From Makuhari to Serdang: How Tokyo Auto Salon Grew Into the Show Coming to Malaysia This Week

Tokyo Auto Salon Malaysia 2026 (TASM) opens at MAEPS, Serdang, on Friday, 2 October. Many visitors will know it as a big JDM weekend. The show behind it, though, has more than 40 years of history in Japan. Here's how Tokyo Auto Salon got from a Japanese exhibition hall to the Klang Valley.

Started in 1983

According to Wikipedia's history of the event, Tokyo Auto Salon began in 1983 as the "Tokyo Exciting Auto Show" and took its current name in 1987. It was founded by Daijiro Inada and is run by the Tokyo Auto Salon Association. The show moved venues a few times before settling at Makuhari Messe in Chiba in 1999, where it is still held every January.

It has grown into one of the world's biggest aftermarket car shows. The 2019 edition had 330,666 visitors over three days, with 906 vehicles, 426 exhibitors and 4,175 booths.

Growing across Asia

International versions came before Malaysia's. According to Wikipedia:

• Thailand, 2012: The first international licensed edition, with more than 30 award-winning concept cars brought over from Japan.
• Singapore, 2013: Held at Marina Bay Sands.
• Kuala Lumpur, 2023: The first TAS KL, at MITEC from 9–11 June.

The KL edition did well from the start. CarSifu reported that 91,000 people attended in 2023. Japanese tuners Top Secret, Spoon, HKS and Greddy took part, and more than 100 locally modified cars entered the styling competition.

Why the new name matters

The 2026 show is called "Tokyo Auto Salon Malaysia" instead of "Kuala Lumpur". Paultan.org reported that the name change reflects a wider regional and international focus. When the event was announced in July, Tokyo Auto Salon's official site called it an official international licensed event and its "largest-scale event ever". It said organisers were inviting Japanese companies to exhibit and display vehicles.

Junichi Fukui, director-general of the organisers, described the show like this: "The Tokyo Auto Salon is more than just a car exhibition. It is a festival celebrating creativity, craftsmanship, innovation and community."

What that looks like at MAEPS

The official site and paultan.org list these features for this year:

• Custom JDM builds and aftermarket parts brands
• An outdoor area for drift demonstrations, which the old venue didn't have
• A-Class stage shows and meet-and-greets with Tokyo Auto Salon image girls from Japan
• Opening hours of 10am to 10pm, Friday to Sunday
• Tickets from RM48

Some cars will come straight from the Japan show. Custom house ALESS has said it will display the Crown sedan that won the Dress-up Sedan category at TAS 2026 in January.

Same weekend as F1

TASM runs from 2–4 October, the same days as F1's race at Sepang. Serdang and Sepang are both in southern Selangor, so car fans in the Klang Valley can go to both.

Key takeaways

• Tokyo Auto Salon started in 1983 and has been held at Makuhari Messe since 1999. It attracted 330,666 visitors in 2019.
• Licensed editions have been held in Thailand (2012), Singapore (2013) and Kuala Lumpur (2023).
• The first TAS KL drew 91,000 visitors, according to CarSifu.
• TASM 2026 runs 2–4 October at MAEPS Serdang, 10am–10pm, with tickets from RM48.

FAQ

When did Tokyo Auto Salon start? In 1983, as the Tokyo Exciting Auto Show. It was renamed Tokyo Auto Salon in 1987.

Is Tokyo Auto Salon Malaysia an official event? Yes. Tokyo Auto Salon's official Japanese site describes it as an official international licensed event.

Where and when is TASM 2026? At MAEPS, Serdang, Selangor, from 2–4 October 2026, open 10am–10pm daily.

Sources: Tokyo Auto Salon official site, Tokyo Auto Salon Malaysia, paultan.org, CarSifu, Wikipedia, Mountain Peak (ALESS)