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Car industry crisis pushes green car event back to 2010

The Sexy Green Car Show has been cancelled because of the recent collapse in the car industry.

The show, which had been due to move to London after two successful years at the Eden Project in Cornwall, was scheduled for the beginning of May.

"I've never known an exhibition concept launch were the reception was so strong. There was almost universal support across the market," said Rob Mackenzie, managing director of IMIE, the organisers of the Sexy Green Car Show and the British Motor Show.

The suddenness of the cancellation has left some car makers that had already signed up with a gap in their promotional calendar.

A Renault UK spokesman said: "We were contacted this afternoon by the Sexy Green Car Show’s organisers, as one of eight companies that had signed contracts with the show organisers, to say that they were now planning to put the London show on ice until 2010."

Alun Parry, head of PR at Suzuki, said: "I can confirm that Suzuki GB will not be attending the Sexy Green Car Show this year. We have four cars beneath or at 120g/km, including the new Alto at 103g/km CO2 and the recent introduction of the Splash 1.0-litre, so it would have been an great opportunity to show our green credentials."

It is not clear whether the show will take place in some form in 2009.

"I think as a courtesy we will ask the vehicle manufacturers if they want to do something," said Mackenzie, "and the Eden Project will do its best to accommodate them. But the focus is on rescheduling the event for 2010."

Mackenzie denied that the show was cancelled due to the recent drop in oil prices.

"No one believes that the drop [in fuel costs] is a long-term trend," he said. "It didn't factor into our thinking. There are also road tax, insurance and parking benefits to a green car."

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