After its hiatus, following the 2022 edition, the Paris Motor Show 2024 (Mondial de l’Auto Paris 2024), held from October 14th to 20th, came back strong, regaining much of the excitement and appeal it’s known for. Though many luxury and sports car makers were absent this year, the Parisian automotive event upheld its legacy of innovation, showcasing cutting-edge technologies and sustainable solutions shaping the industry’s future. This year, in particular, primarily focused on electric vehicles and SUVs. So, let’s take a closer look at the standout moments and key highlights from this year’s Paris Motor Show.
Notable Moments from the Paris Motor Show 2024
- The return of German titans Volkswagen, Audi, and BMW to the Paris Motor Show marks an important and positive shift in the automobile industry. These firms, who previously restricted their involvement in international events outside of Germany, are now re-engaging with a worldwide audience, demonstrating the value of reconnecting with customers.
- Alpine made a statement at the Paris Motor Show with the premiere of its sporty A290, a variation of the Renault 5, with two interesting concepts: the A390_β, previewing 85% of the brand’s future electric four-door coupe, and the Alpenglow, featuring a hydrogen-powered V6 engine. Dacia also made news when it unveiled the Bigster, a striking C-segment family SUV destined to shock the market like the Duster has done in the B-segment since 2010.
- With a surprising turn of events, Stellantis adopted a more strategic approach at the Paris Motor Show, emphasising multi-energy platforms rather than going all-in on electric. Peugeot showcased its E-408 sedan, moving closer to offering a fully electric option for every model in its lineup. Citroën revealed the versatile C3 Aircross SUV, available in gasoline and electric versions, while surprising attendees with a nearly finished concept of the future C5 Aircross. Alfa Romeo joined in with the debut of the Junior, offering both hybrid and electric versions, adding to the brand’s growing lineup.
- Leapmotor made its European debut at the Paris Motor Show, introducing four models spanning the tiny T03 city vehicle to the six-seater C16 SUV, featuring Stellantis handling distribution. Xpeng, a Chinese business sponsored by Alibaba and Didi, focused on luxury technology with its G9 SUV and P7+ sedan. Skyworth, formerly an electronics giant, unveiled four electric vehicles ahead of their European debut in 2024, including a utility vehicle. Meanwhile, Hongqi, which supplies cars to Chinese government officials, has positioned itself as a “new global luxury brand” trying to compete with Bentley and Rolls-Royce.
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Bringing in the Electric Age of AutomobilesÂ
The industry’s most apparent trend at this year’s convention was the dawn of the Electric Era. One of the most unique innovations in this year’s edition was the introduction of licence-free electric cars, otherwise known as microcars or quadricycles. Renault spear-headed this movement with their brand Mobilize, which unveiled two new microcar models at the event. The Duo, first presented at the 2022 convention, can be driven by anyone over 14 and boasts speeds of up to 45 km/h with a mileage of 161 km on a five-and-a-half hour charge. This year, its sister model, Bento, which is referred to as a micro-utility vehicle, was also featured at the convention. As microcars gain popularity, the European market for these compact, fuel-efficient vehicles, presently worth $437.4 million, is predicted to nearly double by 2030.
Another crowd favourite at Renault stands for the 2024 Estafette Concept, a modern electric van that embodies the brand’s vision for the future of urban transport. Drawing on elements from their previous designs, the Estafette combines the 3.5-metre length of the Kangoo L2, the agility of the Clio hybrid and the payload capacity of the traffic L1H2 to give us a new and improved version of the electric van. The van uses software-defined vehicle (SDV) architecture for real-time maintenance updates and pays homage to Renault’s 1959 Estafette, which optimised space by placing the motor in the front. Flexis, a cooperation between Renault, Volvo, and CMA, created this tiny yet capacious van, reflecting urban transportation’s future.
Apart from electric vehicles, the Paris Motor Show also featured Integral E, a fully electric two-seater plane engineered by the French startup, ‘Aura Aero’. Made from wood and wood-carbon, the plane is designed for training, travelling and aeronautics. Although flight tests haven’t been done yet, pre-orders have already been placed, and Aura Aero intends to revolutionise regional air transport by providing low-carbon flights connecting neglected areas. In addition to that, the startup also aims to help achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 with a 19-seater Electric Regional Aircraft.Â
A unique feature at this year’s convention was the addition of go-karting tracks. But why were they included? Well, this was done to showcase the go-karts of the future, the Speed2Max, a fully electric go-kart model that recharges in just 8 minutes and can be used on outdoor and indoor circuits. The kart was created over 27 years ago by a family-run firm in Clermont-Ferrand, France, and is made entirely of recyclable materials. The Speed2Max, which comes with a lead gel or a lithium battery, provides optimal charging time and an exceptional energy life of up to 90 minutes, setting a new milestone for environmentally responsible motorsports.
ConclusionÂ
The Paris Motor Show 2024 highlighted the transition to electric automobiles and sustainable inventions. The event highlighted the industry’s desire for greener, smarter transportation options, from microcars and electric vans to new developments in aviation and motorsports. With big companies adopting electric and multi-energy platforms, the event confirmed its importance in shaping the future of the automobile industry.
