Paris Motor Show Opens: Press Day Today, Public Tomorrow

Paris becomes the car capital today — first for the press, tomorrow for everyone. Six public days, five halls, world premieres by the dozen, and half a million visitors expected. Here is the Monday guide in seven laps: today, tomorrow, the premieres, the halls, the nights, the tickets, and getting there.

From the show floor — Elena Marsh: Programme via mondial.paris (91st edition Oct 12–18, press Mon, public Tue–Sun hours, 500,000+ visitors, 5 halls, start-up awards Oct 13, Tao Love Bus), Hyundai EU (press conf today 15:05 Hall 5.2 Stand A12 1,115m²: B-SUV world + C-SUV European + derivative + first eLCV + IONIQ 6 N Zone + 12 vehicles), electrive (Forthing 2 world premieres Oct 12), electrifying.com (Li Auto debut, Aito, GAC Aion, Lucid, Moke, ipop), OICA (500,000 visitors). Official programme only — reveals as announced.

Today: press day, cameras first

Monday belongs to the media. Press day TODAY, Mon Oct 12 — press conferences all day (full schedule on mondial.paris/press), reveals under embargo lifting through the afternoon. Hyundai 15:05, Hall 5.2, Stand A12: the day’s anchor conference. consequence: today’s headlines, tomorrow’s halls. If you follow car news, today is Christmas morning — refresh the feeds. If you visit, wait for Tuesday: Monday’s doors stay shut to the public.

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Tomorrow: six public days

Then everyone. PUBLIC Tue Oct 13–Sun Oct 18: Tue–Thu 09:30–20:00 (last entry 19:00), Fri 09:30–22:00 nocturne, Sat 09:00–22:00 nocturne, Sun 09:00–18:30 (last entry 17:30). Six days, two late nights, one closing Sunday. Strategy: Tuesday for space (opening calm), Friday–Saturday nights for atmosphere (festive nocturnes), Sunday morning for bargains of time (short day, thinner crowds). 500,000+ visitors expected — the mornings belong to the early.

The premieres: Hyundai, Forthing, China wave

The metal that matters. Hyundai (Hall 5.2, Stand A12, 1,115m², 12 vehicles): world premiere B-segment SUV + European premiere C-segment SUV + new derivative + first all-electric Light Commercial Vehicle (eLCV entry!) + IONIQ 6 N Zone (immersive sound, performance DNA). Forthing: 2 world premieres (urban users + families; 20-inch alloys, 15.6-inch screen teasers; Paris skyline positioning). China wave: Li Auto European debut, Aito present, GAC Aion UK-bound EV reveal, plus Lucid (continental reminder), Moke upgraded e-buggy, ipop lightweight two-seater. Premieres as announced — the stands confirm the rest.

The Chinese wave: Li Auto, Aito, GAC

The show’s second story. Li Auto European debut (electrifying.com confirms attendance) + Aito present + GAC Aion UK-bound EV reveal + Forthing’s two world premieres + Avatr’s 630kW flagship noise from Australia. The Chinese wave isn’t coming — it’s parked in Hall 7. Urban users, multi-member families, 20-inch alloys, 15.6-inch screens: the spec-sheet war goes public. Europe’s brands answer with heritage; China’s answer with hardware. Walk both aisles; compare honestly.

The families: kids at the Mondial

Bring them. Tao Love Bus (outdoor, daily — music aboard a vintage van), Test Center viewing (kids watch test drives), (Un)limited supercars (posters for bedrooms), start-up robots (Industry 5.0 demos). The Mondial does families: wide aisles, food courts, rest zones. Tuesday–Thursday for strollers (calm); nocturnes for teens (lights + music). Five halls, three generations, one ticket each. The car bug bites young — bring the next drivers.

Tuesday: opening-day playbook

First public day, best chances. Tuesday 09:30–20:00: calmest crowds, full halls, fresh stands, short Test Center lines (reserve anyway). Arrive 9:30 (opening beat), halls in order (premieres first, curiosities after), lunch off-peak (12:00 or 14:30), start-up awards afternoon (main stage). Tuesday sets the week’s standard: see everything once, revisit favourites at nocturnes. Opening day: early, ordered, unhurried. Tuesday’s calm never returns — use it fully, revisit at nocturnes. Six days, five halls, half a million visitors — starting tomorrow. Paris, the car capital, all week.

The halls: five worlds, one ticket

Five halls, one ticket. The show spans performance, innovation and passion across the latest models of the biggest brands — plus the Test Center (Hall 7.1, reservation-only): real-world test drives on a designed course, book ahead. The (Un)limited Area (heart of 7.1, 700m²): exceptional vehicles, prestigious brands, rare models, some shown for the first time anywhere. The start-up competition awards Tue Oct 13 (4 categories: AI & Autonomous Vehicle, Industry 5.0 & Robotics, Decarbonization & Impact, Mobility & Services — jury of top managers, main-stage pitches). The Tao Love Bus (outdoor, daily): musical performance aboard a vintage van. Five halls, seven days of programming, one ticket.

The nights: Friday and Saturday nocturnes

The show after dark. Fri 09:30–22:00 and Sat 09:00–22:00 nocturnes — festive atmosphere, lights, crowds, music. The nocturnes are the show’s second face: families by day, enthusiasts by night. Plan dinner around it (Porte de Versailles restaurants fill), stay for the lights, leave before the last-entry rush reverses. Two nights only — the rest closes at eight (six-thirty Sunday).

The tickets: buy online, skip lines

Half a million people, one website. Tickets at mondial.paris — buy online, skip the gates’ lines (96,000 taught the Chocolat fair; 500,000 will teach the Mondial). Best value: Tuesday–Thursday day slots (calm + full hours); best atmosphere: nocturnes (book the evening explicitly). Students, families, pros: check categories online. The ticket is the easy part — the planning is the article you’re reading.

Getting there: strike day twelve, tram included

Porte de Versailles serves wheels well. Metro line 12 + T2/T3a trams straight to the Expo — the rare Paris fairground with three rails. Strike day twelve (notices to Oct 20): lines 1/14 spine, app line by line, twenty minutes on everything. The 12 runs; the trams run; the feet work. Bonus: Fête de la Science ends TODAY (Université Paris Cité finale Oct 8–10 run closes) — science by day, motors by week. The car capital calls — answer by tram.