At 42 years, Romain Grabowski embodies a generation of leaders capable of reconciling tradition and modernity, emotion and strategy, mechanical culture and marketing vision.
Since October 2022, Romain Grabowski has been managing the legendary salon RétromobileA true Parisian institution, born in 1976 and which has become over the decades the temple of classic cars. Under his impetus, the event has been transformed: more vibrant, more daring, more rooted in its time, without ever betraying the original spirit.
His credo is simple: "To pass on the passion for automobiles to all generations." This guiding principle now drives his entire young team, as passionate as he is, in a pursuit of excellence that combines heritage and innovation. And in parallel, he is already preparing the launch of a spectacular new event: Ultimate Supercar Garage, scheduled for January 2026. A project that promises to unite the prestige of contemporary design with the timeless fascination of mechanical performance.
Roots in passion, a journey forged on the circuits
Romain Grabowski's passion for cars wasn't forged in showrooms, but in paddocks and workshops. He grew up surrounded by Italian coachwork and the scent of burnished leather, later turning to motorsport. He followed his instincts and let opportunities guide him. He subsequently discovered the logistics of major events like the 4L Trophy and the Roses des Sables Trophy.
But it was at Motul, which he joined in 2010, that his talent truly blossomed. In twelve years, he became a leading figure in global automotive marketing, building iconic partnerships with the Dakar Rally, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Goodwood Revival, and MotoGP. A strategist as much as a storyteller, he redefined Motul's identity, transforming it into an emotional brand founded on motor culture and the preservation of automotive heritage.
In parallel, he himself participates in several legendary races at the wheel of classic cars that he often restores himself. A way of embodying his passion right down to the dust of the tracks.
He cherishes the ingenious pragmatism of classic cars, that disarming simplicity uncomplicated by any electronic systems. His 2CV, for example, symbolizes for him an era when automobiles were clever before they were sophisticated. An era when, without tools or instructions, you could remove the rear seat to improvise a picnic, open the canvas roof to slip in a bulky item, or change a tire on the side of the road without waiting for roadside assistance.
Simple, almost innocuous gestures, but which reflect a lost philosophy: that of a car made to live, to serve and to bring people together, much more than to impress.
Rétromobile: breathing new life into a legend
It was therefore quite natural for him to take the reins of Rétromobile, where every year more than 130,000 visitors stroll through the aisles of the Porte de Versailles to admire the treasures of classic automobiles. He will thus bring his own touch, his fresh perspective, and modernize without betraying its essence.
Under his direction, Rétromobile became a space where nostalgia blends with creativity. The exhibitions are staged like works of art: the 2025 edition, dedicated to the Citroën DS, made a lasting impression with the spectacular reconstruction of the 1959 DS Ballon, the result of six months of work between designers, craftsmen and mechanical schools.
This immersive, almost museum-like approach is accompanied by a desire for openness: to create a dialogue between past and future. Manufacturers sometimes display electric models alongside their iconic vehicles of yesteryear. "The two technologies are not in conflict, they are complementary."
France boasts an incredible automotive heritage, envied by many abroad. It must be preserved, and this motor show brings together a part of that heritage.
A man of ideas and actions
Romain Grabowski is not simply an event manager, but a director of automotive emotion. He conceives each event as a narrative: themed routes, tributes, interactive experiences. Under his guidance, the "Retro Drive" concept was born: an invitation to drive a classic car through Paris, then a modern model, to experience the connection between generations.
His exacting standards extend to the smallest details: the lighting in the halls, the quality of the carpeting, the way the cars are displayed. He ensures that the show is accessible to everyone: collectors, knowledgeable enthusiasts, curious families, and the younger generation. For him, the key to its continued success lies in passing on the knowledge: "If we want these vehicles to keep on the road, we also need to talk about the trades, the training, the expertise."
The partnership with theNational Institute of Arts and Crafts (INMA) illustrates this ambition: to promote artisans labeled Living Heritage Companies, guarantors of French excellence recognized throughout the world.
In 2026, he achieved the incredible: bringing together for the first time in France the mythical BMW Art CarsThese rolling artworks were born half a century ago under the impetus of the visionary Hervé Poulain. An adventure where art and speed merge, where the greatest creators – Alexander Calder, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Jeff Koons and others – traded canvas for car bodies to leave their eternal mark.
This achievement, made possible thanks to the perseverance of Romain Grabowski and the international reach of Rétromobile, celebrates the meeting between two worlds that are seemingly opposed: aesthetics and mechanics, contemplation and movement.
A historic first in France, and undoubtedly one of the finest demonstrations of how a salon can become a living museum, where art literally comes to life.
A vision at the crossroads of the past and the future
In a rapidly changing automotive world, Romain Grabowski defends a conviction: passion will never disappear, it transforms. Faced with standardization, norms, and electrification, he sees in classic cars – and supercars – a form of art in motion, a poetic resistance to uniformity.
He translates this philosophy into his salons: places where people come not just to see, but to experience. Where the human touch is celebrated as much as the genius of the engineer. Where one learns that the future of mobility is not opposed to its past, but rather inspired by it.
Romain Grabowski belongs to that rare category of leaders who put their teams first and for whom passion is not a slogan, but an identity. From the little boy who dreamed in the 2CVs of the junkyard to the director who orchestrates the most beautiful stages in the world, the common thread has remained unchanged: curiosity, respect for heritage, and the desire to share.
Rétromobile celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026. It kicks off the season, the springtime of classic cars, a stage where the history of French and global automobiles unfolds each year. And with the new area dedicated to supercars, Ultimate Supercar Garage, it is preparing to write the next chapter, one where mechanical excellence becomes a total art form.
SAVE THE DATE
28 January - 01 February 2026
Paris Expo – Porte de Versailles
Corinne Bedrossian
Photo credit: ©André Ferreira for Rétromobile
