The Australian Automobile Dealers Association (Queensland), organiser of the Brisbane International Motor Show, has today announced that the 2009 show (6-15 February) has been held over until 2010. A shortfall in exhibitor numbers due to the global economic downturn is being cited as the main reason behind the cancellation of the 2009 event, with organisers stating that it was “no longer financially viable and would not be particularly attractive to the public”.
The Brisbane International Motor Show has been staged annually since its inception in 1964, and organising Chairman Chris Beecham has indicated that the focus will now shift immediately to the planned 2010 event.
“We will return in 2010 with a fresh and relevant focus. Along with the economic circumstances that have caused this decision, the motor industry is clearly re-evaluating its involvement in motor shows and we will meet that challenge,” Mr Beecham said.
“We already had some new concepts to introduce in 2009 to attract exhibitors and show visitors and these will be included in 2010, along with other ideas developed from the feedback of car companies.”
The Brisbane Motor Show is not the only motor show to suffer, as manufacturers wind back their multi-million dollar commitment to motor show displays. TMR attended the Sydney International Motor Show earlier this year, an event that was shunned by a number of significant brands, Mercedes-Benz and Audi just to name a couple. International events such as the Los Angeles International Motor Show have suffered similarly, while it is believed that manufacturers are currently eyeing next year’s Detroit Motor Show with some trepidation.
“We appreciate the decisions of manufacturers and importers to not come to Brisbane has largely been forced upon them by budget cuts by their overseas masters,” he said.
“The overseas problems have come all the way down the line to the local level and we have to take responsible decisions. Without a number of key brands, the show would not have been attractive to the public who expect to see a comprehensive line-up of what the industry has for sale.”
Industry sources TMR has spoken to report that the Melbourne Motor Show is not affected, with, it is understood, nearly all manufacturers and importers confirmed for the Melbourne event.
The cancellation of the Brisbane Motor Show is a sign of the times. As the number of no-shows among manufacturers at last year’s Sydney Motor Show demonstrated, they do not want to bear the cost of appearing at multiple motor shows across Australia. The likelihood of Brisbane securing a show in 2010 may be more in hope than a genuine reality.
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What a bunch of crying nana’s - economic crisis my arse !
How about a ill run operation for many years.
At one time, I could go see all the car manufactures, the aftermarket guys, the bikes and the Morgan & Wacker girls - and it was worth going for the whole day.
Hears a thought - Maybe the rents that the organisers are charging may have something to do with it? hmmm ?
This year I spent and hour and a half at the show - no wonder I jump on a plane and go see a proper Motorshow in Melbourne / Sydney.
The Brisbane Motorshow has been and institution for years (I’m 40 yo) and it got through the 70’s fuel crisis, the 80’s 4cyl madness and the sloth of the 90’s.
RIP Brisbane Motor Show - you will be missed.
Spare a thought for all the subcontractors that assemble these major displays. They are now caught with worthless contracts to supply goods thay are committed to pay for and not use. They have to be pleasent to the manufactures who have cancelled with little thought to the lively hoods of the down stream suppliers. A brutle start to 2009.
Agree with most of these comments, though think Brisbane Motor Show is/was as good as Sydney, though not as large. I’m sure that cars sold there would justify most manufacturers attending. And those that don’t? Who cares!! There is a culture in this city and in this country that Brisbane doesn’t really deserve to international events and in this case, the promoters obviously agree. Even local politicians are loathe to promote, support and sponsor these types of events. I’m sure that no other Australian city would allow such an event to be cancelled.