One brand dominates the show

One million visitors, 10,000 journalists from over 100 countries: If you look at the Paris Motor Show website, which started today, you might think you’re at the world’s most important auto show. But the numbers are four years old; The last belongs to the «Mondial de l’Auto». So before the pandemic, delivery problems and the Ukraine war. He also hit Renault and one of the French brands badly. Still, the Renault CEO cannot be beaten: “We love motor shows,” says Luca de Meo (55), and Alpine is helping the Dacia and Renault brands grow in Paris.

At Alpine, the concept car Alpenglow offers a glimpse into the future design line of the Renault sports subsidiary, which will soon switch to electric drives. With its well-known fieldwork Manifesto, Dacia focuses on the fun factor rather than the savings factor. And Renault is resurrecting a brand icon: the 4Ever Trophy, the name of an all-electric B-SUV run that’s said to be the perfect match for the legendary Renault 4. In almost any case, because apart from the rectangular front with round headlights and the rearmost side window, it looks much more mobile and distant than the original model. There is also a study of the three-engine Renault 5 Turbo 3E, a sports version of the electric Renault 5 and its Zoe successor to be launched in 2024: “I actually want to do it,” says De Meo.

Renault trump, Stellantis piles deep

And otherwise? Stellantis group brand Peugeot is showing the long-promoted crossover 408 to the public for the first time – but it’s not a concept car, but be prepared to completely reinvent the brand. “We don’t show it here because we want attention from the division,” says CEO Linda Jackson, 63, citing one reason for the auto show crisis. Peugeot’s US sister Jeep is once again offering the future entry-level Jeep Avenger with 156 hp electric drive – but the brand-specific 4×4 has only been used in a concept car so far. The DS only shows the current model range, and Citroën, like all other European automakers, is lacking. No problem for Stellantis CEO: “Success is not measured by attending auto shows,” says Carlos Tavares, 64 dryly.

But there is still a surprise – the new brand Hopium with Machina Concept. Founded three years ago by French racing driver Olivier Lombard (31), the all-French company wants to start with a production version of a hydrogen luxury sedan in 2025. It should be able to travel up to 1000 kilometers with ten kilos of hydrogen in the tank. The new factory in French Normandy will produce 20,000 cars per year – unit price: from 120,000 euros. It starts in France, Germany and Switzerland. The obscure Moroccan start-up Namx also uses hydrogen in its rear-mounted cartridge-fed SUV. With Pininfarina, the design offers a European-style weight.