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| British 2010 motor show cancelled | British 2010 motor show cancelled |
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| The 2010 British International motor show has been cancelled as the car industry cuts spending. | The 2010 British International motor show has been cancelled as the car industry cuts spending. |
| Carmakers cannot commit to the event at a time when they face "unprecedented challenges", said Paul Everitt, chief executive of the industry body SMMT. | Carmakers cannot commit to the event at a time when they face "unprecedented challenges", said Paul Everitt, chief executive of the industry body SMMT. |
| Car sales, and thus carmakers' profits have plunged in recent months as consumers have struggled to get loans to buy cars. | Car sales, and thus carmakers' profits have plunged in recent months as consumers have struggled to get loans to buy cars. |
| But the London show was struggling even before the credit crunch. | But the London show was struggling even before the credit crunch. |
| For years, the show was held in Birmingham, though it moved to London in 2006 after several carmakers decided not to attend the show there, and as visitor numbers tumbled. | For years, the show was held in Birmingham, though it moved to London in 2006 after several carmakers decided not to attend the show there, and as visitor numbers tumbled. |
| The 2006 show was well supported by the industry, though by 2008 some carmakers had decided to stay away in spite of its growing popularity with consumers. | The 2006 show was well supported by the industry, though by 2008 some carmakers had decided to stay away in spite of its growing popularity with consumers. |
| The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said the decision had been a "difficult one". | The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said the decision had been a "difficult one". |
| "The global credit crunch has placed the automotive sector under unique pressure and has created a level of uncertainty that deters manufacturers from committing to large-scale, international events," said SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt. | |
| The show's organisers stressed the cancellation would not be permanent. | The show's organisers stressed the cancellation would not be permanent. |
| "Given the great strides that the Motor Show has taken since its return to London, we fully endorse the decision to postpone [it] until market conditions will again permit us to deliver a world class event that truly showcases the UK industry," said Rob Mackenzie from International Motor Industry Events. | "Given the great strides that the Motor Show has taken since its return to London, we fully endorse the decision to postpone [it] until market conditions will again permit us to deliver a world class event that truly showcases the UK industry," said Rob Mackenzie from International Motor Industry Events. |
| When the show returns it may not be in "its current form", the SMMT indicated. | |
| Manufacturers were, however, committed to holding an event to showcase the UK car industry, SMMT spokesperson Nikki Rooke told the BBC News channel. |