Auto Zürich is a meeting place for over 60,000 visitors every year and offers almost the entire brand portfolio of new cars available in Switzerland as well as many new products and even premieres. The basis for this is a comprehensive network of manufacturers, importers and their sales partners. Above all, it is the result of tireless efforts since the event was founded in 1987 to offer exhibitors the most efficient and effective sales platform possible year after year. The 37th edition will take place from November 7 to 10, 2024.
For the first time 37 years ago
As an event, Auto Zürich is already an old-timer. From today's perspective, it is hard to believe that the first Auto Zürich in 1987 was held in just one of the old halls at Messe Zürich. At the start, seven brands were represented with a total of 60 vehicles.
A regulation that ensured the Geneva Motor Show's supremacy did not allow for a greater selection of cars. Nevertheless, the approximately 27,000 spectators were able to see the cars and innovations from Opel, Peugeot, Toyota, Volkswagen, Honda, Subaru and Audi.
Only later was it possible to expand the range of cars on offer and exotic cars such as Ferrari and Lotus also made an appearance.
Because the free newspaper "Zürich Woche" reported widely on what was actually a local motor show, the Geneva Motor Show took notice and began to fight the Zurich motor show.
In the early years, Auto Zürich was held together with the racing car show organized by SAR. This meant that Auto Zürich also benefited from the racing driver personalities present, such as Le Mans participant Walter Brun.
Due to the restrictive regulations, Auto Zürich was only able to expand tentatively in the first few years and only began to grow rapidly once the restrictions were lifted.
In all these years, stand prices changed only marginally, and the Auto Zürich organization itself remained lean and agile.
Since the demise of the Geneva Motor Show at the latest, Auto Zürich has been the largest motor show in Switzerland, with an international reach.
Lots of energy and initiative
The driving force over the years has been the current owner and Chairman of the Board of Directors Karl Bieri, who, with the support of his wife Doris and, since 2022, together with the current Managing Director Ines Nägeli, has made Auto Zürich one of the most successful motor shows in Europe. And this in an increasingly volatile environment. Entrepreneurial courage and foresight coupled with maximum efficiency and customer focus form the foundation. The latter stands for the consistency in action with which it has been possible to minimize the organizational effort for the exhibitors and to keep the basic prices per square metre almost constant since Auto Zürich was founded.
Classic cars for some years now
Today, in addition to the new car area, Auto Zürich includes numerous other modules that serve as a thematic home for classic cars (with their own hall), motorcycles, tuning, accessories and motor sports, as well as for the increasingly popular topic of e-mobility. Despite this successful growth, Auto Zürich will remain true to its origins and continue to be an accessible and affordable automotive platform for exhibitors and visitors.
And in 2024 also increasingly in the youngtimer segment
Because younger classic car buyers in particular are increasingly interested in younger cars, Karl Bieri and Ines Nägeli have decided to promote youngtimers even more strongly this year.
Further information on this year's Auto Zürich, including the classic car section, can be found on the event's website.
