Yes, you’ve read it well. Honda will cancel all of its press events at the North American auto show in January. The company says it will forgo traditional product unveilings because of depressed business conditions.
“Normally we have a great TV moment with special effects to reveal a new model,” says Chris Martin, a spokesman for American Honda. “That’s a very expensive prospect. Given the economic times, we just didn’t see that as appropriate this year.”
Meanwhile, they are still going to debut the production version of its Insight hybrid vehicle in Detroit, as Chris Martin says. And during press days, Honda executives will do media interviews as usual. Their decision was first reported by the New York Times yesterday. Honda’s Acura brand also will forego press announcements in the upcoming show but it didn’t have them in 2008, either.
As you might know, several automakers have pulled out of the Detroit show altogether. Nissan, Misubishi, Suzuki, Land Rover and Rolls-Royce have withdrawn from the Detroit show. Porsche dropped out of this year’s event and says it won’t return in 2009.
Even if they won’t have any press conferences planned for that show, Honda still will show its cars in Chicago.
“We are not pulling out of shows completely,” Martin says.
All of the world’s auto makers are feeling this downturn. Thankfully, our president-elect recognizes the importance of ensuring the success of the American-based auto industry. It’s the right move, too, since Asian and European governments are already helping those based in their countries.