GoAuto are reporting that Audi Australia has now been confirmed as the third major German manufacturer to withdraw from October’s Australian International Motor Show (AIMS) in Sydney. Only Volkswagen remain confirmed, with BMW, Mercedes-Benz and now Audi pulling the plug. BMW subsidary MINI has not had an official presence at either the Sydney or Melbourne shows for some time.
In our relatively small market it is no surprise that Audi has cited the costs of major stands at the Melbourne and Sydney motor shows as the main issue behind their decision.
From GoAuto: “The top three German makers in Australia are all lobbying for such an alternating arrangement on the basis of cost (a single motor show exhibit can cost anywhere between $300,000 and $1 million), but say the retail focus of smaller shows like Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide actually cover their own costs.”
As you can imagine the thought of rotating shows hasn’t gone down well with the organisers of AIMS, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, or the Melbourne International Motor Show promoters, the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce.
Click HERE to read the GoAuto article in full.
3 replies on “Australian International Motor Show – A German free zone?”
A motor show without BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz is not worthy of the name. I understand completely where they’re coming from … two major motor shows in Australia make no sense at all when other more populace countries only have one! Something has to give.
It does seem a shame for the German manufacturers to pull out, but I agree with you Bryan, the costs for those guys doesn’t seem worth the effort.
[…] two major motor shows does not come as a surprise after several European manufacturers withdrew their support from the 2008 AIMS event, citing the costs of dual shows in Melbourne and Sydney as the major […]