Luxembourg is a car nation, even if no vehicles are being manufactured in the country, many inhabitants are car enthusiasts. Going to one or more car dealers’ showrooms has become a tradition in many families.
“Autofestival (25 January to 8 February 2021) has always been the opportunity par excellence to find out about new technical trends and achievements in the automotive industry,” explains Philippe Mersch, chairman of the “Fédération des distributeurs d’automobiles et de la mobilité” (FEDAMO).
Of course, the festival is mainly about selling cars. And figures prove the importance of the event: according to experience, up to 30 percent of all sales are made in the months of January and February. For smaller dealerships, the festival is often the period in which a substantial part of the entire year’s sales takes place.
Why a festival at the beginning of the year? The answer is clear: the date usually ties in seamlessly with the Belgian Motor Show, which - except this year - takes place in mid-January. The link with Belgium comes from the fact that about 70 percent of all cars sold in Luxembourg are imported via Belgium. In addition, the timing is perfect: the car is ordered in winter and then delivered a few months later when spring arrives.
New trends are always emerging at the Autofestival. “It’s clearly going in favour of electrified cars,” says Philippe Mersch. Whether it’s all-electric cars, hybrid drives or plug-in hybrids, the sales figures are steadily increasing. “We also notice time and again that engine performance plays an important role. Driving has to be fun, and for many customers this includes a powerful drive,” emphasises the FEDAMO chairman, pointing out that safety and comfort aspects are decisive in the purchase decision.
To underline the economic importance of the automotive sector in Luxembourg, just these key figures: 5,000 employees and a purely sales-based annual turnover of around 1.5 billion euros.
However, while 55,000 new cars were registered in 2019, the sector expects a decline of up to 12,000 units in 2020. “The pandemic is not leaving us unscathed,” says Philippe Mersch, and in this very context he points to the sanitation concept that has been worked out especially for the festival. The aim is to maintain a bit of normality in difficult times. “We focus on distance and hygiene and want to promote appointments before coming to a showroom,” says the FEDAMO chairman.
