By Ingrid Kwok
BEIJING Automakers will be faced with the decision of where to exhibit in Beijing this year, as the capital hosts two international automotive exhibitions in the space of four weeks.
With the split between organisers of the biennial AutoChina exhibition, the Automotive Industry Subcouncil — under the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) — and the China Automotive Engineering Society (CAES) are now organising the Beijing Motor Show 2004 from May 18-25.
China National Automotive Industry Corporation (CNAIC) and CCPIT, meanwhile, are co-hosting AutoChina 2004 from June 6-16 at the China International Exhibition Centre and Beijing Agricultural Exhibition Hall. The floor space for the exhibition is an estimated 120,000 sqm.
Hong Kong Adsale Exhibition Services — an overseas cooperative specialising in autoparts and accessories exhibitors — is not phased by situation.
"Exhibition space is sold at a higher price compared with last year. We have more official pavilions this year, Spain has formed its first pavilion (and) there are also several companies from Turkey participating — in the past we seldom had exhibitors from the Middle East," said assistant project manager Edward Tang.
If anything, he believes the current scenario shows exhibitors' confidence in China's automobile market: "With China's WTO entry, the tariffs for automobiles has decreased and production of automobiles in China is increasing."
He cited exhibiting in Beijing in 2006 as a "definite" even if the two auto shows are still scheduled so closely together. "Companies choose to exhibit their latest products in Beijing because it's the capital. Obviously, it would be better if Beijing built a new exhibition centre."
AutoChina rift spurs turf war in Beijing
BEIJING Automakers will be faced with the decision of where to exhibit in Beijing this year, as the capital hosts two international automotive exhibitions in the space of four weeks.
