The Intermot show in Cologne (also called the Cologne bike show) has hit the headlines today as it announces it will return to being an annual event, and not the biennial show it has been in recent years.
It will also now reside in the winter for the first time, inhabiting a December date (scheduled for 5 to 8 December) and not the October window used previously. Announcing the news on its website, Intermot’s organisers have claimed the change has "won over major market players, such as BMW Motorrad Germany, Kawasaki Motors Europe N.V. and Yamaha Motor Europe N.V." who are already reported to be taking part.
The show first took place in Munich in 1998, before moving to its permanent home, Koelnmesse, in Cologne in 2006.
Much of the issue with the event was down to its date, and as a relative outlier in the motorcycle event industry, when most bike expos happen nearer to Christmas and therefore more in line with new model releases having taken place, it struggled to win over brands and footfall dropped. The new date, although putting it in direct competition with the likes of Motorcycle Live and EICMA, should at least mean manufacturers will have some new bikes to exhibit and as a result more demand for tickets.
The announcement on the Intermot website reads:
"As well as switching to an annual cycle, INTERMOT is also moving to a new date: for the first time, Cologne will host Germany’s most thrilling motorcycle fair in winter, from 5 to 8 December. Perfectly timed for getting a new season of biking off to a great start in the following spring – after all, many purchasing decisions are made towards the end of the year. With all the new models on display at INTERMOT, it’s a chance not only to see them but also to actually touch and experience them in person. At INTERMOT, the teams of motorbike and scooter manufacturers and importers will be on hand to offer advice and help everyone find their dream bike and, of course, the right accessories for both rider and vehicle!"
Intermot will take place between 5 and 8 December 2024, more information can be found on the official website.
