Techno Classica Essen Sets Standards Once More
Posted: 02.02.2013
Source: S.I.H.A.
International Specialised Trade: Very Good Sales Transactions at the Global Classic Vehicle Faire
With 181,400 Visitors Still on a Record Level
Techno-Classica is once again setting standards for success. The course of the 24th global classic vehicle fair was characterised by very good sales transactions at a high price level and an excellent mood in the international specialised trade. For the over 1,200 exhibitors from 30 nations, the largest fair for collectors’ automobiles, oldtimers, classic vehicles and young classics once more proved to be the internationally most important contact and sales platform. With around 181,400 visitors from all over the world, it achieved an outstanding overall result which was once again on the same record level as in the previous year.
“We have clearly emphasised our claim to be the world’s leading fair for the classic vehicle sector,” according to Anton L. Franssen, Managing Director of the organiser S.I.H.A. Franssen believes that Techno-Classica has grown even further, above all internationally: “The proportion of foreign guests has risen once more. Not only from Europe but also from the USA, Australia, Japan and South America. We are discerning the still subdued but increasing enthusiasm for classic automobiles in countries like Russia or China.”
“Mirror Image of the Passion for Historic Vehicles”
According to Franssen, the fair has once again been a mirror image of the passion for historic vehicles. “A big, international family get-together to whose flair the imaginative and creative commitment of the over 220 participating clubs has primarily contributed too.”
Vehicles in all price categories were popular at the fair. Amongst visitors who have ever better prior information and are ever more knowledgeable. “More than ever, originality is the crucial purchasing criterion,” the classic vehicle expert Franssen observed at the fair. “In this respect, sophisticated customers are then also willing to accept higher prices for connoisseurs’ items with a high quality level.”
The not-for-sale vehicles also commanded admiration at the fair. For example, the rarities of the Spanish Pegaso make: It was possible to see 21 of the just 86 Pegaso vehicles built in the 1950s – a world record.
“Essen is the Meeting Place of the Entire Classic Vehicle World”
The fact that nobody who “wants to be right in the middle” of the sector and the scene can afford to miss Techno-Classica is confirmed by Horst Brüning, President of the World Classic Vehicle Association (FIVA). “The whole classic vehicle world meets up here,” according to Brüning who, as the FIVA boss, represents the interests of 1.6 million members throughout the world. Franz Graf zu Ortenburg, Vice-President of AVD – Automobilclub von Deutschland (“Automobile Club of Germany”), also stressed: “Techno-Classica is the most important forum to display the entire spectrum of classic mobility and thus to make an inestimable contribution to preserving the automobile as a cultural asset.”
A forum which the automobile industry also used extensively once again this year in order to portray the development of the automobile in an exciting way and to bridge the historic gap to the current era. Over 20 automobile manufacturers presented automobile milestones, focused attention on anniversaries of vehicle models and placed the latest successor models beside the “birthday boys”. Directly after their first introduction at the Geneva Automobile Salon, a few of them gave their German premiere in Essen.
Celebrations in 2013: 25th Techno-Classica
The next Techno-Classica will be totally marked by its “silver” anniversary: It will take place at Messe Essen for the 25th time from April 10 (Preview, Press and Trade Visitor Day) to April 14, 2013. The S.I.H.A. boss Franssen promises, “Even now, exhibitors and visitors can already look forward to absolutely special, exclusive automobile anniversary surprises.”
The 25th Techno-Classica will take place at Messe Essen from April 10th (Preview, Trade and Press day) to April 14th, 2013.