The relief among the Linz car dealers is palpable. Because the federal government is reducing the corona restrictions, the Linz car spring is allowed to open. “We’re really looking forward to it,” said the President of Austria’s most traditional motor show, Michael Schmidt.
“We don’t know yet whether 2G, 3G or 2G+ will apply, but we assume that more and more easing will apply by the opening day,” said the man from Linz.
Not all exhibitors are on board. Porsche Holding Salzburg is following a corporate decision that the VW Group will not exhibit at any car shows worldwide during the pandemic. That means: VW, Audi, Seat, Skoda and Porsche will be absent from the 50th Auto Spring.
The two electric brands Polestar and MG are new to this. “More than 50 percent of the models on display will be electric,” Schmidt estimates. Because no manufacturer can avoid electronics anymore. Of course: “Not all customers can make friends with e-mobility,” says Autofrühling spokesman Ernest Wipplinger, who notices a certain “uncertainty”. Not everyone dares to buy an electric car, not everyone dares to buy a diesel. This is exactly where the Linz car dealers want to offer advice to the Autofrühling visitors. “And not digitally, but face to face,” says Wipplinger. In order to minimize economic risks, the car show will be reduced to two days: on March 19 and 20, the Linz Design Center will open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The tent is not set up, but there is space for all brands inside the dome construction. The stands are standardized because there is no time for complex designs. Entry prices will be at 2019 levels.
“People no longer want to sit at home, they want to air out and look at new models,” says Ernest Wipplinger. In any case, Michael Schmidt is hopeful: “Anything over 10,000 visitors is a great success.”
Source: Nachrichten
