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By
EWAN KENNEDY
15 December 2008
A few weeks ago we wrote about the fact that many topline car
makers didn’t attend the 2008 Sydney motor show. The reason
being a battle between them and the show organisers. In order to
save money the car companies would like to hold shows in Sydney
and Melbourne in alternating years, instead of running events in
both cities each year.
That
problem seems to be coming to a head. Though no definite decision
has been made publicly it looks as though the alternating-years
lobby will win. To the detriment of the Australian public, many
who will be unable to travel to the ‘other’ city to view the
latest and greatest in cars.
In
the meantime the Melbourne International Motor Show in February /
March 2009 is shaping to be a much more interesting event than the
2008 Sydney one.
Companies
displaying their products in Melbourne that failed to attend
Sydney are Alfa Romeo, Audi, Bentley, BMW and Porsche.
Mercedes-Benz
is noticeable by its absence. A representative of the German
marque, David McCarthy, said that the company intended to spend
its money on promotions during the Melbourne Formula One Grand
Prix rather than at the motor show.
Fair
enough, particularly during these times of sharply falling sales,
but it will be interesting to see the sales graphs of Audi, BMW
and Mercedes in the months following the motor show.
Also
interesting is that BMW and Volkswagen have taken up additional
space at the 2009 show compared to the 2008 one. Has BMW done this
to try and upstage its arch-rival… ?
The
75th Melbourne motor show is still several months out so it’s
too early to give details on what will be on display. Lotus has
made an early announcement that it will show its new Evora 2+2
sports machine. For information on other cars as it comes to hand
we suggest you logon to www.motorshow.com.au/ for news as it
breaks.
We
will, of course, keep you informed on major stories as they arise.
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
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