Brisbane Motor Show cancelled for 2009
November 25, 2008 by David Twomey
THE Brisbane International Motor Show, scheduled for February 6 to 15 next year, has been held over until 2010 because of a shortfall in exhibitor numbers resulting from the global economic downturn, organisers announced today.
The Australian Automobile Dealers Association (Queensland) said the cancellation of some manufacturer exhibition bookings, the latest being Toyota and Volkswagen, and the decision of others to not book meant the show would not be financially viable or attractive to the public.
Organising Chairman Chris Beecham said the show, which has been staged since 1964, would now focus immediately on the next event in February 2010.
“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.”
Mr Beecham said Brisbane was not alone in its situation. The recent Australian International Motor Show in Sydney was without many brands, Los Angeles show last week was down and manufacturers were reviewing their commitments to the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January.
“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.”
Print it: 
Noooooooooo!!!, Dam you credit crisis. The Motor Show is like Christmas to me, i have never missed a year (since it has been at the convention centre) at least working a few days on the stand.
And it begins…
The media have a lot to asnwer for when it comes to the true severity of the credit crunch.
This is a wise move. All manufacturers should look real close at their marketing spend and how they attract customers. Maybe they could direct more $ towards internet marketing campaigns and pass on some real savings to the customer, with lower purchase price or other incentives.
I’m always suspicious going into modern car showrooms with coffee machines and plasma TV’s etc, because ultimately its the customer that’s paying for all that. Same applies to the motor shows.
And what stand would that be Salesman?
:-)
greenroom,
Modern showrooms are assisted financially by the manufacturer. And the dealer sees it an investment back into the business. Customer satisfaction is critical to for manufacturer and distributor if you want to succeed. Yes, it is all focused towards volume of sales. But in order to achieve this, these clients need to feel well catered for, and welcomed into a warm and non pressure atmosphere. Dealers really do want you to have an unexpected, unprecedented, completely satisfying buying experience. And hopefully, you will remain a customer for life, as well as recommend the same experience to friends and family. As I see it, I would rather pay a little more for good service, just like you would at a restaurant, or hotel. In saying that if you shop around you will find theses dealers to be very aggressive in securing your business, no dealer wants to be beaten, on price or otherwise.
JasonP,
Those who frequent this site know i work for a multi franchise dealer on the North Coast in Brisbane. I am responsible for our Kia franchise. :)
So the supposedly “mega-rich, no problems with the current financial climate Toyota” pulled out……?
Could say the same thing for the fathers’ of “some” of their fans.
The Melbourne & Sydney Motor shows will be next. Manufacturers have been complaining for years about supporting two Major shows (SYD & MEL) a year in a market the size of Australia and have wanted just one Motor Show and to alternate the venue each year. Neither the Sydmey nor Melbourne organisers would agree to compromise their prefered dates but now this crisis will force the issue. Expect to see the Melbourne & Sydney Motor shows every second year too.
Rick.
Rick, I think Melb and Syd are doing the alternate year thing, from what I’ve read. Starting with Melb next year.
Mr Salesman
Yep, you’re right, but for me… most of the showroom hype is a cost that could be removed / scaled back. Jeez, its a car for god’s sake. Something of a commodity product that could easily be purchased off the internet. For me, if I wanna test drive, just log on and book a test drive. If I have an option to buy better with less overhead / expense, all the better. If I want a crap cup of coffee and some person in a pin stripe suit to jump on my back then I might consider the showroom crap… but why not have a less pretentious offer?
The costs of all these shows has been getting out of hand for some time so its no surprise to see this.Its also getting dear for the family to go and dear for the car makers to put up there displays.So who is making all the money must be the people who own the halls
lucky me i’m not in brisbane,i’m in sydney.
I am really going to miss it. Its one of the events I really look forward to. May have to travel to Sydney or Melbourne to get my fix.
greenroom,
I understand exactly what you mean.
Manufactures send out surveys to all customers about there experience with the dealer. Was the show room clean and tidy, were you attended to within three minutes, was the salesperson courteous, friendly, knowledgeable, clean and tidy in appearance, offer alternatives, ask appropriate questions. Did the dealer have the car you were looking for in stock, and so on.
This information goes directly back to the factory; if a dealer can not maintain a certain level of customer satisfaction they could lose their franchise, so you can see why presentation and professionalism is important.
Not all customers are the same, if you make it clear to the dealer what you expect, I guarantee they will do every thing they can to meet your expectations.
I agree with Adam re the Media have a lot to answer for.. Between them and our politicians, the world, and now Aussies are panicing.
our banks are doing OK and apart the slow down in spend due to panic, our economy seems OK in comparison.
Least fuel is down right now – but it always sad to hear about car manufacturer going under, and our beloved car shows dying.
I believe the Sydney show sold a phenominal amount of cars (especially, the Ferrari – what crisis?).
Personally I enjoy the car shows as its a great venue to see multiple manufacturers WITHOUT feeling pressured by salesmen. Its a great forum to compare apples with apples when all your potential buying options are under the one roof.
I think the Syd and Mel rotating/alternative year for the major show will work well.
Sorry for the QLD lads though.. Will have to make the travel down??
FN TYPICAL…syd an mel get thiers and the only showing of the california outside of europe and we get FARK ALL… one and only time of the year you can go have a good day looking at great cars, and the lot is canceled…BUUUULLLLLSHEEEEEET credit crisis…
I live in northern NSW and look forward to going to the Brizzy motorshow every year, its a pity i wont get to go next year. Was hoping to check out the new Mazda3 and see the Mitsubishi girls…er, i mean stand. ;)
With Qld & WA still showing some signs of life, it’s a shame that the Brisbane Show gets cancelled even before Mel & Syd agree on a year-about deal.
I would have thought that Brisbane would have been safe.
Still, a fly-in/fly-out on the same day to either Sydney or Melbourne for a car show would be a good day,& money well spent.
Salesman, can’t think of any model in the Kia range that’s a must have or a category winner.
Sorry Bro.
:-)
I wonder what platform manufactures will used to “release” new models if motor shows fall out of favor?
Adelaide’s gone now too, although I note that this Qld centric site don’t think that that’s news.
Did Adelaide have a Motorshow did they bret? I jeard about ti but when I went to the showgrounds I only saw a couple of Fords Holdens as well as the odd Subie and Mitsubishi in a storage shed… Not what you could call a “show”
having said that I don’t think we need a full scale motor show in each capital city each year – the market is too small and there arent enpgh sales to justify it etc.
It would be cheaper better and fairer if the “AUSTRALIAN” International motorshow” was on a rotation basis.. that is one year in Sydney.. the next year in Melbourne.. the next in Adelaide and the next in Perth before going back to Melbourne.
Why? well very few “major” changes made to a particular model within 5 years – so each time you go there would more likely be something completely new there to see; and because very few of us upgrade our new cars in every year.. unless its part of a salary package etc
Yeah I realise that Adelaide motor show wasn’t as big as Melb/Syd, but it was all we had. It was supported by most of the manufatures as well, heck Ford even used Adelaide for the NATIONAL luanch of the “updated” Escape…… OK point taken, but Adelaide was no more a minor show than any of the others (except Melb/Syd).
I hope they have the show in 2010. I’ll be visiting Brisbane around that time for about 6 months from FL, USA.