The winds of change are the driving force behind the structuring of the 2015 Johannesburg International Motor Show scheduled to take place one year from now on 14 – 25 October 2015.
Change has transformed how consumers buy cars, how they relate to brands and how they interact with technology and the Johannesburg International Motor Show has embraced this change evolving from an information exchange to an immersive, experiential consumer engagement platform.
Visitors to the 2015 Show can expect even greater opportunities to interact with their favourite brands and vehicle models than ever before. Ride and Drive activities will provide opportunity for visitors to experience their dream cars in action rather than simply viewing a static display; the ever-popular 4X4 track will allow them to test the ruggedness and capability of their favourite 4X4 vehicles and there will be numerous opportunities to meet motoring personalities and brand ambassadors at the Show.
Leading the innovations will be the introduction of a Techno Lab showcasing future trends and technology and their impact on the automotive world. On display will be the latest in high-tech trends including robots such as Honda’s ASIMO, the latest in solar and hybrid power technology and the convergence of the mobile technology and the automotive industry demonstrating the future of connected cars.
Johannesburg International Motor Show co-located with Johannesburg Truck and Bus Show Johannesburg Expo Centre, 14 – 25 October 2015
Another visitor highlight will the Show Theatre providing visitors with an “all access” pass to new events, unveilings of the latest models and a sneak preview of models yet to be introduced onto the South African market.
In keeping with the theme of greater interactivity the organisers will set up a dedicated website inviting public interaction and providing the public with an opportunity to share with the organisers their favourite brands and what they would like to see on show.
The Johannesburg International Motor Show plays an integral role in the automotive business sector in Southern Africa and the theme for the business-to-business component of the show for 2015 will be “Placing Africa in the Driving Seat”.
Focus on opportunities with our Southern Africa business partners will be a strong theme for the commercial vehicle sector with growing demand for trucks, buses and trailers coming from the growing economies in Sub-Saharan Africa. The co-located Johannesburg Truck and Bus Show provides the ideal vehicle to drive this engagement and the organisers are putting in place inbound trade delegations and partnerships with a Southern African road show planned to bring greater awareness of the event and opportunities.
In view of October being National Transport Month the Johannesburg Truck and Bus Show will also see a focus on transport with a dedicated commercial sector conference together with workshops and meetings addressing the requirements and infrastructure required for greater movement of both passengers and goods as Sub-Saharan African volumes are expected to continue to grow in future years.
Founded in 1996 as Auto Africa the exhibition the exhibition has always played a strong role as the Continent’s leading automotive showcase and joined the ranks of international motor shows such as Paris, Geneva, Frankfurt and Tokyo when it gained OICA Ranking in 2004. A change in ownership in 2008 saw the show owned by the industry through the industry body NAAMSA (National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa).
The 2015 edition takes a further step forward in the global marketplace with the joint venture entered into with global exhibition giant Messe Frankfurt acquiring a majority stake in the management company South African Shows. “This partnership ensures that the 2015 Johannesburg International Motor Show will be a true global showcase drawing on the Messe Frankfurt group’s international strengths and network whilst retaining a strong African identity in keeping with its heritage” says Pula Dippenaar, CEO of SASMF and Show Director for the 2015 event.
