"No car" Presence of asked motor show Oct. 28 19:04

Tokyo Motor Show that will be held until November 4th. Originally it is a place to show off the latest technology of automobiles, but the situation is somewhat different. There is also an exhibition booth without “cars”! The auto industry, which has become a sense of crisis that it will “decrease as it is” due to a significant decrease in visitors, has now made a bold model change. What are the challenges of the automobile industry in the period of major change?
(Economic Ministry Reporter Keita Suzuki Maiko Oe)

There is no “new car”! Toyota booth

“There are no new cars to be released next year at this booth.”

In the presentation, Toyota Motors President Akio Toyoda said that. As the word suggests, there are no cars scheduled for sale in the exhibition booth. I dare to display it in another place.

Instead, a box-shaped vehicle called “mobility” is displayed. In the future, it proposes how to use the car when automatic driving is realized.

This time, we will demonstrate how to check your health while moving.

When you face your camera in the car and follow the instructions on the screen to make facial expressions, you can determine how much emotion you have. Applications such as going to a hospital while talking with a doctor with a camera are also possible.

As the technology for autonomous driving advances, not only will the way of spending time in a moving car change, but it is also envisaged to use what you want and the services you want. In other words, it is an image that restaurants and lesson classes come automatically with the car.

Also, a “car” like a suitcase about 1 meter high was visible.

This “micro pallet” is a vehicle that automatically travels a short distance to the front door = “Last One Mile” for packages ordered on the Internet.

The purpose of this exhibition is to imagine the future mobility that will change the role of current cars.

Motor show that is questioned about its existence

Behind the changes in the motor show is a strong sense of crisis among the people involved in the industry. This time, overseas manufacturers stopped exhibiting one after another.

Only 5 brands from 4 companies, including Mercedes-Benz and Renault, exhibited (15 brands from 9 companies last year).

An official from an overseas manufacturer revealed that SNS and individual events are more effective for advertising than exhibiting by spending several hundred million yen.

The reason why the advertising effect is not expected is the decrease in the number of visitors.
The peak was 1.9 million in 1991 during the bubble period, but it decreased to 770,000 last time. The trend is the same in Europe and the United States, and the subsidence of the motor show is progressing.

The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, which is hosted by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, is trying to stop people other than car fans this time. The goal is “1 million visitors”.

Call for participation in other industries

One of the new efforts to achieve the goal is to set up an exhibition on the theme of future cities and lifestyles.

Electrical manufacturers, telecommunications companies, and venture companies are exhibiting at the “MEGAWEB” facility near the Tokyo Big Sight Aomi Building in Koto-ku, Tokyo, the main venue. Participation from industries other than the automobile industry.

Among these, Panasonic exhibited the concept of interior space in the age of autonomous driving. The window is a large display screen that can be used like a living room, such as watching movies.

It also changes quickly into a personal seat suitable for video conferencing. It can also be used as an office.

"Flying bike" also appeared. A. of Tokyo L. I. Technologies handles a vehicle that travels several tens of centimeters above the ground, and is expected as a new means of transportation.

It can run from 80 km / h to 100 km / h and is scheduled for release next year.

In addition, the rescue drone developed by a Nagoya pro drone is large enough to accommodate one adult.

It is supposed to be used to rescue isolated residents at the disaster site and transport from the accident site.

For participatory events

Participatory events were also increased to achieve the goal of “1 million visitors”.

The venue is divided into two areas, the Ariake area and the Aomi area, and a shuttle bus is in service, but it is far from walking.

On the other hand, the 1.5km section connecting the venue can be named "Open Road", and you can test ride on electric kick skaters and standing vehicles used for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

In addition to freeing the entrance fee for high school students and younger, this time, in addition to free admission for high school students and young children and parents and children, a corner where you can experience car maintenance and design in collaboration with the kid-friendly vocational facility “KidZania” Newly established.

Mobility, not cars

I felt through the interview that there was a strong sense of crisis that the motor show would be buried. This is in common with the management issues facing automakers.

How will we respond to the transformation period once in 100 years, such as automatic operation, electrification, and from “owned” to “used” (sharing)?

Automakers themselves have not found a clear solution.

Is it possible to create new value through collaboration and collaboration with other industries, regardless of industry boundaries? It seems that this motor show is a testament to seeing the future of the industry.

On the 29th, we will talk about the “next-generation vehicles” that automakers are looking at.

Economic Department reporter Keita Suzuki Joined in 2003 from the Ministry of Economic Affairs in Obihiro Station, mainly in the primary industry

Economics reporter Maiko Oe Joined in 2009 Mito Bureau Fukuoka Bureau