The AutoRAI is and remains dead – by Pon

Posted on 12-03-2016 at 11:32 by perry_snijders – 57 Comments”

It is you not noticed that there is in Geneva a autoshowtje was organized, but maybe you just missed that Steven van Eijck there was also. The RAI-foreman also had startling news: he wants to that there is still a Problems comes in 2017. We were looking for you from which makes them want to take part.

Steven van Eijck is chairman of the RAI Association, the club that represents the interests of 500 manufacturers and importers of almost everything that drives, but a club which is also a major shareholder of the RAI (a space in Amsterdam where you ever been to). You would say that the RAI, however, just as discussed with the RAI Association before the AutoRAI 2017 cancelled, but apparently, president Van Eijck there are still sleepless nights. He said that in Geneva, in any case, however, against a reporter of The Telegraph, who then of course immediately wrote down. Dumbfounded that the RAI-chairman still at that dead horse pulls, we decided to look in to scuba diving.

‘Actually, says Steven van Eijck nothing new,’ says spokesman Harald Bresser of the RAI Association. ‘Van Eijck indicates that he was terribly find that the edition of 2017 does not continue and that he is personally all that is possible is going to do to still a car show in the netherlands to 2017 to achieve. He let it appear that anyone is thinking about how we can make this fair. In addition, he closes with a sentiment that we often heard around the news about the cancellation of the edition of 2017. Many people find it very unfortunate that the fair was cancelled.’ This is not so strange, because the stock market is (or was) the largest public event of the Netherlands, with nearly 300,000 visitors for the last edition. And even Belgium, however, a considerably smaller country than the Netherlands, a national car show, which this year, incidentally, 555.000 visitors.
The AutoRAI in 2017 does not continue has to be an urgent reason to do so. “Both RAI Association as the RAI Amsterdam would like that there is a car show in the netherlands to 2017,” said Bresser. ‘Steven van Eijck speaks here, clearly also as the chairman of the tentoonstellingscomité. It is, therefore, a desire that is more widely supported, but whether it actually will succeed is very questionable.’
And that is of course because there are importers who are not in the mood to join in. But what was that? “We do not endorse, it is up to the importers themselves to that.’

So it’s time to look to the importers to ask if they all decided to join in. “No one had a definitive decision taken,” says Jur Raatjes, from Mazda. ‘It was the only organization asked to the intention to participate. Mazda has that intention said ‘yes’.’ And thus, the brand is in good company, because also Maserati, Mercedes, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mitsubishi and Subaru to let you know that intention to have had. Other brands, including Peugeot, Citroen, Renault and Dacia, let them know that they have no decision had been taken.

Enthusiasm
In all kinds of importers are the words of Steven van Eijck greeted with enthusiasm. ‘Jaguar Land Rover Netherlands was planning to take part in the AutoRAI 2017 and we would be an organization of such a fair would like to see, ” says Aldo van Troost on behalf of the importer. Also Subaru is about to start: ‘We are open for a car show in the netherlands, as we also are open to alternatives. As in the budget and the schedule fits, we would seriously consider and we have definitely interest, although the fixed costs and the promotion prior to the event under consideration may be.’
Other brands of lifting not so heavy on fixed costs. Willem Oosterveld of Mitsubishi: “We have always been positive about participation in the car show in the netherlands and have also always participated, with the exception of the container-edition, that solution we found is not good enough. If there are still Problems would come, we would absolutely – we are always before a car show in the netherlands. We also find not that much should change, the event is attractive enough and the visitor numbers are also good. It would be cheaper for the public and therefore, the contribution of the exhibitors and our best up, though, which is quite at odds with the opinion of the majority — and especially the larger players.”
Opel, which is still the fourth car brand in the Netherlands, had, according to spokesman Jeroen Maas ‘positive intention’. This was partly due to the edition of 2015, he says. ‘That is a very good step, without the illusion that this is the final formula should be. To be a successful AutoRAI organizing is a continuous veranderingsbereidheid necessary, because a large fair, of course, can only be successful if he appeals to developments in the market, needs of target groups and objectives of the exhibitors.’
Ford was also in the starting blocks, says pr-manager Sebastiaan van de Pol. ‘In view of the experiences in 2015 was Ford intends to take part in the AutoRAI 2017. Also, if there is still an event would come, would we seriously take into consideration, depending of course on the content, cost and timing. It is important for us to experience and interact to create. Further, it should be a low threshold event that, for a broad audience is interesting. In addition to the AutoRAI, however, we have also interest in other events, which offer the opportunity with a specific target audience to get in touch. In addition, we have our own event, Driving Skills for Life, in which young directors free a increased training offered.’

“Our opinion was not asked”
Louwman is not to say whether it had decided to take part, but ‘does not’ in a following Problems to be present. At Louwman Exclusive is less mysterious, but that may also be almost no different after director Arjen van Beek in a press release of the RAI Association after the end of the previous issue, almost on-the-table-dancing-was enthusiastic: “Great that the AutoRAI after such a long absence is back. The AutoRAI, and the cars are back in demand, that you notice the sentiment with the audience. And with the manufacturers. We got not for nothing that the European premiere of the McLaren 570S.’ For the next edition was not to participate decided, says Julie Reimus. ‘The blow came for us at a very early stage, unexpectedly, moreover and in our opinion was in any case not asked.’ She understands why Steven van Eijck now, there are attempts to do to the stock market to breathe new life into. ‘If there are any plans for resuscitation, it is only in a hurry in connection with budgets, and, for example, agreements with manufacturers. If we would like to try as well as the premiere of the 570S we have to be there in time to do it.’
Also other importers of smaller brands, for which a participation is relatively expensive, are positive about the AutoRAI. Although reports Cadillac that it’s not easy to say whether it would do so and that the decision to place the edition in 2017 to cancel properly, but a brand such as Maserati puts there hand on the RAI gets a lot of attention: ‘In the short-term events such as the Masters of LXRY and the competition on The Loo eventually more effective, but the Problems would be in the longer term, an important tool for the brand to expand. Therefore, we see an added value in a larger event with a wider exposure.’
CITO Motors was last year on the AutoRAI with the brands Rolls-Royce and Aston Martin. “The event was successful, a beautiful stage for our new models such as the Wraith, bring it under the attention,’ says sheriff and boss Marissa van Laarhoven. ‘We still had no decision on the next edition then the decision fell in order to blow up, but we would in any case seriously to a next edition look. We do more and more in our showroom, there is plenty of space and we get the customers in-house. That has its advantages. We however also see the advantages of a car show in the netherlands, a large event with many visitors.’
Donkervoort, also a small brand, has other arguments to be present: “As a Dutch brand we find that we are how to a car at the AutoRAI should have, because as a Dutch brand should not be missing.’

“I have our vision not ready’
But if everyone is so enthusiastic about the Problems, how can it be that the edition of 2017 does not continue? The answer we find in Leusden, or better said: a resounding silence we find in Leusden. No one at Pon want to say something about the Problems, or we now ask the representatives of Volkswagen, Audi, Seat, Skoda or Porsche.
“We have a number of months ago, our view on this given, we now see no reason to do it again,’ says Mirjam de Wilde on behalf of Pon. If I ask what that vision is exactly, the answer is surprising. “I have that just not ready, but just google it and you’ll know it, because several media have written.’ Is that not a bit of a weird answer, for an importer? “Our insights in the past months has not changed, so we see no reason to respond to it.’ We found that Pon that, however, would have to do it, as another company spokesman, Jacques Geijsen, said earlier in the National auto show will be happy to talk to want: ‘There is certainly still a need for an event for the industry, where we have a number of days in the center of the spotlight, but about the form we would like to in discussion.’ In that discussion wants to Pon us, however, don’t let them know or have spoken with the RAI, how the stock market more attractive could be and whether it’s even future for a large public exhibition. That makes it in this case is painfully obvious: Pon pulled the plug out of the Problems, but only wants not to admit. What do want to give, is that it is like a different setup for the fair would see. But then if you’re not willing to be there but something to say about it, you fall through the basket; it turns out that it is just a transparent excuse to withdraw. Conclusion: the AutoRAI is and remains dead. Thanks to Pon.

For this story we spoke with spokespeople from BMW the Netherlands, Cadillac, Citroën Netherlands, CITO Motors, Donkervoort, Ford, and the Netherlands, to Hyundai Motor Netherlands, Jaguar Land Rover, Louwman Exclusive, Louwman & Parqui, Maserati North Europe, Mazda Motor Nederland, Mercedes-Benz Nederland, Mitsubishi Motor Sales Nederland, Opel Nederland, Peugeot Nederland, Pon’s Automobielhandel, Subaru Benelux, Volvo Cars and the RAI Association.
The spokespersons of FCA Netherlands (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) and the Kia were due to holidays are not accessible. Nissan and Tesla have not responded. Ferrari will not publicly on the question of what future shows the brand represented.