The (auto) show goes on in Beijing

The Beijing Auto Show was an early casualty of coronavirus having originally been scheduled for April. That the show opened is vindication of how effective China’s containment of Covid-19 has been. Even a second wave that directly affected Beijing around mid-June did not lead to the show’s cancellation. It is in fact the only major international show to have taken place in 2020.

One of the first obvious differences for a Chinese show is that the media do not get physical badges. Instead entry is via either Chinese identity card or foreign passport and the media approval letter. There is also the need to show the Beijing Health Kit code which you apply for using WeChat, a Chinese app equivalent to Whatsapp on steroids. Due to the entry restrictions it was largely impossible for anyone to come to China specially for the show – the few foreigners allowed in are subject to 14 days quarantine.

Unlike Shanghai, where I am based, measures in Beijing to combat the virus are far stricter – most probably because of the relatively recent outbreak. Many buildings and hotels require people to show the Health Kit code which includes your photograph. Inside the show, face masks are de rigueur with security guards stationed in the corridors and at the entrances of halls barking at offenders to replace removed masks. Some OEMs were giving away masks as a useful branded gift – I’ve been given so many by Human Horizons that I am probably now set up in a side business selling them.

Despite all the measures in place foot fall does not seem to be down dramatically. Yes there are fewer visitors from overseas with a notable absence of big wigs from the OEMs, but Chinese attendance is perhaps only slightly down due to better filtering to see who really is a journalist.

At the launch of the Human Horizons HiPhi X on Thursday evening there was a notable attempt at social distancing with seats placed around a metre from the ones to either side but not the ones in front or behind. However at the actual Motor Show despite signs near the hall entrances reminding people to undertake social distancing no further concrete measure were taken. Unlike in many countries social distancing has not actually been a large part of China’s response to Covid-19 most probably due to practical reasons in China’s densely populated cities.

While a lot of the cars being shown at Beijing are not exactly new it is often the first time that they have really been seen in public due to the lack of events this year. The Polestar Precept concept is a prime example. Originally set for a Geneva debut, following that shows cancellation the unveiling went digital and we got to see it today for the first time in the metal. Elsewhere, we were treated to the stunning Enpulse by GAC, a rebooted MG 5 and a sleek concept car, the Eureka 03 by Neta.

Although the importance of motor shows has been waning for some years it appears the coronavirus is not the nail in the coffin. From Beijing we can see that given the right societal actions large public events are not consigned to the history books and that perhaps we can look forward to a more normal calendar of motor shows in 2021.