Nissan and Mitsubishi pull out of Detroit Auto Show

DETROIT — Nissan North America has joined Mitsubishi as the latest major auto companies announcing they will drop out of the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit because of the poor state of the economy. Ferrari, Rolls-Royce, Land Rover and Suzuki had previously all said they would be no-shows at the show.

Nissan spokesman Fred Standish told Inside Line that the company would have "no presence at all in Detroit."

All of Nissan's consumer activities and press activities have been canceled for both the 2009 North American International Auto Show and the 2009 Chicago Auto Show.

In a formal statement on Tuesday, Nissan said: "Nissan continuously evaluates all of its core marketing activities to ensure we are effectively reaching our target audiences, while at the same time, maximizing our investments. Based on the fact that we have no major new products to show at the 2009 Detroit and Chicago auto shows as well as the current economic conditions which will impact the shows' marketing effectiveness, we have decided to cancel our involvement and participation in the 2009 North American International Auto Show and the Chicago Auto Show."

Nissan displayed its Cube minicar and 370Z sports car at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show earlier this month.

The departure of Nissan is now expected to free up enough floor space to allow Chinese automakers, including Brilliance Auto and BYD Auto to display cars on the main show floor.

Joe Serra, senior co-chairman of the Detroit show, told Automotive News that the dropouts are "just a reflection of how our world is today" and predicted the auto companies "will need to be and want to be back in Detroit" once the economy recovers. He also commented: "It would be foolish for us to think this is how the future is going to look."

Inside Line says: Can Detroit see the glass as half full when the major exhibitors list isn't?