Tokyo Motor Show

TITLE: Tokyo Motor Show

WHERE: Odaiba, Tokyo waterfront, Japan

WHEN: Every odd-year in November - DecemberNEXT: December 2 – 11, 2011 (Media November 30 – December 1)STATUS: The one for fantastic concept vehiclesThe Tokyo Motor Show for 2011 returns to Tokyo city for the first time in 24 years after a decision to end its long association with Chiba City which is some 40km from central Tokyo on Tokyo Bay (although closer to Narita Airport).

The 2011 show is relocating to the Toyota International Exhibition Centre on the Tokyo waterfront know locally at the Tokyo Big Sight which is one of the largest convention centres in the world.

The 2011 show will use all available exhibition space which is 60 per cent greater than available for the 2009 show.

Over the years Tokyo has gained a reputation for its wonderful, weird and outlandish concept cars, and has been regarded for well over 40 years as the centre of flights-of-fancy vehicles.

Nevertheless, Japan’s dominance of the Australian new-car industry means that the many production vehicles that Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mitsubishi and others unveil at every show have real relevance to car buyers Down Under.

In spite of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, all 14 Japanese manufacturers and 15 brands, as well as 19 companies and 22 brands from abroad, are scheduled to exhibit.

A total of 175 exhibitors from 11 countries and 1 region will participate, covering 35,000 square meters of exhibit space. This greatly surpasses the previous 2009 show, which had 129 exhibitors from 10 countries and 1 region covering 21,800 sq m of exhibit space.

Commencing in April 1954, the first Tokyo motor show heralded Japan’s status as an emerging major motor vehicle manufacturing force and the show quickly became a proud showcase for its then fledgling industry.

Up until 1973 it was an annual event, but the fuel crisis and global economic woes of the time led the Tokyo show’s organisers – the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association – to hold it every other year.

However, from 2001 to 2005 Japan followed Germany’s IAA by using the even ‘gap’ year as an exposition for new commercial vehicles. This was halted for the 2007 show.