After a depressing 2022 edition deserted by most of the large manufacturers, the Paris Motor Show regains some of its power of attraction. This time, the list of absentees (Mercedes, Nissan, Hyundai, Toyota, MG, DS Automobiles, Suzuki, Volvo) seems shorter than that of the participants in the event that will be held from October 14 to 20 at the exhibition center in the Porte. Versailles.
The need to reconnect with often disoriented buyers, the space freed up by the disappearance of the Geneva Motor Show, but also the need not to leave all the light to Chinese competitors in search of notoriety, explain this renewed interest, which occurs in a context marked by market deterioration. With a poor trend since the beginning of the year, registrations fell again in August, falling by 16.5% in Europe and 24% in France. And the macroeconomic context does not suggest much hope for a recovery.
This stoppage, especially marked in the case of electric cars, confirms that car sales will not return to pre-2019 levels and that the post-Covid rebound has faded. For manufacturers, the biggest challenge is operating factories plagued by obvious excess capacity. The new products that will be presented at the World Cup need even more to find their audience.
Neo-retro electric
For the Renault group, this show comes at the right time to present the commercial launch of the R5. A nice reinterpretation of its predecessor from the 1970s, this small model should accelerate sales of electric cars in Losange and convince buyers who did not spontaneously consider switching to electric.
The new R4, also openly neo-retro inspired, is a small SUV (sport utility vehicle) with a more familiar vocation than the R5. Well versed in vintage, Renault will present a concept utility vehicle called Estafette Concept, a tribute to the van of the 60s.
For its part, Alpine will present the A290, a very elegant variant of the R5, and a preview of the A390, a raised coupe. Mobilize, a subsidiary of the Renault group specialized in urban mobility, will present the Duo, a mini two-seater that will take over from the Twizy.
At Stellantis we are also promoting the electric route, but the new Citroën C3 Aircross will be Available in both gasoline and electric versions. Peugeot presents the e-508, which completes the range of the saloon of the same name and Alfa Romeo Junior, its first 100% electric model. For its part, Mini presents the Aceman urban SUV, Kia the EV3, a model with strong commercial ambitions, Ford a (quite distant) reinterpretation of the Capri coupe from the 70s, Skoda the highly-consensual Elroq and Cadillac a very baroque model called Lyriq . . Audi accelerates its electrification with the A6 and Q8, the alter ego of the thermal A5 and Q7.
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