Age: 31, place of birth: Bologna, distinguishing features: a flair for pinpointing the pertinent aspects of car market innovation at every edition. The 2006 Motor Show races towards its definitive consecration as an international event, a status that was confirmed when last year’s show was included in the OICA (Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles) calendar of the most important international “Car Shows” such as those held in Paris, Frankfurt, Detroit, Tokyo and Geneva. A continuos challenge to improve, which means giving greater space to exhibiting Companies and visibility thanks to the constant presence of press and media from around the world, and more new initiatives dedicated to the visitors that in recent years have topped the 30 million mark.

With a mission that doesn’t change, and in fact strenghten the success of past editions: helping exhibiting companies to convert the thousands of curious enthusiasts into potential customers, who here find a preview of the products that will later become commercial successes, fashions, status symbols and trends. This year’s edition therefore has everything it takes to be, once again a “Bella scoperta/Discover the Italian way” for exhibitors and visitors, the one which guarantees, sit on board of a spider, the smile of Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the character and slogan chosen to capture the spirit of self-challenge that Motor Show sets itself each year, to surprise trade professionals and public. And there will certainly be no shortage of surprises in store, given that the number of worldwide previews announced for this year exceeds the figure of 2005, and will bring to Bologna many CEO from world-class car Manufacturers. Another new aspect this year is the partnership with the main sponsor Barclaycard, which appears in the advertising campaign that was, as usual, designed by the Armando Testa agency.

The Bologna event will provide therefore the most highly qualified and complete showcase possible, with the attendance of over 99% of all Manufacturers on the Italian market, and a layout that enables exhibition hall management according to an approach based on automobile “families”; a distinguishing feature of all the most prestigious International automobile exhibitions.
The entire exhibition area available (halls and outdoor areas) has already been completely booked by exhibitors. Thanks to the continous modernisation of Bologna’s Exhibition District, involving the renovation of two halls, for the first time this year, all the connecting areas between halls will be covered to create an immense space within which visitors can move around remaining always in a covered area.

Car sales figures for the first half of 2006 showed an upturn in new registrations and the more recent slowdown is compensated by the very optimistic climate of trust amongst both manufacturers and consumers. Shortly what is needed is innovation and improved product communication, which is exactly what this edition of the Bologna Motor Show guarantees to Manufacturers.

As always, meetings and conventions represent a key aspect, with an important calendar of appointments centred on cars, their history and their evolution, current issues and challenges of the next future.
26 press conferences have been scheduled so far, and it is estimated that the important presence of journalists from around the world will be characterised by a particularly numerous turnout of reporters from rapidly expanding markets, namely the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) area.

Furthermore, Motor Show Business, the B2B section of the Motor Show, a key event for all automobile trade professionals, will take place from Tuesday 5 to Saturday 9 December 2006. The first three days, which coincide with the Motor Show’s press and trade professionals days, will be reserved for a professionals-only public, whereas the last two days will also be open to the consumers. Backed by the important figures achieved last year, with 77 exhibitors, 3,233 trade professionals and a total of 33 conventions, round tables and presentations, this year’s edition, which will occupy Hall 20, is expected to register an even greater success thanks to its specific focus formula.

As regards previews and turnout, the Motor Show aims to build on the figures recorded in 2005, which included 436 exhibitors from 19 different countries and the presentation of some 126 previews, of which 11 were worldwide débuts. New records and important consolidation, however the passion of the visitors, which in 2005 reached a total of 1,181,323, will, as always, be fuelled by the test drives, single-brand trophies and motorcycle and car displays that for this year’s edition will have a brand new venue as well as a new sponsor, Shell, and important alterations such as the extension of the track and expansion of the spectator seating capacity. The Shell Arena therefore prepares to become a theatre of thrills for the entire duration of the Motor Show, with top drivers on the track and an even more competent public in the stalls, building on the figures for last year when 285 drivers and 319 vehicles had over 55,000 spectators on the edge of their seats, every day.

The Motor Show - International Automobile Exhibition will be held in BolognaFiere from 7 to 17 December 2006, with press-only days on 5 and 6 December and 6 and 7 December reserved for trade professionals