Brussels celebrates cars from January 11 to 19, 2025
After being cancelled in 2024, the Brussels Motor Show is relaunching this year. It retains its winter calendar and the Heysel palaces for an automotive rendezvous in an industry in turmoil.
In 2023, the Brussels Motor Show was somewhat criticized for its electric attitude. The situation has now been rectified, with some - but not all - manufacturers less inclined to reserve their stands for electric cars. Some are even daring to go diesel. From January 11 to 19, the public is invited to the 101st Belgian Motor Show at Brussels Expo. Some sixty brands will be present. The BMS 2025 (its official abbreviation) has also been chosen, for the 2nd time, to unveil the European Car of the Year (COTY). This ceremony used to take place in Geneva (Switzerland). The COTY 2025 will be announced at a press day on January 10. And, of course, a copy of each of the finalists will be on display. These are the Alfa Romeo Junior, Citroën ë-C3 & C3, Cupra Terramar, Dacia Duster, Hyundai Inster, Kia EV3, Renault 5 & Alpine A290 - a trophy that will attract many CEOs from the automotive world to the Palais on January 10.
A host of premieres
Several world and European premieres have been announced. A world premiere will be the prototype of the future Mercedes CLA, still under camouflage. Another never-before-seen concept will be on show in Brussels: the Hyundai Insteroid. The DS N°8 is also a new discovery, as is the new Toyota Urban Cruiser, an electric SUV. Mazda is also announcing a big first, but is keeping it a mystery until the doors open. Perhaps it's the new electric sedan... In terms of European premieres, the Belgian public will be able to discover the Abarth 600e, BAIC BJ30 and BJ60, Corvette E-Ray, Fiat Grande Panda, Ford Puma Gen-E, KGM Actyon, Lancia Ypsilon Rally4 HF, Leapmotor T03 and C10 and Suzuki e-Vitara, among others. And of course there will be all the latest novelties for the Belgian public...
A few absentees
Despite the success of the event in terms of the number of brands present, there are a few notable withdrawals. There will be few motorcycles. As for the “generalists”, Jaguar, Land Rover, Nissan and Volvo - for various reasons - are not taking part in the show. Nor is Polestar. Aston Martin, Ferrari, Maserati, McLaren and Rolls-Royce will also be conspicuous by their official absence. However, there are supercars and even F1 cars, as well as Thierry Neuville's Hyundai, the WRC world champion. Sometimes as part of the Super Car Tour, sometimes thanks to the manufacturer's presence. Bugatti, for example, will be there. Bentley, Lamborghini, Lotus, Porsche and Rimac too. So will the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster, the BMW M5, the Ferrari 488 Pista, the McLaren P15 Senna and the Mercedes-Maybach SL 680. There will be many models from China. They will come from brands already known or under the tutelage of a Chinese group, such as BYD, Lotus, MG and Smart. But others will take advantage of the show to make a name for themselves: BAIC, DFSK, Forthing, Jaecoo, LeapMotor, Livan, Omoda, etc.
Visitor information
The Brussels Motor Show 2025 will be open to the general public from January 11 to 19, 2025, from 10am to 7pm, with late-night openings until 10pm on Monday 13th and Friday 17th. General admission is €15 (€10 for 10-15 year olds - free for 0-9 year olds). It's best to buy your ticket online, especially as the cash desks at the entrance will not accept cash. You'll also need to take into account the cost of parking (€12). The Heysel plateau, where the exhibition center is located, is served by streetcar line 7 and metro line 6 (Heysel stop). For those coming by road: three major construction sites on the Brussels Ring Road are likely to cause heavy traffic jams, so please plan ahead. For full details, visit www.autosalon.be. 300,000 people are expected to attend the 10-day show (including the VIP evening on January 10).
(MH with Olivier Duquesne - Sources: FEBIAC & manufacturers - Picture: © FEBIAC)