Paris Motor Show

The Paris Motor Show holds the distinction of being the world's first-ever automobile exhibition. When the inaugural event took place in the Tuileries Garden in 1898, organizers required every vehicle to prove its reliability by driving from Paris to Versailles and back before it was allowed to be displayed. This rigorous test covered roughly twenty-five miles and ensured that only functional, self-propelled machines were presented to the public. The event was organized by Jules-Albert de Dion, a pioneer who wanted to showcase the potential of motorized transport. Despite the excitement of the 140,000 visitors who attended that first show, the French president at the time famously remained skeptical of the automobile's future and chose to depart the exhibition grounds in a horse-drawn carriage. Other citizens were equally wary, and some locals even threatened to use revolvers to stop the reckless early drivers who were reaching alarming speeds of up to thirty miles per hour.