Every autumn in even-numbered years, the famous Paris Motor Show opens its doors at the Paris Expo in Porte de Versailles. As the oldest motor show in the world — first held in 1898 — it has long been regarded as one of the most important events in the global automotive calendar. From groundbreaking concept debuts to production-ready world premieres, the Paris Motor Show is a live event where every visitor can witness automotive history in the making. In this article, we explore its remarkable history and the legendary cars that made their debut on its stages.
The Origins of the Paris Motor Show (1894–1898)
The roots of the Paris Motor Show trace back to 1894, when two cars were exhibited at the Salon du Cycle exhibition. At the time, there were only about twenty automobiles in all of France, so the display made little impact. A year later, the Paris–Bordeaux race drew wider public attention to the automobile, and the participating cars were invited to a showcase in central Paris.
The Automobile Club of France, led by automotive pioneer Marquis Jules-Albert de Dion, decided to organise a formal exhibition. On June 15, 1898, in the Tuileries Garden opposite the Louvre, the first true motor show was born. To qualify for display, each vehicle had to complete a 40-kilometre drive from Versailles to Paris.
Key facts from the inaugural 1898 Paris Motor Show:
- 269 exhibits from early European manufacturers including Peugeot, Panhard & Levassor, and Daimler-Benz
- Over 140,000 visitors in just three weeks
- French President Félix Faure attended — though he arrived and departed in a horse-drawn carriage, causing a minor scandal
By 1899, attendance had already doubled. The automobile age was underway.
The Grand Palais Era and Early Automotive Milestones
Despite growing interest, public opinion about cars at the turn of the 20th century remained sceptical. In 1901, the Paris Motor Show moved to the magnificent Grand Palais, originally built in 1897 for the World Exhibition. Its 6,000 square metres of exhibition space housed 220 cars alongside motorcycles, boats, and even balloons. The Grand Palais would serve as the show’s home for the next six decades, until the event relocated in 1962 to the larger Paris Expo complex at Porte de Versailles.
It was in Paris that several pivotal automotive technologies were demonstrated for the first time:
- 1904 — The automatic carburettor
- 1905 — The disc clutch
- 1906 — Shock absorbers
In 1910, the show’s organisation passed from the amateur Automobile Club of France to a professional trade union of automobile designers — though visitors were far more interested in the American Ford display, which remained the biggest crowd-puller for the next two decades.
Growth, World Wars, and Post-War Recovery
The Paris Motor Show grew rapidly in the early 20th century. By 1919, the number of exhibitors reached 664, with Citroën making a particularly bold statement by displaying 50 cars. That same year, the show adopted its official French name — Salon de l’auto — a term that would go on to define car exhibitions worldwide. Until 1913, the show had been held in summer rather than autumn, and until 1922, virtually every active car manufacturer in the world participated.
Like other major motor shows, Paris paused during wartime. The key interruptions were:
- 1915–1918 — Suspended during World War I
- 1939–1945 — Suspended during World War II
The 1946 edition marked the first major automotive event in post-war Europe and was met with enormous enthusiasm. Over 810,000 visitors attended in just ten days — more than double the attendance of the last pre-war show in 1938. In the years that followed, the exhibition was dominated by American manufacturers, whose factories had emerged intact from the war. European automakers gradually rebuilt, and by the late 1940s, the sensational Citroën 2CV appeared — a car later affectionately nicknamed the “tin can” for its simple design, but one that launched the era of mass European motoring.
Key Moments in Paris Motor Show History (1950s–1970s)
The post-war decades brought a series of milestones that shaped the show’s identity:
- 1952 — The show shifted from a purely technical presentation toward entertainment, becoming the first motor show to feature promotional models on display stands
- 1954 — Visitor numbers surpassed one million for the first time
- 1957 — A Japanese car — the Prince (Nissan) Skyline — appeared at an international motor show for the first time
- 1961 — The Jaguar E-Type debuted at the Paris Motor Show, defining the look of luxury sports cars for decades to come
- 1976 — The show moved to a biennial schedule, taking place every even-numbered year to alternate with the Frankfurt Motor Show (held in odd years until 2019)
Paris Motor Show Attendance Records
The Paris Motor Show has consistently ranked among the most-visited automotive events in the world. Notable attendance figures include:
- 1992 — An all-time record of 1.118 million visitors
- 2016 — 1.2 million visitors, making it the most-attended car show in the world that year, ahead of both Tokyo and Frankfurt
The 2016 edition showcased the scale and ambition of the modern Paris Motor Show:
- 125,000 m² of exhibition space across 8 pavilions
- 260 brands from 18 countries
- 65 world premieres
- Over 10,000 test drives for electric and hybrid vehicles
- More than 10,000 journalists from 103 countries
It is no exaggeration to say that the history of the Paris Motor Show is, in many ways, the history of the automobile itself.
Legendary Cars That Debuted at the Paris Motor Show
Over more than a century, the Paris Motor Show has served as the launchpad for some of the most iconic vehicles ever built. Below are the most memorable debuts.
Citroën Type C (1922) — The World’s First Car Designed for Women
Presented at the 1922 show, the Citroën Type C (also known as the 5CV) was marketed as the first automobile designed specifically for women. It featured:
- A four-cylinder 0.8-litre engine producing 11 horsepower with a Solex carburettor and magnetic ignition
- Compact dimensions — just 3.2 metres long with a 2.25-metre wheelbase
- An electric starter, a major convenience for the era
- Elliptical quad springs on both axles for a comfortable ride
The Type C was renamed the C2 in 1924, and an extended C3 version followed in 1925. Despite being ahead of its time, sales were disappointing, and production ended in 1926.
FIAT 500 Topolino (1936) — Italy’s Beloved “Mouse”
The FIAT 500 Topolino, meaning “Little Mouse” in Italian, charmed Paris audiences at the 1936 show. This tiny car offered remarkable value:
- Dimensions: just 3.2 m long, 1.2 m wide, and 1.3 m tall
- A 0.6-litre engine producing 13 horsepower
- Top speed of 85 km/h
- Fuel consumption of only 6 litres per 100 km
- Priced at just under 10,000 Lira
The Topolino became one of the great symbols of Italy, further cemented in popular culture by its appearance in the 1953 film “Roman Holiday.”
Renault 4CV (1946) — France’s Post-War Favourite
Presented at the landmark 1946 post-war show, the Renault 4CV became the most popular car in France within three years and ranked as the second best-selling import in West Germany. Its advanced features for the era included:
- A monocoque body with a rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout
- A 0.8-litre engine paired with a three-speed manual transmission
- An affordable price that made it accessible to the mass market
Citroën 2CV (1948) — The “Ugly Duckling” France Loved
When the Citroën 2CV debuted at the 1948 Paris show, few could have predicted its success. With a modest 9-horsepower engine and an unconventional design, critics dismissed it. Yet the 2CV proved to be economical, simple to maintain, surprisingly spacious, and remarkably smooth on the road. Over its production life, more than 3.9 million units were sold, and it became one of the most cherished cars in French automotive history.
Ferrari 166 Inter (1949) — Ferrari’s First Road Car
Before 1949, Ferrari produced exclusively racing cars. That changed at the Paris Motor Show, where the Ferrari 166 Inter coupe made its public debut. Built with bodywork by Milan’s Carrozzeria Touring, it was powered by a 1.5-litre V12 engine with three carburettors, producing between 110 and 140 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. It marked the beginning of Ferrari’s legendary road car legacy.
Citroën DS (1955) — “The Goddess”
Perhaps no car debut in Paris history generated as much excitement as the Citroën DS in 1955. By 9:45 a.m. — just 45 minutes after the show opened — 749 orders had already been placed. By the end of the day, that number had reached 12,000.
The DS, whose name in French sounds like “Déesse” (goddess), was revolutionary in both design and engineering:
- A striking silhouette with a high ride, expansive glazing, sculpted wings, and round headlights
- A 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with a dual-chamber carburettor producing 75 horsepower
- Hydro-pneumatic suspension — a world first for a production car
- Rack-and-pinion power steering and a highly responsive brake pedal
The DS went on to become a cultural icon, appearing memorably in the “Fantômas” film series, and its influence on luxury car design lasted for decades.
More Iconic Debuts: Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo, FIAT, and BMW
The Paris Motor Show continued to deliver landmark premieres through the 1960s and 1970s:
- 1966 — The Lamborghini Miura, widely considered the first modern supercar, was shown in Paris
- 1968 — The Alfa Romeo Carabo concept, designed by Marcello Gandini of Atelier Bertone, pushed the boundaries of automotive design
- 1968 — The FIAT 128, the brand’s first front-wheel-drive model, debuted and was later named European Car of the Year in 1970
- 1972 — BMW unveiled the E25 Turbo concept, a show car featuring a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine producing 280 horsepower, dramatic gullwing doors, and a cockpit inspired by ship design
In the early 1990s, the era of biodesign brought fresh creativity, with concepts such as the Renault Laguna Roadster making their mark. Renault later adopted the Laguna name for its popular range of mid-size sedans and estate cars.
Get Your International Driving Permit
We hope you enjoyed this journey through the history of the Paris Motor Show. If you are planning to drive abroad — whether to attend a motor show or explore the open road — make sure you are properly documented. You can quickly and easily apply for an international driver’s licence on our website, giving you the freedom to drive confidently in countries around the world.
Published November 05, 2020 • 8m to read
