(R)EVOLUTION - Paul-Jean Souriau

Paul-Jean Souriau – A motor show for the future of the automobile

In the 1970s, as the automotive industry underwent rapid transformation, one man stood out for his intuition and energy: Paul-Jean Souriau, president of the FIEV. All who knew him remember him as a charismatic leader, passionate about his work, attentive to technological developments and, above all, convinced that the automotive industry could not be limited to manufacturers alone. “The automotive industry also thrives on its equipment manufacturers, repairers and services. That is where its sustainability lies,” he liked to repeat with conviction.

It was from this intuition that the idea for a major event was born. Paul-Jean Souriau could already see the upheavals to come: the growing importance of after-sales, the arrival of new technologies, the need to train and equip garages. But he also noticed something missing: the industry did not yet have a place for exchange and promotion. With his characteristic determination, he proposed the creation of a trade show entirely dedicated to equipment, services and technical innovations. “We needed an event where everyone could appreciate the importance of the developments that were going to transform the automotive industry. Equip Auto was to be that hub,” he explained during the initial preparations.

From the very first edition, the idea proved to be a success. Professionals flocked to the show, discovering not only new products but also a shared vision of their future. Equip Auto quickly became an international success, a showcase for French expertise and an essential venue for professional meetings. The show took on a dimension that went far beyond stands and demonstrations: it became a strategic platform where the roadmap for the automotive industry of tomorrow was being drawn up.

Over the decades, the history of Equip Auto has been written in step with major changes in the sector. In the 1980s, the show accompanied the rise of electronic technologies. In the 1990s and 2000s, it reflected environmental concerns and the emergence of on-board electronics. More recently, it has embraced the challenges of electric, connected and sustainable mobility, remaining true to the spirit of its founder: anticipating the future in order to better prepare for it.

But behind this event, which has become an institution, remains the figure of Paul-Jean Souriau, a visionary who understood before many others the importance of giving the industry a platform for expression. By launching Equip Auto, he did not just create a trade show: he gave an entire profession a stage, a meeting place and a common horizon. More than fifty years later, his legacy lives on, reminding us that innovation only makes sense if it serves the men and women who make cars.