AutoRAI 2011: industry celebrates recovery at largest Dutch car event

Recovering automotive market of 2010 promises much; greater emphasis on visitor experience

Amsterdam, 17 January 2011 – The recovery of the car market in the Netherlands during 2010 will be celebrated at the AutoRAI 2011. This will take place in Amsterdam RAI from 13 to 23 April, and promises to be the largest Dutch automotive event to date. All car brands in the Netherlands will be present with their own brand stands, where they present their latest premieres, most stunning concept cars and current models. With its wide-ranging programme and the renewed interest in cars, AutoRAI 2011 promises to be the most impressive automotive event of recent years.

A great deal of interest has already been shown in AutoRAI 2011. With the reintroduction of the successful brand stand concept as well as a brand-new Outdoor Park, Holland’s largest indoor car event is almost literally bursting at the seams. During the eleven-day event, the area in front of the RAI will be home to a new open-air pavilion, offering visitors an adventurous SUV/4x4 zone, a Try the Bike track, test drives in electric cars and the challenging Fun Park with spectacular demonstrations. With its already extensive indoor programme, the Outdoor Park at AutoRAI 2011 offers visitors more memorable experiences than ever.

Large number of premieres
With three months to go before the opening, almost all car brands have registered for the event. All will present a comprehensive overview of models, premieres and concept cars. Together with the other exhibitors of race cars and exclusive cars, they will make the next edition of AutoRAI the largest indoor automotive event in the Netherlands.

In addition to an impressive number of premieres, the following brands will be exhibiting their latest models at AutoRAI 2011 (listed alphabetically): Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Bugatti, Burton, Chevrolet, Citroën, Corvette, Dacia, Fiat, Ford, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep, Kia, Lamborghini, Lancia, Land Rover, Lexus, Maserati, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Mitsubishi, Opel, Peugeot, Porsche, Renault, Rolls Royce, Saab, Seat, Skoda, Smart, Tesla, Volkswagen, Volvo and Westfield.

Major premieres and concept cars include the BMW 1 Series M Coupé, the Fiat 500 TwinAir Dualogic, the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Lexus CT200h Hybrid, the Mazda MX Superlight, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the Mini Cooper SD, the Opel Ampera and Flextreme GT/E, the Range Rover Evoque, the Renault Fluence Z.E., and the Smart Electric Drive.

A complete overview of the innovations exhibited at AutoRAI 2011 is listed on www.autorai.nl.

Events and pavilions
Visitors to AutoRAI 2011 can also look forward to various special events and indoor pavilions, including the Future Mobility pavilion in the ultra-modern RAI Elicium. Sustainability and innovation are major pillars of the upcoming AutoRAI, bringing the automotive branch and sustainable mobility closer together. Automotive knowledge institutes that are preparing students for the future of mobility will profile themselves in the education pavilion. Showcasing the automotive industry and associated studies in an inspiring and attractive way, this pavilion is a must-visit for all young visitors to the AutoRAI (and their parents)!

With a unique combination of knowledge and fun, the PEM (Platform Electric Mobility), part of the Future Mobility pavilion, will provide visitors with answers to any questions they may have regarding electric mobility. The IvDM (Institute for Sustainable Mobility) will examine the links between the ‘new working methods’ and ‘new driving style’ campaigns in cooperation with the Nature and Environment Foundation and various private companies.

Oldtimer fans will be in their element in the Classics Pavilion and, this February, they can have a say in what cars they would prefer to see at the event prior to the exhibition (via www.autorai.nl).The spectacular Supercar Paddock of Autovisie magazine has become an important part of the exhibition over the years and will be more high-profile than ever as the publishers celebrate its 55th birthday. A new feature is the Hobby Square that allows visitors to exhibit their own cars: Visitors to www.autorai.nl will be able to cast their votes for their favourite cars, and the five models with the most votes will win a spot in the square during the event. For the youngest visitors, AutoRAI 2011 offers the Children’s Pavilion.

AutoRAI campaign on social site Hyves: Win a trip to Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi!
AutoRAI 2011 is attracting extra attention with an active online campaign. Starting in late February, Holland’s most popular social media site Hyves will host a game in which players can virtually drive to the AutoRAI with their friends. Participants will have the chance to win an amazing grand prize: A trip for two to Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi. Other prizes include weekly tickets to the AutoRAI Exclusive Preview VIP evening on 12 April.

GoMotor returns to AutoRAI
After the enthusiastic response in 2009, the GoMotor event for motorcycles, (motor)scooters and suppliers will again be part of AutoRAI 2011. Divided into clear market segments in Hall 9, the exhibition offers visitors an ideal opportunity to find the motorcycle of their dreams. Whether they are looking for a tour or racing bike, a chopper or an offroader, each segment will profile the very best that the various brands have to offer. Scooters are also an important element, with a separate platform in the GoMotor hall. Motor and scooter brands currently registered include Aprilia, BMW, Derbi, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Kawasaki, KTM, Kybe, Moto Guzzi, Peugeot, Piaggio, Suzuki , SYM, Tomos, Triumph and Vespa. A

s was the case two years ago, the outdoor area also offers people without a motorbike license the chance to take part in the ‘Try a Bike’ activity. This will further ensure that GoMotor is a complete event that reflects the interests of the majority of AutoRAI visitors.

AutoRAI 2011 sponsors
The main sponsors of AutoRAI 2011 are Shell and LeasePlan. Shell is a second-time main sponsor of the event, while LeasePlan has expanded upon its sponsorship of the Industry Day in 2009 to become a main sponsor for the upcoming edition. The AutoRAI Industry Day on 12 April is sponsored by Allianz and LeasePlan. PlayStation is a sub-sponsor of AutoRAI 2011, and the partners for Innovative Driving on the outdoor terrain are Essent and the City of Amsterdam. Oger and American Express are linked to AutoRAI 2011 via the election of the Fashion Car of the Year.

Opening hours and accessibility: Free entrance up to the age of 14
AutoRAI takes place from Wednesday 13 to Saturday 23 April 2011. Open from 12.00 to 22.00 on weekdays, the exhibition is open from 10.00 to 17.00 at the weekend.

Ticket prices are the same as the previous edition: € 16.50 during the week and € 18.50 on Saturday and Sunday. Group day tickets cost € 13.50 p.p. A new option are the evening tickets (valid after 17.00) available for a reduced price of € 12. Children up to and including the age of 14 can visit the AutoRAI for free when accompanied by an adult. A € 2 discount applies to tickets ordered via www.autorai.nl.

While Amsterdam RAI has sufficient parking space in and around the RAI buildings, in light of the expected number of visitors the AutoRAI organisers recommend visitors travel by public transport whenever possible. To facilitate this, AutoRAI 2011 has teamed up with the NS rail company to offer visitors a special price of € 17.50 per return ticket from any NS train station in the Netherlands to Amsterdam RAI. A limited amount of train ticket and AutoRAI ticket combis are available via www.autorai.nl. The website also lists the terms and conditions that apply to the offer.

Note for the editor / not for publication:

AutoRAI is a biennial event organised by Amsterdam RAI, sponsored by the RAI Association and taking place in Amsterdam RAI. The 2011 exhibition will be the 58th edition of the event, and takes place from 12 to 23 April 2011. The event starts with a combined press and industry day on 12 April 2011 and opens to the general public on 13 April.

For more information about AutoRAI 2011, contact Paula Vermin, senior Communication & PR Manager on p.vermin@rai.nl or +31 20 549 2372.

Images and press information are available from www.autorai.nl