Australian International Motor Show

The Australian International Motor Show (AIMS) was an annual auto show held in Australia, alternating between the cities of Sydney and Melbourne. Prior to the Sydney event in 2010, both cities previously hosted separate annual exhibitions. Melbourne's version was known as the Melbourne International Motor Show, with Sydney hosting the Australian International Motor Show (known as the Sydney Motor Show prior to 2004).

Australian International Motor Show (Sydney, 2010)

History

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The Melbourne International Motor Show was held from 1925 through to 2009;[1] it was the longest running auto show in Australia.[2] The Sydney show was originally titled Sydney Motor Show but the 2004 show signalled the adoption of the Australian International Motor Show (AIMS) title.[3]

AIMS continued to be held at Sydney annually until 2008, when the global financial crisis and poor attendances at the 2008 show resulted in the cancellation of the 2009 show.[4] Prior to the staging of the 2008 show in Sydney, the organisers of AIMS, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), and the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC), organiser of the Melbourne International Motor Show had commenced discussions to consider options for the future staging and organisation of motor shows in Sydney and Melbourne.[5] On 3 February 2009 it was announced that these discussions had culminated in the formation of a joint venture between FCAI and VACC to organise an automotive exhibition, which would alternate between Melbourne and Sydney biennially, commencing with Sydney in 2010. Under the joint venture, both the Sydney and Melbourne shows now use the existing Sydney title, "Australian International Motor Show" (AIMS).[6][7]

Sydney

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The Sydney Motor Show was held at the Sydney Showground in Moore Park until 1987. From 1988, the show was relocated to Darling Harbour at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre.[1] The first joint-venture AIMS motor was held in Sydney from 15–24 October 2010.[8]

In 2012 the show was held from 19–28 October 2012[9] at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre and included over 400 motor vehicles.

Melbourne

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The first Melbourne Motor Show was started on 30 April 1925.[1] Until 1996 it was held at the Royal Exhibition Building then moved to the new Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre complex, in Southbank.[1] The 2009 show was the last to operate under the "Melbourne International Motor Show" title. Until 2009, the show was usually held in March but commencing in 2011 it will be held in July.

The Australian International Motor Show (AIMS) Joint Venture announced on 25 March that the 2013 Australian International Motor Show scheduled for Melbourne in June, will not proceed.[10]

Dissolution

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In a statement released on 25 February 2014, VACC and FCAI announced the dissolution of the Australian International Motor Show joint venture.[11]

On 20 May 2014, VACC announced a joint venture with the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) to create the Australian Motoring Festival to be held at Royal Melbourne Showgrounds on 26–29 March 2015.[12]

 
2008 Melbourne International Motor Show

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Motor Show Background and History". AIMS Joint Venture. Archived from the original on 19 March 2011. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  2. ^ Harman, Alan (31 March 2008). "Oz Auto Makers Drop Out of Sydney Show". Ward's. Archived from the original on 28 December 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
  3. ^ "New Name for Sydney's Motor Show". AutoWeb. Web Publications. 29 July 2004. Archived from the original on 27 March 2005. Retrieved 16 October 2007.
  4. ^ Blackburn, Richard (3 February 2009). "2009 Sydney motor show cancelled". Drive. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  5. ^ Pettendy, Marton; Stanford, James (14 October 2009). "Sydney, Melbourne shows to alternate from 2009". GoAuto. John Mellor. Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  6. ^ Pettendy, Marton (3 February 2009). "Official: 2009 Sydney motor show cancelled". GoAuto. John Mellor. Archived from the original on 11 April 2010. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  7. ^ "High demand for Sydney floor space". Carsales. 25 May 2009. Archived from the original on 21 July 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  8. ^ "Motor show tickets discount". CarsGuide. 23 July 2010. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
  9. ^ "Motor Shows". GoAuto. John Mellor. Archived from the original on 4 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  10. ^ "Australian International Motor Show joint venture confirms 2013 cancellation" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 April 2013.
  11. ^ "Dissolution of Australian International Motor Show joint venture". Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce. 25 February 2014. Archived from the original on 20 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  12. ^ "VACC and RACV announce the exciting new Australian Motoring Festival". Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce. 20 May 2014. Archived from the original on 21 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
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