London Motor Show Cancelled

[Wizzo]

The 2010 Motor Show has been cancelled as the industry struggles to survive through the recession.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said: "The economic downturn and the unprecedented challenges facing the industry both in the UK and around the world, have made it impossible for exhibitors to commit to a 2010 event."

The SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt said: "The British International Motor Show is the UK's largest consumer exhibition, hugely popular with the public, and has been attracting increasing numbers of visitors over recent years, making the decision to cancel the 2010 Show an extremely difficult one. However, the global credit crunch has placed the automotive sector under unique pressure and has created a level of uncertainty that deters manufacturers from committing to large-scale, international events."

Speaking on behalf of International Motor Industry Events (imie), the organisers of the British International Motor Show, joint managing director Rob Mackenzie said: "Given the great strides that the Motor Show has taken since its return to London, we fully endorse the decision to postpone BIMS until market conditions will again permit us to deliver a world class event that truly showcases the UK industry."

[Scott]

I think that's a HUGE mistake.  Two budgets that should be maintained throughout any financial crisis are the R&D budgets and the marketing budgets.  The car manufacturer's need to make their actual manufacturing more lean and green, but not sacrifice the advertising and trade shows.  I wonder if this is just the first domino to fall.  Trade shows around the world may start shutting down.

[Wizzo]

I agree totally SD, car manufacturers cannot fall behind with R&D and I'm a firm believer that in times like these they cannot afford NOT to advertise.

[cosworth151]

Right you are. Cutting back on R&D and marketing sends firms into a death spiral. It causes sales to drop further, which leads to further cutbacks, which leads to even further drops in sales.......