Most Fiat Chrysler Automobiles brands will not take part in this year’s Paris auto show, according to French media reports. FCA joins automakers including Ford and Volkswagen brand in skipping one of Europe’s top showcases for product debuts. The Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Jeep and Abarth brands will not have stands at the show, the reports said.
Maserati will not have a traditional stand and will decide this month whether to display its cars in the “Mondial limited” zone, a space dedicated to supercars. The Lancia brand, which sells only in Italy, will not be at the show, which starts Oct. 2. Ferrari, which was spun off from FCA in 2015, will be present at the show with a traditional stand.
Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Jeep and Abarth last year skipped the Frankfurt show, which alternates with Paris as the main European autumn automotive gathering.
FCA decided that potential sales and publicity did not justify the outlay to take part in the show, France magazine L’Argus quoted an FCA spokesman as saying. Automakers are increasing shunning auto shows for stand-alone marketing events that are live-streamed on the Internet.
Last month the VW brand said it will skip the Paris show and may instead host “various communications activities” in the French capital. Ford, Nissan and Infiniti have said they will not be at this year’s Paris show. Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi are not attending the Detroit show in January, while Volvo last week said it will not have a stand at the Geneva show next March.
