Tokyo Show may be called off

The Japan Automobile Manufacturers' Association (JAMA) is debating whether to call off the 2009 show as carmakers pull out, according to Automotive News.

Toshihiro Iwatake, the trade group's executive director, has told the industry newspaper that some non-Japanese companies do not plan to participate this year because of the recession.

Some JAMA members want to cancel the event to avoid a smaller show that might reflect poorly on them. Iwatake says the group will decide by early next month.

This year's will be the 41st Tokyo Show, the event is held every two years. Press previews in Tokyo are slated for October 21-22, and the show would be open to the public from October 23-November 8.

Detroit also faced similar problems this year in worsening economic conditions. Ferrari, Land Rover, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Rolls Royce and Suzuki opted not to participate in the US show this year while presentations were much more low key than usual.

Detroit Show organisers say while it has been tougher than usual to pull together they have been pleased with the result. In some cases, dealers clubbed together to take stand space to represent non-attending car makers.

One of the organisers told headlineauto he was pleased with the result. "I think the low key presentations work - it means the car is the star and that's the way it should be."

He added that the organisers may in future limit stand size to give the show a more "European" feel.

[IMG]http://www.oneshift.com/showroom/uploadimages/resized-2009011714721734.jpg[/IMG]

Credits: JRC