The SMMT has confirmed that the 2012 British International Motor Show will not be reinstated in 2012.

The decision was taken after consultation with the UK motor industry and follows the cancellation of the 2010 show.

"In recent years the show has played a less important role in influencing new car buyers and vehicle manufacturers are focussing their limited resources on events and activities that have a more direct impact on brand awareness and consumer decisions,” said SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt.

Despite the upward trend in attendance at the 2008 British International Motor Show, the economic downturn and unprecedented challenges facing the industry both in the UK and around the world made it impossible for the industry to commit to a 2010 event, leading to its cancellation in March 2009.

AM reported last week that the show's cancellation was likely.

 

About the British International Motor Show
The British International Motor Show, organised by the SMMT, first ran at Crystal Palace in 1903 before moving to Olympia in 1905 and Earls Court in 1937 where it ran until 1976.

With the exception of 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918 and 1939 -1947 inclusively, due to the first and second world wars, the show ran every year up to 1976 when it became a biennial event with its move to Birmingham’s NEC in 1978.

In 2006 the SMMT took the decision to move the show to ExCeL London and granted International Motor Industry Events (imie) a ten-year licence to organise the biennial show.

The last show was held from 22 July – 3 August 2008 at ExCeL London Docklands. There were over 600 cars and 60 manufacturers present and an audited visitor attendance number of 472,300 people.