Tokyo Motor Show losing its Lustre; More automakers pull out citing cost of attendance amidst falling sales and industry downturn

May 24, 2009 at 8:47 pm

(Source: Wheels Blog – NY Times & Autoblog)

Asia’s premier auto exhibition, the Tokyo Motor Show, held every other fall at the sprawling Makuhari Messe convention center, is still scheduled to take place Oct. 23-Nov. 4, but the cast of characters shrinks almost daily.  The exhibition has suffered in recent years with sales declines in the Japanese domestic market. Now, automakers around the world are experiencing sales and production slowdowns and are canceling plans for many new models.

Image Courtesy: Tokyo Motor Show

The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association confirmed in a news release that in addition to the Japanese automakers, only three foreign companies remain committed to the show. At least 22 other major manufacturers have pulled out, including the Detroit Three, all the German automakers, the French, the Swedes and even the Chinese. As of Thursday, Porsche and Maserati are the latest two brands to pull out of the biennial Tokyo Motor Show. That brings the tally to 22 foreign brands sitting out the Japanese showcase, leaving Hyundai, Ferrari, and Lotus to duel for import honors.   As with the other brands that have decided to pass on this year’s show, Porsche and Maserati cited the cost of attendance.
And even though Japan‘s 14 domestic makers are expected to show in force, the country’s four largest truck makers have said they won’t be coming. At least one report has said there will be half as many cars this year as there were two years ago.  Said a show spokesman, “It is unprecedented to see such a large number of carmakers not coming to the motor show. It’s disappointing.”

In fact, the display area for the 2009 show will be less than half of what it was in 2007, the last time the show was held. That show, in turn, was substantially smaller than the one in 2005. This year, the show is also being shortened by four days. Canceling the show entirely, J.A.M.A. said, would complicate its ability to revive it in future years.

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