Melbourne and Sydney to alternate annual Motor Show
February 3, 2009 by Matt Brogan
The organisers of the Melbourne and Sydney Motor Shows have this morning announced the formation of a Motor Show Joint Venture.
The joint venture has been established to operate the Australian International Motor Show, which will alternate between Sydney and Melbourne on an annual basis. The first of these events will commence in Sydney in 2010.
The 75th Melbourne motor show, to be held from 27 February to 9 March this year, will be the last solo show. This will also be the only major motor show in Australia in 2009 with the next event in Sydney to be the first under the joint venture agreement.
“The FCAI is delighted to announce the joint venture with VACC. The new relationship will allow a new direction while maintaining the tradition and heritage of the motor shows in the two capital cities,” FCAI Chief Executive, Andrew McKellar said. “We are already making plans for Sydney in 2010 and are confident that under the new agreement, it will be an exciting and well-supported show. The new model is viable and sustainable and takes into account the views of the many vehicle brands who considered the proliferation of motor shows in Australia as being too costly.”
“This is a significant and important step forward for the future of motor shows in Sydney and Melbourne and establishes a strong relationship between the FCAI and VACC which no doubt will be of benefit to the broader Australian automotive industry,” VACC Executive Director, David Purchase said. “A detailed agreement between the two organisations has been reached and will be formally executed shortly. The intention is to have the new events registered as the Australian International Motor Show. This will enhance the stature of the motor shows and assist in attracting participation from overseas.”
The President of the Melbourne Motor Show Committee and AADA (Vic) Chairman, David Nutter, and Melbourne Show Director, Russ Tyrie, also expressed their full – support for the Joint Venture.
CarAdvice will bring you all the news from the Melbourne International Motor Show live when doors open on February 27th.
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Great idea, airfares are so cheap now if one must go each year. Will cut costs and Melbourne gets a show every year Sydney misses out
It is all well and good to alternate motor shows between Sydney and Melbourne but someone seems to have forgotten to change the dates. Sydney is in October and Melbourne is in February/March which, to state the obvious, means after the Sydney show Melbourne will be only 4-5 months later. Then it is a 19-20 month wait for the next one in Sydney. If we take the gap from Sydney to Melbourne just how many new cars can be released in 4-5 months. Then to be waiting nearly 19 months to see a new model release at a show…….
It would make a lot of sense to even out the gaps between shows.
I would expect that to happen tuffguy, The announcement was only made today so I would expect that announcement to come before the first one happens. personally I think it should be in February to coincide with the Australian Formula One Grand Prix as we do get many tourists from Overseas here who are car enthusiasts then and it would bring a bit of a tourist boost to Sydney with such cheap airfares between the 2 citties now. Would make it most likely the first or one of the first international motor shows of the year as well. Afterall here in Melbourne we also get Sydneysiders who come here for the AGP who also attend ours when they are here so its of no loss to Sydneysiders to come to Melbourne once every 2 years for it just as its no loss for us Melbournians to spend under $50 to get our motor show fix. I have not missed one in over 35 years so that includes me.
Correction Late February early March not February