Press Release

Auto World - 2006

The XV International Motor Show - Auto World 2006 has been carried out in Petersburg SCC from 5th till 9th of April.

The show in SCC has been always opening the beginning of automobile season in Russia. So happened historically that since 1992 Petersburg after almost 80-year break revived the tradition of demonstration of automobile and bus novelties, freight carriers and specialized machinery, presentation of latest achievements in the sphere of tuning and accessories.

This year for the 15th time the Auto World Motor Show, organized by the FAREXPO under support of the Committee for Transport of Saint Petersburg and the Automobile Federation of Saint Petersburg and Leningrad region has opened its doors to the thousands of specialists of the field, as well as to all who is interested in modern achievements of national and foreign automobile industry.

The project is rightly considered as one of the largest ones in the North-West region: this year the show has been attended by 104,000 people, from year to year the social portrait of those came to see the novelties of automobile industry has been changing: the lion's share among the visitors were the specialists of the field, executives, top managers, as well as the people of means higher than average. Quantitative composition of participants has been growing as well, and at the same the exposition has been enlarging. 324 companies from 36 cities of Russia and the CIS and 17 world countries took part in the show of the year 2006.

Business program:

The first three days specialists of the field traditionally prevail among the visitors of the show. Extended business program is developed specially for them, being of true interest to the professionals. Executives of the transport enterprises of Petersburg and Leningrad region had the chance to attend the conference - the Passenger's motor transport in Saint Petersburg: interaction aspects between authorities and business. The event was organized by the FAREXPO conjointly with the Committee for Transport of the Government of Saint Petersburg. Directors and top-managers of enterprises were able to discuss pressing issued of passenger transportation in Petersburg and region, the development priorities of the field and forming of itinerary network in professional circles.

The Efficient Management of Service Center, interregional scientific and practical conference, and the Maintenance and Technology of Motor Transport Repair, seminar, have been organized for the executives and key specialists of the service and repair stations from 53 regions of Russia. Problems of modern automobile engineering maintenance materials, selection of up-to-date equipment for service stations and other issued connected to the repair of motor transport has been covered during the seminars. The Sales of Automobiles. Saint Petersburg Experience. Section 1. Business Management, seminar, has been also organized for the attendants of the business program.

The training for assistants-consultants - The Art of Sales in the Automobile Salon - has been carried out in one of the halls of the SCC for all three days. Leading managers and assistants-consultants bettered their skills, playing through real situations and analyzing their individual input into sales.

Attendance of business program by executives and leading specialists of the field allowed mixing business with pleasure, saving at that both time and money. They have got a chance not only to see the novelties of the market, but discuss in professional circle the problems and perspectives of the field development, initiate useful contacts and exchange with experience with colleagues.

Novelties and premiers:

• The Olymp Ltd, official dealer of the DaimlerChrysler in Saint Petersburg, presented beside Grand Cherokee, already known to the Russian drivers, the offroadster - Jeep Commander.
• At the stand of the Olymp Ltd the Chrysler PT Cruiser restyled make with changed appearance and interior has been presented, as well as four new makes of the Mercedes-Benz: S-class, sport-universal R-class, new M-class and absolutely new B-class
• The Concord's booth pleased Russian audience for the first time with Coupe on the base of the 407 make, which will be offered in 4 different kitting-ups. The 307 СС Т6 restyled coupe-cabriolet, 607 luxurious sedan of premium-class and popular make of Peugeot 307 T6 have been presented to the attention of public
• The Atlant-M Baltika, official dealer of the Opel, Saab, Chevrolet, Hummer has presented the H3 make. This make had not been in sale for the moment of the fair, that is why it is early to talk about the price of this novelty. Besides the company presented rather new restyled Saab 9-5, appearance of which is, so to say, is obvious. The passenger compartment of the make has undergone serious improvements
• The Neva-Autokom presented the Jaguar XK, world premier of which have happened in 2005 in Frankfurt. Coupe, cost $132,000 has seating configuration 2+2 and by right may be called a sports car
• The Aksel-Car, official dealer of Toyota, presented its novelties - new generation of RAV4, Camry and Yaris. As for premier of the new Camry it is possible to say that Russian citizens were lucky, as this car has not been presented at the recently held international motor show in Geneva. New Yaris at the Toyota booth created a furore.
• At the Lexus booth the dealer presented four new makes: Lexus RX 400h, Lexus GS 300, Lexus IS 250. Premier show of Lexus RX 350 also happened
• Notwithstanding that SsangYong Kyron offroadster from the Severstal Auto has been in the salons of the official dealers, its official premier has happened for Russia in SCC.
• The Hyundai's dealers presented absolutely new Santa Fe. It is possible to place the interior of the offroadster among the passenger compartments of premium class.
• The Automir, actively developing multi-dealer, who have got recently the right to sale Suzuki, presented new Swift
• And finally our public was able to see long-awaited Civic of new generation in sedan and hatchback body styles at the booth of the RALF-ART Division and the Adams Motors official dealers. The sedan has already won the Automobile of the year 2006 in Northern America prize in the USA. Incidentally the appearance of the latter was created in the image and likeness of European in kimono. As long as this was a joint project with European Design Studio, the European lines of the body have been presented by the Japanese designers as if they shielded with kimono
• Public transportation is in development as well. As for the new makes from the manufacturers of tour buses it is necessary to mark out the following ones - ZK 6129H (Grand Apollo) and ZK 6119HA (Apollo), developed by MAN (Gernamy) design office and presented by the STORK Ltd - official distributor of the Yutong plant.
• The Volzhanin-5 27006, low-floor bus which has already became a bright exhibit of the show, presented a new image of local buses of the future, showing high standards in the spheres of ecological compatibility, safety and comfort for the passengers. However, the MAN Tourliner N2216 SHD became the best bus novelty of the show

The Auto World 2006 turned to be interesting also because of gimmicks from tire-producers, as well as from manufacturers of wheel plates, gas equipment and everything daily used by drivers.

• The HORS presented new generation of windshield wiper blade - Acrobat
• The Ecogazservice Public Corporation, participated in the Auto World 2006 for the first time, has offered conceptually new approach in the market of liquefied carbureted hydrogen gases. Presenting the network of filling stations, the company declared about its intention to create new filling complexes which will fill the automobiles up with liquefied gas
• The Riabov Car Company presented its revolutionary developments. A first show of two new constructions of folding hardtops for passenger' car was held at the company's booth. One of them will allow fitting out the automobiles with central and middle engine location with folding hardtops
• The Kama Trading House showed its new products too: snow tire - Kama EURO-518 of 175/70 R13 and 205/60 R15 sizes, all-weather tire with index 236 and of R14, R15 and R16 sizes
• The VSMPO, famous manufacturer of forged wheel plates, took part in the show, demonstrating a line of its new products. Now the Pallada, Aurora and Uran wheel plates may be obtained in color performance. Besides one could see its new models, such as Vesta, Sigma, Helios, Delta and Pantera
• The Nevskie Diski Close Corporation presented new supplies from the SKAD, casting and mechanical plant: Ganymede, Aphrodite, Apogee and Trion - light alloy wheel plates. The first two models are manufactured of 15" size, and the second ones - 16"
• Kremenchug Wheel Plant brought its novelties
• The Dragon announced a new mechanical antitheft device for transmission, steering wheel and bonnet. As previously famous Peugeot 206 in its war paint has been a show-car of the Dragon

Tuning

The theme of tuning was covered at the motor show in full, taking into account that visitors of the show could pay their attention to the new striking wheels from the L.A. Connection, fresh CD/RDS-tuners of high capacity, Pioneer amplifiers and subwoofers, as well as artistic tinting of windows executed by the specialists of the Art-tonirovanie. In such way the most simple and available tuning for the major part of the car owners was presented and effectively supported by the following show-cars - Mercedes-Bens (L.A. Connection) and Porsche Cayenne (Pioneer).

Lovers of offroadsters were offered fresh tuning programs for the production of Ulianovsk Plant by the Auto XXI, official dealer of the UAZ.

The vehicles for weekend filled its lines up with new recruits. The BBC Motors presented absolutely new motor all-terrain vehicle - ATV Yamaha YFM 700R. It is equipped with four-stroke-cycle engine of 689cm3 and 5-stage gearbox with backing run.

The Rosan Trading House exhibited the Sea-Doo boats with new 4-stroke-cycle engines, as well as new Sea-Doo water scooters, such as for instance RXP make with 4-strocke-sycle 3-cylender engine.

Entertainment program

Besides business program a number of presentations and even the fashion-show has been held at the motor show. Natalia Anurchenkova, famous Petersburg art-master, presented her Vanguard collection out of auto spare parts and car care products. For garments creation designer used products of the HORS: generator drive belts and cambelts, windshield wiper blades and bands, high-voltage ignition cables, polishers, automobile shampoos, as well as packaging.

Weekend days, April 8 and 9, were devoted to visitors, who came with the whole family to select a car, turn the process of decision-making on purchase of car from static visit to salon into dynamic and colorful event. Young people interested not only in gimmicks of automobile industry but in different sports events of the show - are of no small importance segment among visitors. Work with them - means work for the future. In five years these people will become principle consumers of the new products of automobile market.

Opening of the season of the All-Russian competitions in auto sound sport - the IASCA Russia 2006 - tournament in sound pressure in five classes was held on the next to last day of the show. This striking competition collected 48 tuned automobiles from different regions of Russia and 12,000 spectators. Notwithstanding cold weather and traditionally Petersburg wind everybody found something to look at. Especially since not only foreign but also domestic (beyond recognition) automobiles were presented among the competitors.

Rally-sprint summed up the sports program. The Russian Automobile Federation and FAREXPO carried out the competition in three classes (Armatures, All-Wheel Drive and Sport) on specially equipped route. 55 teams from Moscow, Petersburg and Leningrad region, Pskov, Novgorod and Petrozavodsk competed to get a title of the fastest, collecting boundless crowd of spectators, filled the square in front of SCC. Winners of the competitions were awarded with cups and memorabiliums.

For parents, came with children, there was a driving school, where future drivers could get instructions and obtain first driving skills at mini-routes driving mini-automobile. This action is held annually during the show under support of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate and makes a significant contribution to lowering of children's traumatism on the roads, to train children safe behavior both as pedestrian and passenger of the car.

And the adults enrolled one by one for test-drive of stock cars. Last year this event of the program was offered to the guests of the show for the first time and unexpectedly attracted unexampled interest among visitors aimed at purchase of new car. The whole Sunday all enrolled for test-drive had at their possession specially prepared line where each could evaluate dynamic features of selected make. The SsangYong Rexton of domestic assemblage became a hit of test-drive.

By the end of the day the time to sum up the results of the main competition - Constancy of Movement - has come. Independent jury including the leading automobile observers from Moscow and Saint Petersburg selected the winners in nine nominations, as well as the owner of Grand Prix. The Olymp Group, investment and financial corporation, part of which are the following companies the Olymp Ltd (Mercedes, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge), the Aksel Group (Toyota, Lexus families) and the Concord Ltd (Peugeot). The Best Exposition on Tuning diploma was given to Pioneer and the Auto XXI Servis. The Best Exposition of the Show on Accessories award was awarded to L.A. Connection and the Rosan. The AGA-MANAGEMENT was marled out for its exposition of auto chemistry and car care products. The MAN Tourliner N2216 SHD became the Best Bus Novelty of the Show. The Jac HFC 4181 KRI from Gruzomobil was marked as the Best Freight Carrier of the Show according to the opinion of jury. By results of the ballot the Toyota Camry became the Best Novelty of the Show. The Autoservistorg presented the Best Exposition on Garage Equipment, and the title of the Best Show-Stopper of the Show was d ivided between the Autoart and the Neva-Autocom. The Metalloproduktsiya - the Best Exposition of the Show on Auto Spare Parts and Components.

Comments of the motor show participants:

• AUTOMIR trade and service complex
  We liked it this year in SCC. First, there were interesting cars. Second, there were a lot of visitors. In 2006 it was attended by people interested in purchase of automobile. We had full salon of clients after the end of the Auto World.
• PITER-LADA chain of autocenters
  We counted on Saint Petersburg and North-West. We had no thoughts to attract clients from other regions, that is why we were (nicely) surprised when met them at the show.
• "AGA-management"
  To our opinion - that was the best motor show for the last several years as for design and representation of the companies.
• ROSAN Trading House
  The motor show became more attended. There were many of interesting, bright, memorable booths. We liked the way it was organized.
• Flim Ltd.
  We expected cooperation with large-scale wholesalers. And it turned out in reality in plenty of new contacts. Much more than we have expected. We met as well our "old" partners - and reminded about our companies.
• Aksel Car Ltd, official dealer of Toyota
  Our goal at the motor show of course was to present the company one more time (image support). And the beginning of the season - is the time for presentation of new makes. The show was attended by everybody - both ultimate customers and business partners. Our client - the person, who changes car, increasing its level. Such people have been there. Cooperation with region is also of interest to us. And they - regions - are coming.
• Vostol-Auto, official dealer of Hyundai
  We are satisfied with number and quality of visitors. Our target audience has been at the motor show. We performed plenty of consultations. Visitors took all booklets and price- lists.
• KAMA
  Organization was ideal, notwithstanding that application for participation in the show our company handled only at the last moment.
• Lider-Tuning Ltd:
  There were much more visitors than we expected. Both individuals and wholesalers. We have conducted negotiations with companies (different in scale) on realization of production in Saint Petersburg; plenty of visitors were interested in makes which have not been demonstrated at the booth. As for regions, we counted only for Saint Petersburg, but we had several offers from companies willing to show the product at their cities and regions (for instance in the Urals). We are satisfied with the motor show. It is comparable to the same in Moscow.
• AUTOPROMGROUP
  Comparing to the last years the motor show became better - better organized, brighter, more interesting in terms of representation of companies. We liked everything.
• Trade-kis
  Our participation goad - search for new potential clients, probing of the market. We are interested not only in sale-purchase relations. We are looking for companies- partners with existing trading chains. We are satisfied - Petersburg market is well prepared. In the past the market was mostly filled by foreign manufacturers. Today the roles of players have changed. There are a lot of domestic companies. The motor show is workable: there were plenty of negotiations. We are planning to come here next year.
• Naviline
  This was a bright, image-making motor show. We have a good impression.

Comments of the mass media:

• Autoradio
  There are some features of the modest Petersburg Motor Show which could be instructive example even for Moscow Motor Show.
• Za rulyom SPb
  For five years the World became bigger and this year it was not enough space in the SCC for fresh makes among which thera are Russian (and sound) premiers.
• Delovoy Petersburg
  The Auto World is a good option for regional dealerships to increase their sales.
• Autovitrina
  Interest to the 15th International Motor Show is understandable: for ones - it is efficient marketing tool helping to sell products; for others - image-making step intended to increase recognizability of the brand, for third - this is a possibility to talk and get information helping to make a right choice of the car: And it is always a loud, smiling hangout, where one can spend interesting time with all family-members.
• Fontanka.Ru
  Such serious interest to the motor show from the Petersburg citizens is obvious: there are plenty of things to look at.
• Nevskoe Vremya
  Organizers of the Auto World take their child without needless pathos. The show has pronounced commercial underlying theme. There is no any coincidence that the companies- participants book booths for the next motor show just at the end of current in spite of high cost of exhibition space in the SCC.
• Liniya Polyota
  More than 300 Russian and foreign companies took part in the show this year, turning the Auto World intro salon of premiers.
• Kupi Auto
  Only listing of presented here makes causes a respect: ten cars at once have got the Russian Premier status this spring! Major part of debutants selected Saint Petersburg as the place for the first show in front of Russian public.