Nissan to Skip Major Auto Shows to Save Cash

WASHINGTON, DC - February 27, 2009: The AIADA newsletter reported that Nissan said today it would skip some major international auto shows in its new business year starting on April 1 to save cash as global car sales plummet.

Nissan's decision means it will be absent from the Detroit auto show next January, as well as the IAA in Frankfurt in September. The German supplier Continental, as well as automakers Mitsubishi and Daihatsu, has said they will not have exhibition stands at the Frankfurt show.

Automotive News reports that last month, Nissan, Suzuki and Mitsubishi skipped the Detroit auto show. Nissan said it had selected the New York, Shanghai, Tokyo and Geneva shows during the 12-month period to March 31, 2010 as the four major events to showcase its cars.

Also this week, Nissan said it will raise domestic (Japan) production in March after lowering vehicle inventory levels in February to match demand.

Nissan is cutting production by 64,000 vehicles in February and March as the global recession decimates demand for new cars. The carmaker said yesterday January Japan production plunged 59 percent, compared with a year earlier, to 47,477 units.