This year's Tokyo Motor Show? JAMA Be There (but most of the world's automakers won't)
What if one of the world's preeminent auto nations threw a party and nobody came? That's the question on everyone's minds today as the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) has announced that most of the world's major automakers have decided to sit out this fall's show. We already knew about the Detroit 3 taking a pass, but now, word from Automotive News is that Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes, Renault, Volkswagen and Volvo will apparently be skipping out as well. In a news conference that JAMA chairman Satoshi Aoki called a "once-in-a-hundred-years crisis," the organization confirmed to media members that just 122 exhibitors will hawk their wares – nearly half of 2007's total of 241. The departure of those manufacturers represents a loss estimated to be in the tens of millions of dollars for JAMA and the local economy (if not more), as costs associated with mounting a single show stand often reaches into seven-figures.
Of those 241 parties that still remain, Japan's eight primary automakers have signed on (Daihatsu, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota), and Hyundai will join as well. On the high-end front, only Alpina, Lotus, Ferrari, Maserati, and Porsche have committed.
Rumors swirled as recently as in January that the show might be canceled altogether, but organizers have evidently decided that a scaled-down show is better than no show at all. Other outlets are reporting that JAMA will reduce the event's Makuhari Messe footprint from four show halls to two. Additionally, public days are reportedly shortening up as well, with the original run of October 23 to November 8 being cut down – the show will now close November 4.
[Source: Automotive News, subs. req]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
NT 5:45PM (3/24/2009)
Well what do you expect when you erect such high importation borders that no one bothers to look at imported brands seriously. Makes have less cash no than ever before, and suddenly spending money on a region that is worth little at best makes even less cents.
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Mazda FTW! 5:51PM (3/24/2009)
Well said.
tankd0g 7:06PM (3/24/2009)
Funny didn't someone say this about the US auto shows too? :) If I had enough case for one auto show, China is obviously the one I'd spend it on.
refugee7 9:51PM (3/24/2009)
~NT
Exactly.
Tourian 6:26PM (3/24/2009)
Not surprising that all the Japanese brands are showing up to defend their home turf. It makes little sense for other brands to stretch and splurge on a show in such a protected market. Every import their is a niche player.
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mohamed 5:25AM (3/25/2009)
the production version of the lexus LFA
and the toyobaru 'll be their
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