Seddon joins Scottish boycott
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• Seddon Atkinson has taken a leaf out of Scania's book, and become the second manufacturer to withdraw from the Scottish Motor Show. Instead of spending an estimated 260,000 exhibiting at the SEC, the Oldham-based truck builder will be mounting local Scottish area roadshows in 1987, in conjunction with its two Scottish dealers, Central Motors of Airdrie and Nortruck Services of Aberdeen.
Seddon's decision to withdraw is based on its experience of the 1985 show which, it claims, "was directed more towards the car section and general public". It says that the attendance of CV operators was "relatively poor".
PR manager Frank Whalley says that industry conditions "now dictate we must take our wares to the buyers — instead of expecting them to visit us to see them". It also believes it will attract far more operators to its alternative roadshows.
Seddon's withdrawal has been criticised by William Bryson, director of the Scottish Motor Traders Association, which organises the Scottish Show. He says that it is up to manufacturers to ensure they get the right kind of customer on their stands: "The majority of CV people who show make an effort to get the people they want to sell to on to their stand. Last show Daf, Volvo, Leyland and Mercedes all made a tremendous effort to ensure that their customers attended."
ERF, Renault, Daf, Mercedes-Benz and Iveco Ford are definitely going to attend; MAN-VW is still considering whether to show, and Leyland is "still in discussions with the
smTA".