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GENEVA MOTOR SHOW 2024 FINDINGS BY NOZOMI
AUTO.FUTURE.NOW
2024 Geneva Motor Show: From the Past to the Future
At the 2024 Geneva Motor Show, the past fuels the present, and the present paves the way for a sustainable future. GIMS 2024 serves as a portal, propelling us into the exciting automotive future we have all been anticipating.
This year marked my first visit to the Geneva Motor Show since 2005. Back then, the event was notable for the unveiling of the New Aygo. It was a grand spectacle, with manufacturers investing heavily to showcase their latest innovations.
In contrast, this year’s show was notably smaller in scale, and I observed a significant shift in the preferences and expectations of attendees. Unlike other motor shows, GIMS 2024 seemed to guide its audience on a nostalgic journey, with prominent displays of classic cars that celebrated history and honored company heritage—exemplified by the reimagined Renault 5.
In an era where instant information is at our fingertips via smartphones, one might ask: what role does a motor show play today? The 2024 show seemed to act as a celebration of European automotive pride, featuring symbols such as the French rooster and a lineup of race cars spanning generations. These elements showcased the evolution of the automotive industry, evoking nostalgia with iconic vehicles that defined their eras.
What truly caught my attention was the significant presence of children. For adults, classic cars may represent the past, but for children, these vehicles are brimming with novelty and excitement. I watched as one child rushed eagerly to a supercar, while another climbed into a microcar, spinning the steering wheel as if it were a toy. To them, there is no distinction between old and new—only the pure thrill of cool cars. Their enthusiasm underscored the unique opportunity for young attendees to experience and connect with European car culture.
As expected in Europe, sustainability was a major theme, with many exhibits showcasing the use of environmentally conscious materials. These displays highlighted the industry's commitment to a future that aligns with changing lifestyles and prioritizes sustainability for the next generation.
I look forward to future Motor Shows, curious to see the kind of mobility these children will desire as they grow up and how we, at Toyota and Lexus, will help shape that future.
2024ジュネーブモーターショー 過去から未来へ
私個人としては、2005年ぶりのジュネーブモーターショーだった。
当時はアイゴがお披露目される節目となるショーで、各メーカーも多額の費用をかけ出展しており、お祭り状態だったが、今回は当時と比べると大幅に規模は縮小し、全く嗜好の違う印象だった。
歴史を感じるクラシックカーの展示や、新ルノー５をはじめとする自社の遺産へのオマージュなど、他のMSに比べて観客の視点を過去へ導いている様だ。
すべての情報がスマホから瞬時に手に入る時代に、このモーターショーはどんな役目を果たすのか？
フランスのシンボルである鶏のモチーフの多用や、歴代のレースカーをずらりと並べその進化を紹介、名車を通してノスタルジーを感じながら自動車産業の発展に敬意を払うなど、欧州の車文化への誇りを呼び覚ます場の一つなのかもしれない。
そんな会場で目を惹いたのは、子供達が多い事だ。
大人にとってクラシックカーは過去の産物だが、それらを見つめる子供他達には新鮮さがあふれていたに違いない。
遠くからスーパーカーに駆け寄る子や、Microに乗り込んでステアリングを回す子。
彼らにとっては、新旧という尺はなく、単にクールな自動車への純粋な興味のみである。
名車と最新のショーカー、子供達にとってはこれ以上、欧州の車文化に触れる
絶好の機会はないと感じた。
また、欧州らしく環境を意識した素材の活用が既に培われており、変化するライフスタイルへの中で、子供達の未来のためにも、サスティナビリティーを前提とした展示が多い。
目を輝かせている彼らが将来どんなモビリティーを求め、それを私たちトヨタがどの様に創造していくのか楽しみだ。
’What caught my attention was the a lot of kids presence. For adults, classic cars are a product of the past, but for children they must have felt full of freshness.’