some sense, bring in the same tangibility that Book Fairs do. (minus the outright purchase possibility that the latter offers)
There is some charm in seeing new and future concepts in flesh for the first time, much before the rest of the country/world gets to see it on roads.
They have become too crowded and commercialised with non auto products making up a large portion of the displays nowadays.But if done well, there is no replacement for a physical product.

[GTO]

Voted for No in India where the crowds are too massive to properly view any car, leave alone enjoying it. Of course, the Team-BHP Crew has it lucky due to the media passes, but on regular days, the Auto Expo is a giant mess.

Abroad? Maybe. Crowding is lesser and you can actually sit in and experience all the cars.

In terms of ROI, effort and time spent, the Indian Auto Expo makes no sense whatsoever for the OEMs. That's why so many of them bunked the 2018 & 2020 editions (including VW, Honda, Ford, Toyota, Nissan, Jeep, BMW, Audi, Volvo etc.). These companies spend crores of rupees on marketing every year, so there's no question of budget. Just that, the Indian Auto Expo isn't worth it for them. I remember someone from the VW group (who bunked in 2018) telling me even a half-decent participation takes up 10-crore rupees. That 10-crores can be much better spent in targeted advertising & marketing events. End of the day, with press conferences held every 30 minutes, all new unveils and launches get lost in the crowd (pun intended).

[aniketi]

Will you prefer watching Europe or US or Australia or any other beautiful places like Kerala, Leh-Ladakh, Kashmir etc. online or on TV? Will you feel good or like it? I guess we have the answer.

Automobile is The thing to feel in person. You can't get idea without touching one or without feeling one. So for Auto Expo, online is not a option at all. After Covid, we should have physical expo again. This is tough time, soon it will pass.

[SenPai_GTi]

Although I have voted yes, I feel that the recent C class unveiling was one of the best I have seen so far. In the near future I might change my mind but as of today, looking at the concepts up close gives a better perception of the design and proportions than the videos/images taken by cameras with unreal perspectives to make it look attractive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRfvXTUFWM4

[sen2693]

Makes sense for organizers and manufacturers? Maybe no

Makes sense for people like me? Yes

My first visit to an auto expo in Delhi is what made me interested in cars. My second visit to an Auto expo in Chennai is what made me interested in Skoda Superb and eventually the Skoda brand.

I think it is a great place for general public to explore what is present in the market. As much as the internet helps with videos, pictures, reviews and technical specifications being listed - it does not give the same feel as that of observing the car through one's naked eye. And what better place where you might have all your options listed? Take the example of Kushaq, the car looked all good and majestic in pictures and videos, until someone posted an on road picture of it on this forum driving next to an auto. That really put the dimension thing into perspective even when you had the dimensions listed on the internet.

Also, it helps for middle class folks like me who might have future aspirations to buy big car like Mercedes/BMW but cannot afford it right now to have a closer look at them. I am always conscious of my limits which means I would never set foot into a Merc/BMW showroom until I can afford one.

[Jeroen]

The number of physical auto expos is dwindling across the world. It just doesn’t make sense anymore. Huge investments and cost for the manufacturers with too little ROI.

Certainly the top brands prefer to engage their, potential, customers directly and organise events per brand. Much more focussed, you know who you are inviting, much better ROI.

If you are say Ferrari, why would you spend money on putting your cars on display with a crowd, of whom 99,9999% of the punters never ever will be buying a Ferrari? They all want to sit in it, they all want a cup of free coffee and all the free brochures, but they will never buy your product. It just doesn’t make sense.

Better spend your money of super de luxe “experience show rooms” and dedicated (potential) customer events.

As a young boy I remember going to the big annual car show in Amsterdam. Quite the experience. But in those days, there was no internet and the number of dealers around the country was quite small. Only way to get a good impression of a large variety of cars.

These days most folks will do a lot of their car research online to start with. Nobody will wait for the annual car show before they choose. The world is changing and physical auto expos are a thing of the past.

Classic car shows on the other hand appear to be on the rise, all around the world! Here in the Netherlands alone there are at least 10-12 classic car shows per year. Two of them are considered to be amongst the top shows in Europe. If I add next door Germany and Belgium into the mix I can go to a classic car show almost every weekend for most of the year!

Many of the classic car shows have morphed into almost life style events. So they attract a much broader audience, e.g. the whole family. So there is far more to see and do, then just (classic) cars. From vintage cars to vintage watches, that sort of thing.

My wife would never ever come with me to a regular car show. But she is quite happy to come along to some of the classic car & Lifestyle shows. The down side; we end up spending twice as much. Because now it is not just me buying car stuff, but it is also her buying non car stuff!!

Jeroen

[haisaikat]

Auto shows are nowadays for Youtubers to go and create content for their channels. Making a fashionable model stand in front of the car is still unreasonable to me. However these shows help companies to generate hype and keep lingering interests in upcoming models and platforms.

Like the Tata did with Cassini and Buzzard for 3 row harrier. Also Concept cars only find attention in an auto show like event, these manufacturers being cash rich do not find a problem spending the money on such publicity.

Hence it's not immediate sales, but to flare up the rumour for days to come

[NKB]

I have voted yes.

Personally, I am always excited about Auto Expos. For one reason or other I have not been able to visit Delhi Expo but certainly I would want to in future.

Any Auto Expo happening around the world and I keep track of it. Keep visiting the websites to see those amazing cars parked with sparkling lighting and you feel keep looking at them. And then the TeamBHP threads are so much fun to go through.

[feninrexo]

A big Yes!! I have always wanted to be in an auto expo. No amount of online presence can match the adrenaline rush of feeling the real thing in person. Hopefully they return for good when the world is a safer place.

[Arun_S]

As a Auto Enthusiast it is a definite - Yes, i love them.

To be frank, lot of times for average joe's like me we don't get to experience all the high end cars in person and these expos provide that opportunity.

I still remember in one of the auto expos which i visited a decade ago, checking the Rolls Royce. Having read about the suction door feature it was fun to see how it was works.

[AMG Power]

I was invited to a private viewing of the Bugatti Chiron in London before its launch. Bugatti does a small background check before a private viewing and after that one is given an appointment at a specific time.

The viewing took place at the Bugatti showroom in London. The location of the viewing was down a back alley. No big board announcing Bugatti. Although H R Owen, the Bugatti dealer handles other big names - the car was not displayed with the rest.

One entered through a slightly dark entrance area to what was probably the most unimpressive showroom in the world. A table and a few chairs, that’s it.

But what the heck, you had the Chiron parked there!

I was given to understand that the showroom was intentionally located in this area to avoid crowds. There was no display and one could not see inside the showroom from outside. Walk in’s were not welcome - one could not walk in and ask to see the Chiron. I was the only person in the showroom as I had been given that particular time slot and could view the car without any interruption.

This is probably quite a different experience to that of a pre launch viewing of other cars.

Given the crowds present in India auto expos, it has become a highly avoidable experience.

Auto expos abroad are better in that regard, but they too are losing their charm.

[Stolidus500]

If it were upto me, I would do an online unveil or a event for the concept or whatever for general public and a physical showcasing of the vehicle/technology at the leading dealerships of the state or all of them depending on the response of the public. That way it also increases footfall in the showrooms.
Those who are serious or enthusiasts will prefer lesser crowds than the actual expo and get more time with the actual product. More useful feedback can also be collected this way.

[Mortis]

Voted for Yes.
There is no need to do everything on the internet, especially things like cars that you need to physically interact with.
Auto Expos not only create interest in New launches or upcoming products for the manufacturer, most importantly they allow normal folk to experience cars in a different, more accessible way.
999 people out of a 1000 wouldn't step into a Ferrari showroom because they would feel awkward to do so but 100 out of a 1000 would feel comfortable approaching the Ferrari booth at an Auto Expo.