AUSSIE AUTO SHOWS MERGE

Conformation today that the 2009 Melbourne International Motor Show (MIMS) starting February 27 at Melbourne's Exhibition Centre will be the last in it's current form.   From 2010 the event will alternate with Sydney under the new title of the Australian International Motor Show. MIMS organisers The Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC), and its new car division, AADA (Vic) and the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), organiser of the Sydney Motor Show and have announced the formation of a new Motor Show Joint Venture to run the new event. The move comes after many years of often bitter rivalry between the two cities, both seeking to be the pre-eminent Auto show in the country. VACC Executive Director, David Purchase said that today's announcement was “a significant and important step forward for the future of motor shows in Sydney and Melbourne and establishes a strong relationship between the FCAI and VACC which no doubt will be of benefit to the broader Australian automotive industry,”  FCAI Chief Executive, Andrew McKellar said that the new relationship will allow a new direction, while maintaining the tradition and heritage of the motor shows in the two capital cities.”  One sticking point still to be announced could be a regular date, Melbourne's early March date fits perfectly into the packed Melbourne major events calendar, often running close to, or concurrent with the Australian Grand Prix at the nearby Albert Park. Sydney is commited to it's traditional October date and it's this date that will feature the first of the new combined shows in 2010. The move to combine the two shows came after pressure from manufacturers and the media who considered the proliferation of motor shows in a small market like Australia as being too costly”