MIMS 2009 – That’s a wrap

The doors have closed on the 2009 Melbourne International Motor Show. That brings down the curtain on individual shows for Melbourne and Sydney, with a new era set to begin in 2010.

Around 160,000 visitors attended MIMS this year. That figure is down on other years, but Motor Show director, Russ Tyrie is talking things up, “In any other year, we would be disappointed with a crowd of 160,000. But considering the impact of the global economic slowdown and with households watching every cent, achieving this number of visitors is encouraging for an industry feeling the pinch.”

Following the joint venture agreement between the Melbourne and Sydney motor show organisers there will be no major Australian motor show until the latter half of 2010.

With such a long break between events the next “Australian International Motor Show” is sure to be one you cannot afford to miss.

Final Melbourne Motor Show Marks the Start of a New Era

Organisers of the Melbourne Motor Show say they were encouraged by this year’s event.

The Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce and its new car division, AADA (Vic), said that approximately 160,000 visitors came through the doors of the Melbourne Exhibition Centre over the past eleven days of the Show.

“Melbourne Motor Show remains Victoria’s largest indoor event, despite crowd numbers being down this year.

“In any other year, we would be disappointed with a crowd of 160,000. But considering the impact of the global economic slowdown and with households watching every cent, achieving this number of visitors is encouraging for an industry feeling the pinch,” Motor Show director, Russ Tyrie said.

“The tough financial climate meant we were not expecting anything approaching record numbers of 2007. However, what was encouraging was the feedback we received from exhibitors. It was very positive.

“Melbourne is not regarded as a ‘selling’ Motor Show and yet many new car dealers have expressed surprise at the number of sales enquiries they received.

“We understand that some have enjoyed an unusually high turnover on their stands,” Mr Tyrie said.

The 75th Melbourne Motor Show marks the beginning of a new era for motor shows in Australia.

It was the last ‘stand-alone’ event for Melbourne. A Joint Venture agreement between the VACC and AADA (Vic) and the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), the organisers of the Sydney Motor Show, will now oversee a new ‘Australian International Motor Show’. The JV will alternate, year-about, between Sydney and Melbourne with the first under the new arrangement being in Sydney in 2010.

“It is sad to see the end of the Melbourne Motor Show, but we are excited about the future,” VACC Executive Director, David Purchase said.

“The partnership with FCAI is an opportunity for the Motor Show to develop and grow. It has the backing of the manufacturers and will provide better participation from overseas, more new releases, show specials and concept cars when it returns,” Mr Purchase said.