Slowdown Takes the Shine off Auto Shows

Washington DC November 14, 2008; The AIADA newsletter reported that facing their worst sales in decades, carmakers are cutting spending on auto shows, the industry's traditional customer-courtship event.

The L.A. Times reports that GM has scrapped plans to debut its Buick LaCrosse and the Cadillac CTS Coupe at the Los Angeles Auto Show next week, and said Tuesday that it was canceling its only news conference planned for the event.

Chrysler said it would make local dealers pay for the company's exhibition stand at the show and would reveal no new products.

Four other car companies - Ferrari, Rolls-Royce, Land Rover, and Suzuki - are withdrawing from the nation's premier auto show, held in Detroit in January.

Through October, overall U.S. auto sales are down nearly 15 percent compared with last year, and just one major automaker, Subaru, has sold more cars in the U.S. this year than last.

"Clearly, we're affected," said Andy Fuzesi, general manager and co-owner of the L.A. Auto Show, which has nearly 20 percent fewer exhibitors at this year's show compared with last year. "Everybody is clearly reassessing where they spend their money."

For more on how auto shows are faring, CLICK HERE.