13 Domestic Companies Gather Together "Tokyo Motor Fest 2014" Held

  The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) held the "Tokyo Motor Fest 2014" on October 11 and 12 around the Ship Science Museum Station in Tokyo's Rinkai Subcenter area. The event aimed to expand the fan base for cars and motorcycles and revitalize the automotive industry, attracting approximately 69,000 visitors. It also served as a pre-event for the biennial "Tokyo Motor Show."

	 
Scene from the press preview held on the 10th	 	 

 

Thirteen domestic manufacturers and three overseas manufacturers exhibited. Through displays of new models and experiential programs offering test drives of next-generation vehicles, they showcased the appeal of cars and motorcycles and their future potential to younger generations increasingly disengaging from automobiles.

 

 

At the opening ceremony, JAMA Chairman Fumihiko Ike stated, "This festival is an event where manufacturers, who normally compete with each other, come together as one industry, united by the common desire to get as many people as possible to become car and motorcycle fans."

Princess Yoko of the Mikasa family, President of the 44th Tokyo Motor Show 2015, also attended. She watched the "Cirque de Mobi Spectacle," a car and motorcycle "circus" performed by professional drivers and riders. She was also seen smiling and enjoying a test drive herself, taking the wheel.

 

A key feature of the festival was its abundance of experiential programs, such as the "Tough Car Experience Corner" and the "Future Mobility Experience Corner." Attractions that are difficult to experience in daily life proved especially popular, including test drives of next-generation compact mobility vehicles and rides in cars driven by professional drivers. Programs allowing children, the future users of cars and bikes, to participate easily were also prominent, such as kart and mini-bike driving experiences and service engineer experiences where they could touch real engines and learn maintenance.

The announcement of the "2014-2015 Japan Car of the Year" was scheduled for the 13th at the event venue, but the festival was canceled due to an approaching typhoon. The final selection took place at the nearby National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, where the Mazda Demio was crowned the Car of the Year (Grand Prize).

Official Site: fes.tokyo-motorshow.com/2014/
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