Paris Motor Show In Jeopardy; Snubbed By Ford, Volvo, Mazda And Others

For decades, the Paris Motor Show has been one of the most prestigious events in the auto industry that car makers simply must attend. For this year, it would seem that “Mondial de l'Automobile” is in big trouble as big names in the business will not be showing up. These include Ford, Volvo, and Bentley just to name a few. The absence of these iconic brands will be quite noticeable during the show as well, which deals the event quite a blow.

The first Paris Motor Show was held back in 1898, BBC reports, and it has since stuck to a two-year cycle which practically every major auto company kept in mind. For these companies, the event presented them with the opportunity to show off their products to the general public and to one-up their competitors.

To that end, car companies have been known to spend millions on lavish and exciting displays of their latest auto offering to the delight of attendees, accompanied by the flashes of cameras from the media. This propensity for showmanship seems to have finally taken a toll since it’s now being said that expense is the main reason for the no-shows.

This year’s event will be held at the Porte de Versailles and will last for 16 days, starting on October 1st and ending on the 16th. The location is one of the most notable areas in the city of lights, which is exactly why it was chosen. Unfortunately, the very nature of the venue would have forced car companies to spend even more money just to stand out, burning millions in order to upstage every other car maker.

Thankfully, there are still several notable brands that are set to attend including Volkswagen and Ferrari, NBC News notes. The companies that will be present are bringing their best toys to shine under the spotlight as well. Plus, with the absence of their rivals, they get more of the media’s attention.