Motor Show Day 1: Bayon, Tucson, TK5 and Awards Day

Monday’s headlines are Tuesday’s halls: the Bayon, the TK twins, the Tucson, and a stage full of start-ups. Day one public, awards today, lasers tonight. Here is the Tuesday guide in seven laps: the Koreans, the Chinese, the French, the awards, the shows, the plan, and getting there.

From the show floor — Elena Marsh: Reveals via Hyundai news/BigGo (Bayon world premiere 12/10 + Tucson European + Staria Cargo eLCV + IONIQ 6 N Zone; Kia Seltos/K4 hybrids European debuts), Gasgoo (Forthing TK5/TK7 global debuts Oct 12–13 + European plant Q1 2027 + Li Auto strategy + Li 6 Q1 2027 + AITO/Leapmotor/Valeo/AVATR), Renault Group (Hall 6 5,000m²: Renault 2,500m² concepts + 22 electrified + futuREady; Pro+ 700m² 6 eLCVs + Trafic E-Tech; Dacia 900m² 10 electrified + Striker; Alpine PS1/A110), TradingView (E-Space, R8 Gordini, Spring, smart #2, BYD, XPeng G9L, Tesla cameo, Moke, ipop), mondial.paris programme (awards today, gaming Hall 7.1 Google Tue, FG DJs, autonomous Gate H 25-min, Laser Show evenings, Mesdames 33 women), keyqo (Equip Auto not 2026). Official programme only.

The Koreans: Bayon, Tucson, Seltos

Seoul takes Paris. Hyundai ALL-NEW BAYON — world premiere (B-SUV, bold character, N Line 2027 coming) + new TUCSON — European premiere (C-SUV) + Staria Cargo eLCV (first electric LCV) + IONIQ 6 N Zone + 12 vehicles (Hall 5.2, Stand A12, 1,115m²). Kia: Seltos Hybrid + K4 Hybrid — European debuts (group offensive). The Korean method: Europe-designed, Europe-built commitment, segment by segment. Bayon for the city, Tucson for the family, electrons for business. Monday’s press, Tuesday’s stands — touch them today.

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The Chinese: TK twins and the wave

The parallel show. Forthing TK5 + TK7 — GLOBAL debuts (urban youth + multi-member families; 20-inch alloys, 15.6-inch screens; Paris skyline staging) + European plant Q1 2027 (then Middle East/Africa/South America/SE Asia). Li Auto: European strategy + Li 6 Q1 2027. AITO (+Europe 2027), Leapmotor expanded lineup, AVATR 3 models (Europe 2027), XPeng G9L flagship, GAC Aion, BYD/Denza, Chery/Omoda/Jaecoo. The wave isn’t coming — it’s parked, priced, and planting factories. Two aisles, two worlds: heritage vs hardware.

The French: Renault’s Hall 6

Home game, full house. Renault Group — Hall 6, 5,000m²: Renault 2,500m² (concepts + 22 electrified, half EV half hybrid + futuREady plan + boutique + tech demos) + Pro+ 700m² (six 100% electric LCVs made in France + new Trafic E-Tech + chassis/platform conversions) + Dacia 900m² (10 electrified + Striker C-segment multi-energy + LPG leadership + 4x4 know-how) + Alpine (PS1 concept, A110 news — premium electrified sports + heritage). Plus E-Space + electric R8 Gordini concepts, redesigned Spring. France answers: electrons with heritage, vans with factories.

The awards: start-ups on stage TODAY

Innovation’s matinee. Start-up awards ceremony TODAY (Tue) — main stage, business + media audience: 4 categories (AI & Autonomous Vehicle, Industry 5.0 & Robotics, Decarbonization & Impact, Mobility & Services), jury of top managers, winners pitch live, networking reception, qualified meetings, support programmes. Mobility’s future in 4 pitches. Watch the stage afternoon; meet the founders after. Today’s winners, tomorrow’s suppliers.

The shows: gaming, lasers, DJs, autonomy

Beyond the metal. Gaming world-first (Hall 7.1 — racing video game world debuts at the show; Google slot Tue, Capgemini Wed–Fri; freeplay + tournaments). Autonomous test drives (Gate H, Hall 7.1 — 25-min slots, reservation-only; first immersion tech). Radio FG DJs (Terrace Hall 6 — lunch + evening sets). Laser Show EVERY evening (Tue–Thu 19–20h, Fri–Sat 19–22h — music + lights + fireworks, Terrace Hall 6). Tao Love Bus (daily, outdoor). “Mesdames, osez l’auto!” (33 women photographed/interviewed — the industry unreserved). Metal by day, lasers by night.

The programme: gaming, lasers, autonomy

Tuesday’s extras, all live. Gaming world-first (Hall 7.1 — the most popular racing video game debuts at the show; Google slot Tue, Capgemini Wed–Fri; freeplay + tournaments). Autonomous test drives (Gate H — 25-min slots, reservation-only; first immersion in self-driving tech). Radio FG DJs (Terrace Hall 6 — lunch + evening sets). Laser Show (every evening: Tue–Thu 19–20h, Fri–Sat 19–22h — music + lights + fireworks). Tao Love Bus (daily, outdoor — music aboard a vintage van). “Mesdames, osez l’auto!” (33 women photographed/interviewed — proof the industry is unreserved). Beyond metal: play, ride, dance, watch.

The practical: hours, tickets, rails

Day one, done right. Hours: Tue–Thu 09:30–20:00, Fri–Sat nocturnes 22:00, Sun 09:00–18:30; tickets online (mondial.paris — 500,000+ expected, skip lines); Porte A2 public entrance; Metro 12 + T2/T3a + Vélib + taxi; strike day thirteen (notices to Oct 20 — spine lines, app line by line). Calmest day Tuesday; festive nights Friday–Saturday. Practical wins: arrive 9:30, book Test Center + autonomy ahead, dinner off-peak, lasers at dusk.

The plan: day-one playbook, updated

Confirmed metal changes the route. Route: Hyundai 5.2 first (Bayon world car — touch it), Forthing + Li Auto (twins + strategy), Renault Hall 6 (French offensive), smart #2 (Geely world premiere, tridion cell), Dacia Striker (C-segment value), awards afternoon (main stage), Laser Show evening (Terrace 6). Tuesday = calmest day — use it: 9:30 arrival, premieres first, lunch off-peak, awards mid-afternoon, lasers at dusk. Day one with yesterday’s headlines: the plan writes itself.

The verdict: day one winners

First impressions, counted. Hyundai: world-premiere traffic (Bayon queues longest). Forthing: twin-crowd curiosity (TK5 youth, TK7 families). Renault Hall 6: home-crowd volume (5,000m² can’t hide). smart #2: icon comeback glow. Start-ups: 4 winners, main-stage shine. Lasers: evening crowds peak. Day one verdicts are provisional — Saturday’s crowds decide. Winners today, judges Saturday.

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Getting there: strike day thirteen, same rails

Same rails, new day. Metro 12 + T2/T3a to Porte de Versailles (Porte A2 public entrance; Métro/Tram/Vélib/Taxi access). Strike day thirteen (notices to Oct 20): spine lines, app line by line, twenty minutes. Hours: Tue–Thu 09:30–20:00, Fri–Sat nocturnes 22:00, Sun 09:00–18:30; tickets online (500,000+ expected). Day one public: calmest crowds of the week — go today, beat Saturday.