TOO STRONG FOR WORDS • In the article headed "Birmingham
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show faces rivals" (CM 11-17 October) you stated that "Scania has warned it might boycott a 1992 show."
I would like to clarify this point. When Scania was asked about its future thoughts regarding the Birmingham Motor Show, it stated that it was not happy with the results of the 1990 event because of the low attendance of trade visitors in Hall 5 — in particular during the second week.
Scania feels that perhaps it is time to consider separating cars from trucks. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has done a good job producing, what is without doubt, the best show and it is not the SMMT's fault that the attendance was low.
Scania said it was not keen to take part in the 1992 show if it was a repeat of this year. In other words the market situation and duration of the show were the same. The SMMT originally offered the truck industry an alternative "six-day show" for the first week of the Motor Show. I believe Scania was the only manufacturer to support this idea and still believe that it would have worked. However, Scania was outvoted on this but continued to support its colleagues from other manufacturers.
Scania also said that before any decision could be made it would wait to hear what the SMMT planned.
Despite the disappointment with the attendance at the NEC this year. Scania still believes it did the right thing by being there. The Motor Show is the showcase for our industry, but something needs to be done to reduce the current high costs of exhibiting — particularly in such a tough market.
Dermot Bambridge, Public relations manager, Scania (Great Britain), Milton Keynes.
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