Japan’s Automobile Manufacturers’ Association is considering canceling the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, scheduled to kick off in late October. The major trade show is supposed to be a biennial event, with the last one held in 2007. JAMA has cited the potential withdrawal of several major automakers as a possible reason for cancellation. It goes without saying the weak world economy to blame.
The first Tokyo Motor Show was held in 1954. It continued to be an annual event up until 1973, when it became biennial. This went on until 1999, when the show became an annual conference yet again. The biennial timing resumed between the 2005 and 2007 shows.
The theme of 2009’s show is “fun driving for us, eco driving for Earth,” according to organizers.
Discussions about canceling the event first emerged when several non-Japanese automakers said they might have to pull out. Now, several Japanese exhibitors are also considering withdrawing.
“A couple companies are not in favor of organizing the show under these conditions, but that is not JAMA’s opinion,” Toshihiro Iwatake, JAMA’s executive director and secretary general, told Automotive News.
Iwatake told the trade publication his organization views the event as “a symbol of industrial prosperity.” He went on to say that if the conference is cancelled, “the Americans and Europeans will say, ‘Oh, Japan is sinking and the Chinese are up.’”
So far, Honda, Toyota, and Nissan are still on board with the show, but privately they’re questioning whether it should go forward. A Japanese industry source told Auto News that if one of the big three Japanese automakers decides to pull out, it could doom the 2009 event.
01/13, 1:14 PM
posted by:
A4
judging by that picture it looks like it would be pretty fruity anyway
01/13, 1:16 PM
posted by:
Impulsive
Seeing as most of the stuff from Japan is unattractive anyway … who cares?
01/13, 1:23 PM
posted by:
A4
if they close up the doors this year it must mean that “fun for us” and “eco for the earth” just wont ever be able to mutually come out of japan.
01/13, 1:26 PM
posted by:
Struggle
Nothing clever to say
01/13, 1:40 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
I think Tokyo Motor Show administration saw the smile on the new Medusa3 …… I mean Mazda3 …. and decided to cancel the show rather than deal with the lawsuits from all the brain damage done when people see that monstrosity.
In fact they are probably just embarassed about 99% of the JDM designs compared to the cool crap in Detroit right now.
01/13, 2:22 PM
posted by:
yarddog82abn
So they hit a bump in the road and they fill the need to call it quits… all well, what do you expect…
01/13, 2:47 PM
posted by:
Tripleoneflipper
I like pretty balloons. Asian balloons are of much higher quality then the red, white and blue balloons in America. America sucks, I hate it here.
1115
01/13, 3:29 PM
posted by:
DeezNutz
SEMA is next…………
01/13, 3:36 PM
posted by:
Mutant@DCX
Got bumped by Tokyo Wonderfest. Anime/manga- FTW
As is usual with Wonder Fest, is show was overwhelming in size. The sheer number of exhibitors is incredible. The show takes up seven halls at the massive Tokyo Big Sight Exhibition center in the Daiba area of Tokyo. The number of people showing off and selling their models is only surpassed by the huge number of people who come to look at and buy the Japanese models.
01/13, 5:20 PM
posted by:
trantz
any bailout $$’s left?
01/13, 7:08 PM
posted by:
zeeck
The tokyo auto show is usually a bunch of ridiculous Japanese concepts anyways, oh well
01/14, 3:52 AM
posted by:
shitalker
all you a*s clowns here are the perfect examples of why american car industry (or american industry period) is in the sh*thole. you have no clue what’s going on anywhere else but your own f*cking backyard. (and it’s obvious even at that you still suck at it) toyko show has been the most advanced concept arena where a lot of great ideas get show case. but of course you can’t even tell when you see them.. pointless ~ eat your deep fried precessed food products and grow tumors.
01/14, 5:43 AM
posted by:
Mutant@DCX
all your base are belong to us
01/14, 12:21 PM
posted by:
DeezNutz
Believe all that BUUUUULSHIZ if you want to….
This shiz is imploding.
Automakers backing out of the bigger shows you think it’s not going to effect these BS shows too.
Sin catching up…..
01/14, 2:48 PM
posted by:
Tripleoneflipper
A man whom calls himself ****alker calling others clowns.
01/14, 10:23 PM
posted by:
tyler_is_aero_tt
Lol I agree with the first two answers.