KATHMANDU: The ‘WADA Auto Show 2082′ held in Pokhara is wrapping up today. Many might think it’s too early to comment before the show even closes. But no, there’s no need to wait for the right moment to say that the show was a complete failure, and the organizers own weaknesses are to blame.
The Western Automobile Dealers Association (WADA), the organizing body, is responsible for making this year’s show worse than the previous edition. To be clear, this isn’t about poor management inside the venue or badly built stalls.
In fact, stall construction, parking management, and overall venue organization were noticeably better than before. What was missing were visitors. And the biggest mistake for that falls squarely on the organizers.
Holding the auto show at the tourist area of Lakeside was a poor choice. The show needed to target people who actually live in and around Pokhara. That didn’t happen. As a result, barely anyone showed up to walk around. An auto show without visitors simply cannot be called a success.
Even people living right near Lakeside didn’t know an auto show was happening next door. Interestingly, Mahindra managed to pull crowds by organizing a street concert. WADA, however, failed to spread the word among the general public. That alone killed the show.
This may not feel like the organizer’s fault. They might say rain kept people away. But from the exhibitors’ perspective, the weather was definitely a villain in this story.
These three issues combined kept the show from becoming something grand. For automobile enthusiasts, this is deeply disappointing. The first edition was impressive, so why did the second edition fall apart so quickly? That’s a fair concern to have.
As auto shows begin gaining ground in other major cities too, there’s a lot to learn from Pokhara’s mistakes. For that, the organizers need to do an honest and critical review of themselves.
Exhibitors left disappointed
Many big brands had joined the show with great excitement. These included Hyundai, Maruti Suzuki, Tata, BYD, Kia, MG, Proton, Maxus, Forthing, Nissan, Omoda/Jaecoo, iCAUR, and Kaiyi.
Around 10 two-wheeler brands were also present; TVS, Yamaha, Royal Enfield, Zontes, Ather, and more. Six brands showcased light commercial vehicles and one brand brought heavy commercial vehicles.
On top of that, companies selling garage equipment, batteries, tires, lubricants, and other auto components also participated. But the poor turnout of visitors left everyone frustrated.
Some unsolicited suggestions
The organizers didn’t ask for feedback but for an event of this public importance, a few thoughts feel worth sharing.
Before organizing any fair or exhibition, the location must be chosen carefully. Changing the venue every year creates confusion. Even loyal followers of the show end up losing track.
If people don’t know about the event, they won’t show up. That hurts everyone connected to the show. Simple branding around Pokhara’s main market area could have made a real difference and that was clearly missing.
They also need to put in effort to attract visitors. Offering special deals or attractive schemes would bring people in. Going forward, exhibitors should be encouraged to bring some kind of offer to the show.
Weather forecasts are now available two months in advance. Organizers should check the forecast before announcing show dates, that way, there’s no reason to regret it later.
