Nissan Drops Out of Detroit and Chicago Shows

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Add Nissan to the list of carmakers that are dropping out of the 2009 Detroit auto show -- and put it at the head of the list of those not appearing at Chicago’s.

Citing the bad economy and a lack of new products, Nissan said today that it would not be showing its vehicles at the January event, known officially as the North American International Auto Show, making it the sxith auto company to drop out.

As first reported in the L.A. Times, Suzuki, Ferrari, Rolls-Royce and Land Rover also will pass on the show, once considered the most important in the world. Porsche, which dropped out of the show this past January, said it would stay out in 2009. And last week, Mitsubishi said it, too would not participate in Detroit’s festivities.

In addition, Nissan said it would not participate in the Chicago Auto Show, held in February. No other carmakers have dropped from that show to date.

‘Based on the fact that we have no major new products to show ... as well as the current economic conditions which will impact the shows’ marketing effectiveness, we have decided to cancel our involvement and participation,’ a Nissan spokesperson said. The company declined to say whether it would participate in the New York International Auto Show in March.

Nissan is currently exhibiting at the L.A. Auto Show, and last week had news conferences for its Nissan 370Z coupe, the Nissan Cube crossover and the Infiniti G37 convertible.

The decision to withdraw completely from Detroit, rather than simply not hold a costly news conference, is dramatic. Carmakers without new products still usually rent space at the big auto shows -- New York, Detroit, L.A. and Chicago -- because of the huge volume of media and public traffic they draw.

For the Detroit show, losing such a big carmaker --- Nissan is among the six largest in the world -- can’t be a good sign. Auto shows charge companies for floor space and also depend on their presence to lure paying car shoppers and enthusiasts to the gate. Moreover, since each car show competes for the lion’s share of product introductions, this could be a sign that Detroit is waning in importance as the L.A. show is gaining a higher profile.

But even the L.A. show is taking its lumps. General Motors canceled its news conference last week, although it still maintained a presence on the floor, as did Chrysler, and the total number of exhibitors was down nearly 20% compared with 2007.

GM and Ford both have said they still plan news conferences with new product introductions for Detroit, although GM canceled a large gala it traditionally throws to inaugurate the show, while Chrysler is rumored to be cutting back on a three-night party it hosts in Detroit every year.

-- Ken Bensinger