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The British motor show could be delayed until 2011 due to worries about the show’s profitability and a potential clash with the London Olympics for the 2012 event, sources close to the organisers have suggested.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, which owns the rights to the British motor show, admitted that shifting the biennial show to 2011 “is one of the options we have discussed”. Spokesperson Nikki Rooke said a number of ideas for the show are still “under consideration”...Read the full article

In Scotland we've long since lost our motorshow.   The last one was mainly filled by one of the big dealers showing off his own stock, with other small garages helping out to cover over marques too.   Very little in the way of big manufacturers were there.

As for the shows in Excel, a friend did go to one and wasn't impressed.   Said those in Birmingham were better.   More manufacturers that you'd like to see at a show.   Now he flys out to Geneva Motorshow instead, which he tells me was far superior to anything he's seen in the UK.   And from where we are you have to fly to see a show anyway, so why not go for the best you can?

But for the UK you have to have Ferrari, Lambo, Aston etc to bring people in, and you need the top German brands there too as that's what sells in the UK.   If you don't have those, you don't have a show.   And let's be honest for the likes of Ford and Vauxhall etc, and this is no criticism of their brands, you can nip in to your local dealership and see just as much as you'd at any motorshow.

I dont necessarily think it needs every car maker there. What I think it needs are new models that haven't been shown anywhere else. The New Insignia and Lotus Evora were great cars to see at the motorshow last year. This sort of thing is what it needs. Plus manfacturers to show some concepts also not seen else where. Otherwise, whats the point? I can go into any dealership and have a look at the range of cars they have on offer. Its new metal/plastic/renewable whatever that I'd rather see.

This makes sense.  With show's in the States and in other parts of the world being canceled, it shouldn't be seen as a faliure on behalf of the British organisers.

Also the Olympic issue would neatly be avoided if they shifted it by a year.

This looks like a winning plan all round. 

TegTypeR:

This makes sense.  With show's in the States and in other parts of the world being canceled, it shouldn't be seen as a faliure on behalf of the British organisers.

It looks this way, and I do agree that with the golbal problems it could easily be dismissed as this, but you've got to look at it over the last decade.   Slowly the motorshow has been getting smaller and smaller.   What's happening with the British show is exactly what has already happened to the Scottish show.   Soon they're won't be a British show at all.   That's the reality of what your witnessing right now.

We'll just have Geneva / Paris.   A European show only.   It will be left to the likes of Goodwood for new product releases of sportier cars, without much fanfare for ordinary cars.   How the Kuga was released (in stealth!) will, unfortunately, be the future.

 

Can see a swift about-turn happening here. Mandelson to announce taxpayer funded bailout for car industry this afternoon. Basically, the Bank of England, i.e. the UK taxpayer, will provide loans to prospective car buyers, instead of the car companies or their finance arms themselves. With such reckless largesse can see pressure being put on the UK car industry/SMMT to 'put on a good show' and show the eye-watering cost for the humble taxpayer wasn't in vain, a 'business as usual' motor show:

'The Business Secretary[Mandelson] is expected to make the announcement as part of a multi-million pound rescue package for the struggling motor industry.

The package is aimed at allowing car manufacturers apply to the Bank of England for credit, which they can use to provide affordable loans to new car buyers.' Telegraph 27/1/09

 

As I understand it ther hasn't been a British motor show since the last one at the NEC.  That seems to be the way the majority of prestige manufacturers see it too.  The London show is a regional event with above average bling and bull***t to me.

Paul J:

As I understand it ther hasn't been a British motor show since the last one at the NEC.

That's a very good point!   You're absolutely right too.

Yes, there hasn't been a real proper British Motorshow since those in the NEC days. Excel is a really nice place and it's manageable to walk round, but it lacks the sparkle and big stands of the Birmingham days in the late 1990s, 2000, 2002 and 2004. I remember they made a big deal out of the New Micra's launch at the 2002 show, and the stands themselves were far more adventurous. I vividly remember a Fiesta glued to Ford's stand wall one time, and Citroen had a few C3 Pluriels on their wall. I also recall Mini's stand in 1998 - with the Paul Smith Mini and others popping out of the wall. Nowadays, it's just lacking big premieres. Ford and Vauxhall did a brilliant job last year, I felt, but there were too many with bland stands - MINI especially. But it's still very enjoyable and there's always good weather (surprisingly!) - I just wish it could be a bit more like it was in the NEC days - big stands, big debuts, all the manufacturers. Paris, Geneva and Frankfurt get it!

With the exception of 2006 and 2008 the British Motor Show hasn't really been the same since they moved it from our Capital City to some obscure place in the Midlands. Moving the show back to 2011 makes commercial sense, when hopefully we will see lots of concepts and new models from the likes of BMW and Alfa........

 I really don't believe that to spend ridiculous amounts of money on huge levels of illumination, coated MDF and overpriced sandwiches will help the car manufacturers in terms of overall consumer PR. There are clearly far more important things to spend their money on currently and in the forseeable future - paying the wages of their staff and staying afloat would be right at the top of that list. My vote would be to cancel it entirely and only think about reinstating it when the economy gets back to something near normal.