Porsche to skip 2008 NAIAS

by Associated Press posted June 11, 2007

FRANKFURT, Germany - Porsche will skip Detroit's North American International Auto Show, focusing instead on shows elsewhere in North America, the German automaker said Monday.

The decision is part of a wider effort to scale back appearances at trade shows where the opportunity for building customers has fallen, the Stuttgart-based company said in a statement.

"As part of the general reduction in trade-fair appearances which began two years ago, in favour of greater emphasis on direct contact with potential customers, motor show activities will in future be concentrated in the main sales areas," the company said, singling out auto shows in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and Toronto.

The company's sales figures backed up its assertion, with more than 20,000 of the 36,669 cars it sold in fiscal year 2005-2006 coming from the U.S. east and west coasts.

Detroit's auto show is scheduled to take place Jan. 19-27 with three days of media previews before it opens to the general public.

Shares of Porsche AG rose 3.15 per cent to 1,311 euros ($1,753.91) Monday.

I seriously doubt that anyone is actually swayed to buy a Porsche by any auto show.

If you have this kind of money and want to spend it on a car, you already know about Porsche.

The funny thing is that Porsche will probably get more coverage in January for NOT showing up at the NAIAS.

I guarantee they'll have a big presence in Los Angeles, though...

How 'limited' can one's resources be? Its a pretty bad impression for any manufacturer to willingly leave a venue without extrodinary circumstances.

The funny thing is that Porsche will probably get more coverage in January for NOT showing up at the NAIAS.

I guarantee they'll have a big presence in Los Angeles, though...

Porsche always have the entire Petree Hall to themselves in LA..

To Porsche:

So am I supposed to faint or something?

"We're not going to Detroit because they're all too poor to buy Porsches, and we never get any press for not introducing anything."

"We're not going to Detroit because they're all too poor to buy Porsches, and we never get any press for not introducing anything."

pwned

How 'limited' can one's resources be? Its a pretty bad impression for any manufacturer to willingly leave a venue without extrodinary circumstances.

It's a big deal....and a lot bigger expense than you could ever imagine. I dealt directly with auto shows during my time at Buick (back before GM started doing everything together) and at Suzuki.

Also, add on top of that the cost of having a display as expensive as it has to be for not only Detroit, but L.A., Chicago, Paris, Geneva, and all the other "large" shows. Getting out of Detroit WILL save them a toon of money....and they'll get all the world-wide press they need in Los Angeles (for U.S. shows.)