The 2002 Birmingham Motor Show, the biggest remaining auto exhibition in Britain, has been dealt a blow after German manufacturer BMW decided to pull out of the event.
The 2002 Birmingham Motor Show, the biggest remaining auto exhibition in Britain, has been dealt a blow after German manufacturer BMW decided to pull out of the event.
BMW has said that it could spend the R22 million cost of exhibition at the October show on something else. This will be the first time that the German manufacturer will not be at Britain’s premier show.
BMW’s corporate communications director, Chris Willows, said the decision was based on its budgets for 2002. “We considered the motor show and a raft of other options, and felt the money would be better spent on other activities,” he said.
“It’s a one-off decision and nothing to do with us hating motor shows.”
Willows said it did not mean the company would avoid the 2004 event.
The Birmingham show could be further depleted of stars as Mercedes-Benz and MG Rover have not confirmed their participation.
It is believed that Mercedes may decide not to attend the show. A spokesman for the Stuttgart company said there would be “cost implications if we exhibit at the show and other implications if we don’t”.
MG Rover has said it had a policy of not attending motor shows unless it had new products to promote, but was still discussing the matter with the organisers, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Toyota has confirmed its attendance.