Tokyo motor show is still go

THE organiser of Tokyo’s revitalised 2011 motor show used last week’s New York show to reaffirm its commitment to this December’s new-look event, which has now been confirmed to host nearly 20 European brands.

Japan’s peak auto industry body, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), moved to assure the world that the 42nd Tokyo will go ahead as planned from November 30, despite continuing worldwide production cut-backs and radiation fears following Japan’s devastating earthquake and tsunami on March 11.

“The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association would like to inform that the Japanese automotive industry is working as hard as possible to help the relief and recovery effort in the aftermath of the earthquake,” a JAMA representative said in a New York press conference on April 21.

“We also want to express our most sincere gratitude for all the support and encouragement received from so many all over the world.

“JAMA is confident that the 42nd Tokyo motor show in 2011 will be an opportunity to inform the world that Japanese manufacturing has recovered from the earthquake, and is committed to holding the show as planned in December at Tokyo Big Sight.” After dispelling any doubts the show would not go ahead in New York, JAMA today released an exhibitor list confirming all of the major European brands will be in attendance, including Audi, BMW, Citroen, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Peugeot, Porsche, Renault, Saab and Volkswagen.

Other European brands will include AMG, Alpina, KTM, Range Rover and Smart, but notable Euro absentees include Volvo and Fiat group brands Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Ferrari and Maserati.

Nor is there any sign of the Korean or North American brands that were also absent in 2009, including Hyundai, Kia and SsangYong, and Chrysler (or its Dodge and Jeep brands), Ford and General Motors, including its Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac or European Opel and Vauxhall brands.

All 14 manufacturer members of JAMA will be on show, including Daihatsu, Honda, Lexus, Mazda, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota – plus commercial vehicle makers Hino, Isuzu and UD and dedicated motorcycle makers Yamaha and Kawasaki.

As we’ve reported, the 42nd Tokyo motor show will return to the nation’s capital city after 24 years when it is staged at the Tokyo Big Sight convention centre in the Ariake-Odaiba area on Tokyo harbour.

First held at Hibiya in 1954, the Tokyo show was an annual event for its first two decades, before being held every second year and shifting to its previous site at Makuhari in 1989.

Held in the aftermath of the GFC, the last Tokyo show in October 2009 attracted just 614,200 people – the show’s lowest figure since 1958, less than half the 1.426 million it drew in 2007 and about a third of the record 2,018,500 it hosted in 1991.

It also filled a floor area of just 133,000 square metres – well down on the 211,300sq-m it spanned in previous years – with just 109 display vehicles representing the smallest number ever and falling well short of the 300-plus exhibited in previous years.

The move to the smaller but significantly more central Big Sight venue, which spans just 82,660sq-m, will make the 2011 TMS much more compact than other international motor shows, led by Frankfurt, which also dwarfs Detroit (223,000sq-m), Shanghai (230,000sq-m), Paris (180,000sq-m) and Geneva (111,000sq-m).

This year’s Tokyo show, which will be headlined by the world debut of Toyota's rear-drive FT-86 sports coupe, will also be three days shorter than before, but will still include two weekends, ending on December 11.

JAMA says the 2011 TMS is designed to be the world’s leading technology-driven motor show and to that end will be promoted under the theme “Mobility can change the world” and supported by a new feature exhibit titled “Smart Mobility City 2011”.

“It will showcase next-generation automobiles and the social systems with which they interact to highlight the roles and responsibilities of the automotive industry amidst growing concern over the global environment and resources,” said JAMA.

Exhibits will include high-tech displays from a range of industry sectors, including energy, environment, housing, urban planning and telecommunications, alongside test rides, automated driving and telematics demonstrations, childrens’ workshops and advanced technology seminars from leading experts in their fields.

Last week JAMA revealed its new 2011 Tokyo show poster (above), featuring “the ever-changing automobile” via a tyre, headlight and car body arranged “in a unique and improbable way”.

“The theme delivers the strong message that automobiles will become a driving force to lead the future of humanity and society onwards and upwards to a better stage.”

said JAMA.

“The poster embodies the anticipation for the future generated by cutting-edge technology and portrays the motor show as spectacular and enjoyable for everyone.” Before the 2011 TMS from November 30, international motor shows will be held in Barcelona (May 13), Melbourne (July 1), Moscow (August 23), Frankfurt (September 13) and Los Angeles (November 17).