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Slump runs London Motor Show off road
Lucy Tobin19.03.09
The 2010 International Motor Show in Docklands was cancelled today as the recession claimed its latest high-profile victim.
Nearly 500,000 visitors have attended in recent years, making it Britain's biggest consumer exhibition.
But struggling car companies have been forced to rein in spending and only a few big firms had signed up for the biennial event. And Organisers at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders have pulled the plug.
Society chief executive Paul Everitt said: "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.
"The show is hugely popular with the public, and has been attracting increasing numbers of visitors over recent years, making the decision to cancel the 2010 show extremely difficult."
Car companies have been demanding ever-bigger bail-outs from the Government as their sales collapse. Leading plants, including those making Vauxhall, Nissan and Mini cars, have slashed manufacturing. The industry has seen heavy redundancies.
In January production of new cars was down 58 per cent compared with January last year. The society's data on car and commercial vehicle production for last month, due tomorrow, is expected to show another big fall. Last year the Motor Show drew 470,000 visitors, its mixture of live music, 4x4 rides and stunt shows appealing to families as well as petrolheads.
It returned to London in 2006, after several years at Birmingham's NEC arena.
But many of the bigger brands, such as Audi, BMW, Volvo, Fiat and Volkswagen, stayed away from the 2008 show. Today Mr Everitt said: "When the economic situation improves we will be back."
Reader views (4)
Cancel the olympics and save billions. The cost has already spiralled out of control and Coe, Jowell, et al are in denial. The country is now bankrupt and it is lunacy to continue to pour millions into sports venues which will fall into decay once the olympic athletes have left the country.
- R.F., Yorks, UK
How about a National Bike Show?
- Mickyinlondon, london
As Steve says cancel the Olympics now rather than lumber our youth of today with more debts for the rest of their lives. UK is already broke with £trillion+ debts why make it worse with another Dome like 'White Elephant'?
- Mike, London England
Good,now call off the Olympics.
- Steve, London
