Mr. Pierre-Alain Desmedt, President of FEBIAC, presented the 89th Brussels Show to the Press...  

Every odd-numbered year, this time from 15 to 23 January 2011, the Brussels Show will be the showcase for light commercial vehicles, leasure cars and motorcycles. This means that the Car Show is this year a boon for both professionals and families.

The organiser FEBIAC, the Belgian automobile and two-wheeler federation, recently held a press conference on this year’s show.

Your servant was there, and here follows what you need to know about this event…and also noted for you some remarkeable statements from the members of the FEBIAC board.   

Hans Knol ten Bensel

For the whole family to enjoy…

A visit to the show will be a delightful day out for the whole family. Of course, daddy can test the SUV or off-roader of his dreams on an extensive test track right in front of the Palace 11 of the Heysel building. These off-road tests can be done in all safety, as instructors will accompany you on your adventures off the beaten track. Just a bit of practical information: the test can be booked at the stand of the participating manufacturers.

Your servant (on the front row to the left, taking notes) attended the press conference of the Brussels Car Show, edition 2011.

With dream cars too…

If you are not carried away by all these sturdy vehicles, then the organisers have another trump card up their sleeve: you can visit on the last weekend of the show an exceptional benefit exhibition dubbed “Dream Cars for Wishes”. More than 50 dream GT saloon cars will be presented in Hall 11. The admission costs €7 and all proceeds go to “Make a Wish.”

The rest of the family can have a go in Hall 2 of the Heysel Show buildings. The kids will have a special circuit where they can have a go behind the wheel of small electric cars, and there is also a special track for radio controlled model cars. Of course you can have a go at one of the numerous playstations, and the small girls and boys can dive into the enormous piscine with playballs.

Mr. Pierre Hermant, General Director Motor Shows, pointed out the central theme of the Show 2011...     

Theme of the show: drive your dream!

The gentlement of Febiac want to stress in this show that the choice of any car, be it commercial or for pleasure, is something very personal. As a (small) private entrepreneur, you want a show where you can choose the van which suits your needs, and as a car or motorcycle enthusiast you want to drive the car which corresponds to your wishes. This is what the 89^th edition of the Brussels Show wants to be: a place where you can choose – and drive – your dreams. This is also the reason why the organisers have laid out an extensive test track of not less than 1300 square meters for electrical vehicles. If you want to drive the electric future, then Brussels is the place to be. Also the (world) premieres of the cars are shown…

Motorcycles and scooters in two exhibition Halls…

Both motorcycles and scooters are shown in halls 1 and 3, where also the accessories, clothing and spare parts are found. The place to be for the bike lovers…

A dedicated website to the show, and an automotive career

For the visitors of the show, FEBIAC has put up a special website, www.salonauto.be, where you find more information about the show, the exhibiting firms and brands.

If you want to start or pursue a career in the automotive industry or you want as a technical teacher/specialist to be kept informed about the latest state-of-the art trends and technical solutions? Then the site www.unavenirquiroule.be is the one to visit, and if you want to keep yourself informed, also as a student or a parent, about the possibilities of an automotive career.

At At the press conference, after having presented the Juridical counceling intiative, from left to right: Mr. Patrick Piret, Juridical Advisor from FEDERAUTO, Mr. Pierre Hermant from FEBIAC, Advocate Juan Le Clercq from the Brussels Bar, French speaking section and Ms Nadine Serbruyns, Advocate and joint secretary general of the Brussels Bar, Flemish section.

You have a lawyer at your service at the FEDERAUTO stand…

There are numerous juridical and fiscal questions you ask yourself when purchasing a new or used car. Those questions will now be heard by the lawyers who are during the Salon at your service on the stand in hall 7, at the stand of FEDERAUTO, the Belgian Confederation for Automotive Trade, Maintenance and Related Branches, every afternoon form 2 pm onwards, and what’s more, their assistance and counceling is completely free of charge!  This is a very laudable initiative which the Brussels , Flemish and French speaking sections of the Brussels Bar Association have taken together with FEDERAUTO.   

No government initiatives taken for electric cars…

At the conference, Mr. Luc Bontemps, Executive Manager of FEBIAC, (see photo above) stressed that there is still no specific masterplan for the electric car from the federal government.

The regional governments could also do better: at present, there are no initiatives from the Flemish or Walloon governments. But in Hall12 of the show, the visitor can see the most recent developments in terms of electric, fuel-cell or hybrid propulsion systems.

Mr. Pierre Alain de Smedt, President of FEBIAC, pointed out that the Belgian car market did pretty well in 2010, with between 540-550.000 new registrations booked for 2010. The product mix has changed however, and has drifted towards smaller vehicles. Also in the motor cycle market we have seen a marked trend towards smaller motorbikes and notably scooters.

Of course we will report on the show in these columns, so keep watching these pages!

Hans Knol ten Bensel