112.156 visitors among cars and motorcycles
This year’s International DDOR BG Car Show and International Motorcycle, ATV, Scooter, and Equipment Fair “Motopassion” were visited by 112,156 people, registered at the entrance gates of the Belgrade Fair between 21st and 27th March, 2024. That’s almost 10 percent more than at the last year’s International Car Show.
This unbelievable fact is all the more significant because this event took place amidst ongoing global economic, energy, communication, technological, and market turbulence in the automotive industry, caused by both geopolitical upheavals and major technological shifts and new business concepts. However, unlike previous post-COVID years, commercial effects, usual trade fair discounts, and vehicle stocks for quick delivery have been significantly rehabilitated.
The Serbian Association of Vehicle and Parts Importers, which gathers all players in the Serbian automotive and motorcycle market, managed to gather under the roof of the Belgrade Fair all its members, which means all brands and their current models. Brand representatives made every effort to present the latest offerings from the international market, primarily new electric, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid models, as well as the latest generation of environmentally enhanced models with conventional propulsion.
This year’s DDOR BG Car Show gathered around 230 exhibitors, who presented more than 30 automotive brands with 38 premieres. At “Motopassion” there were around 50 exhibitors who presented more than 30 brands and 60 premieres of motorcycles, ATVs, and scooters. It’s worth noting that the trade fair’s moto sector once again showed a significant expansion in terms of the number of brands, models, and novelties.
In Hall 3, brands with models from the premium class such as Mercedes, Maybach, BMW, and Mini were presented. Brands in Hall 1 were Mazda, Nissan, MG, Škoda, Subaru, Isuzu, Toyota, Honda, Opel, Peugeot, Suzuki, Fiat, Abarth, Jeep, Alfa Romeo, Citroen, Chery, Ford, Hyundai, Dacia, Renault, Kia, Volvo, Geely, Lynk&Co. Hall 3A was reserved for light commercial vehicles and LCV program exhibitors – Mercedes, Renault, Dacia, Fiat Professional, BG Plast (manufacturer of upgrades), and also featured a mini exhibition of Chinese electric vehicles (passenger and light delivery vehicle under the brand BAW – Pony model, light delivery vehicle under the brand Runhorse – J2-P model, and a five-seater SUV under the brand Dayun – Yuehu model). At the “Motopassion” fair in Hall 4, the following motorcycle, ATV, and scooter brands were represented: BMW, Honda, KTM, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Motomorini, SYM, Yamaha, Ducati, Benelli, Zontes, QJ Motor, Kymco, Keeway, Polaris, Indian, Triumph, Husqvarna, GASGAS, Jawa, Linhai, Malaguti, CAN AM, Odes, Segway, Loncin, Voge, Peugeot, Peda, Kove. Car accessory equipment was located in Halls 2 and 1A.
This year’s “Motopassion” presented an extremely rich offer of motorcycles from all relevant global brands, including numerous premieres, new models, and equipment, whose market sales have been increasing year by year.
There was a continuous breakthrough of novelties in the sector of accessory industry and equipment, especially among manufacturers of compatible and accessory equipment for environmentally advanced vehicles, as well as chargers for electric vehicles and solar modules for use in the car industry.
Financial institutions and insurance companies, professional organizations, clubs, associations, and specialized media were also among the most prominent participants at the fair. This particularly includes banks, leasing, and insurance companies, which, in collaboration with sellers and distributors, prepared favorable financial arrangements, loan terms, benefits in additional vehicle equipment, extended warranty, or service conditions. The largest number of benefits and discounts were intended vehicles in the mid-price range (20-30 thousand euros).
We should not overlook the attractiveness of the accompanying program, which for many visitors was even the primary reason for attending. This includes the “Journalist Rally” this time held on driving simulators (the winners being Una Kruna Mitrović from Hepi television in the women’s competition, RTS journalists Veljko Pavlović in the junior competition, and Stefan Bendić in the senior competition), as well as the “Journalist Day” dedicated to media professionals, held a day before the official opening of the fair. Visitors were very pleased with the “Family Day” when families with children entered at a privileged price; the selection of “Miss DDOR BG Car Show 08 and 16 Motopassion” (winner Iva Glišović, representing Peugeot); the traditional presentation of vintage cars “Memorial of Prince Tomislav Karađorđević” whose exhibition section in Hall 2 attracted more attention than ever before; the announcement of the “Car of the Year” in the AANS selection (Chinese MG4); the announcement of the most successful in the automotive industry by the Automotive Forum, or NAVAK’s daily safe driving demonstrations and other events, promotions, demonstrations.
Serious interest of local buyers and offerings of the car industry in the Serbian market, joint together with the efforts of importers and distributors to provide them with everything they need, in many ways explains the exceptional attendance of this event, even in conditions that cannot be called ideal for both exhibitors and potential buyers. Although not ideal, they are obviously promising, as evidenced by such extraordinary attendance.
