British Motor Show toast for 2010
The British Motor Show has been canceled for 2010, as poor attendance and a weak economy have conspired to deep-six the bi-annual event. The news comes after a meeting of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the owners of the show for over 100 years. The British Motor Show was once a vibrant event for showcasing new cars and trucks in Britain, but recent shows have been a near total bust. The event once attracted over 900,000 visitors, but recent shows have drawn half that number. The show was even relocated to London in 2006, and organizers were rewarded with a further drop in attendance for their efforts. While the loss of the 2010 show is depressing for car-lovers, some are speculating that the show may be scuttled all-together due to its long and painful decline.
News of the cancellation follows tough results for auto shows world-wide. Several automakers skipped out on North American International Auto Show in Detroit, while rumors have persisted that the Tokyo Motor Show will be canceled altogether. In Australia, the Sydney show has been canceled, as well. This is bad news for auto show lovers everywhere (*raises hand*), and we're hoping the trend reverses itself soon.
[Source: Car Magazine]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
richard 8:53AM (3/19/2009)
I believe you mean "biennial", every two years. Biannual (no hyphen) means twice a year.
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Kitko 8:54AM (3/19/2009)
Well, the 2006 Motor Show that took place about 400 meters from my place wasn't really a show, more a car exhibition. Getting there was a nightmare - single tube line (DLR, actually), living nearby, any time I went out people, walking or driving, asked for direction as the road signs were confusing.
I'm not really surprised it got cancelled.
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Bloke 8:54AM (3/19/2009)
A real shame ... but the organisers should never have moved it from the Birmingham N.E.C. to begin with.
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Noidor 9:26AM (3/19/2009)
It's all the reasons above, plus I think government anti-car stance completely wiped out any reason to attend BMS. Communists have completely ruined UK...
darth_pies 10:33AM (3/19/2009)
Attendence isn't really the issue. The main reason its been canned is quite simply that manufacturers aren't willing to support a UK show. They were already wavering before the crunch, now they simply aren't going to pony up millions in cash to have their cars sat in a hall in east london for 2 weeks.
If you were a manufacturer, where would you be putting your limited marketing spend right now? The UK...or China, India and the far East? If you can only afford to do one big show in Europe, is it going to be London or Geneva?
Enough said.
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Bloke 11:07AM (3/19/2009)
Attendance has been a huge problem. I'm not sure if you're familiar with the London venue, but it was difficult to get to and relatively small. By contrast, the Birmingham NEC (one of the largest exhibition centres in Europe) was far larger and more accessible. The decision to move it permanently was held in disbelief by many in the industry.
Geneva, Paris and Frankfurt all have shows more famous and more prestigious as a result, however with Germany and the UK being the two largest markets in Europe (and the UK being home the world's largest company car market) then a show in both of the countries is extremely important on the show circuit.
the vegas style guy 11:21AM (3/19/2009)
Maybe the Brits should learn to drive on the normal side of the road.
Sorry, I'm bored and that's an easy way to stir up the hornets nest.
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Colin Smith 11:26AM (3/19/2009)
It doesn't matter where it is if the most interesting car makers don't bother to turn up, which is what was happening. No point in making all the effort to get there(and getting anywhere in Britain is a real effort) if the cars you want to see aren't on show.
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Sam 2:44PM (3/19/2009)
Why is getting to any where in Britain i real effort? I could easily get to London (from the North West) in just over three hours if i really want to.
Not particularly difficult.
Colin Smith 3:45PM (3/19/2009)
Broken roads, diversions, bad weather, idiot drivers, congestion, speed limits, filthy service centres; and then the cars I would want to see have not turned up. Better to just wait until they hit the showrooms. Also, the the NEC is in Birmingham, or rather near Birmingham, which I don't want to visit anyway (I went once), and Earl's Court is too small, and London is only accessible from my home by a crap rail service. So, Geneva it is. OK, a flight, but then you discover a delightful, clean city that works.
BigWill 1:29PM (3/19/2009)
I guess Monica Conyers is in England this week.
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