Gaborone Motor Show a blast
e 2024 Shell Gaborone Motor Show was a hit, following in the success of the 2023 edition. As usual, almost all the car dealerships in Gaborone made their presence felt at the popular event, which has grown signi cantly over the past decade. Car enthusiasts, both young and old, thronged e Fields Mall to get up close and personal with their favorite car brands. For local car dealers, it was a time to market themselves and gain much- needed exposure from the two- day event, which was concluded this past Saturday. Some of the dealerships present included BMW, Mercedes- Benz, Toyota, Ford, JAC, Haval, GWM, Chery, Suzuki, Subaru, Peugeot, Shacman, Honda, MAN Diesel, and Isuzu, to name a few.
Starting at a lower gear on the opening day this past Friday, the 2024 Motoring Show picked up momentum on Saturday, partly due to the arrival of supercars overnight from South Africa. is supercar convoy included a Lamborghini Urus, Lamborghini Huracan, and Porsche 911. e absence of the supercar factor last year certainly had an e ect on the number of attendees while in 2024, the exotic vehicles left a lasting impression, particularly among the youth. Nonetheless, there was still plenty to see at the Motor Show, including car accessory dealers and other motoring industry suppliers.
On the organizational front, Starship Media, the organizer of the car show, will be planning for the next edition in 2025. ey will need to come up with even better ideas and new innovative concepts. e challenge of the Motor Show in Botswana lies in the absence of manufacturing plants in the country, resulting in virtually all vehicles on display being imported. Without a thriving car assembly and manufacturing sector, there will always be challenges in hosting a headline motors show that attracts international media.
Meanwhile, some of the best motoring shows in the world, such as the Geneva and Frankfurt auto shows, have witnessed decline due to bleak global economic situations. However, shows like the Beijing Auto show, Tokyo Auto Show and the Johannesburg Auto Show in neighboring South Africa continue to thrive. It will be interesting to see what Starship Media will bring to the next Gaborone Motor Show next year.
Speaking during the launch of the 2024 Gaborone Motor Show, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Transport and Public Works, BC Malatsi, emphasized the importance of Motor Shows in any automotive industry. He stated: “Motor Shows are important as they o er a chance for dealers and manufacturers to showcase their best to the market in which they operate. ey provide an excellent opportunity to receive valuable feedback on products while o ering a unique sales platform.”