[2][3] In 1899, a year before RAI was established, the first automobiles were already officially on display during the bicycle exhibition that opened on 16 March at the Palace of Industry.

Until 1913, the automobile, motorcycle and bicycle exhibition took place regularly, but because the organisation found the palace rent too high, it stopped the shows.

Only in 1922, when they had built their own, yet temporary building at Ferdinand Bolstraat in Amsterdam (the 'Oude RAI'), the exhibition resumed again and would stay there for some forty years.

In 1961, the first AutoRAI took place in the new building at Europaplein, still its current location, which has grown into a big exhibition and conference center.

Japanese manufacturers thus had a neutral ground (away from the spotlights of Geneva) where they could be expected to make their European premieres of cars already shown at home.