Mitsubishi joins the party ... but nobody notices (yet)
By Angela Forgeron, Sympatico/MSN Autos
A few weeks before the official start of Sunday's media days for the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, it was clear that several automakers would be absent from this year's exhibition: Porsche, Land Rover, Suzuki, Nissan/Infiniti, Ferrari, Rolls-Royce and Mitsubishi. (Read more here.)
Though it turns out Mitsu declined - but then accepted - the RSVP.
Sandwiched between Hyundai, Smart, Maybach, Bugatti and Revenge Designs is dimly lit, medium-sized chunk of real estate occupied by the Japanese car maker. Better late to the party than not at all.
When Nissan announced it would not be attending this year's Detroit show, local dealers vowed to set up shop and staff the display themselves. But Nissan asked the dealers to respect their wishes by not showing up and overstepping head office's decision.
Auto shows are big money makers for dealers: it's their chance to have a captive paying (US$12 adults, US$6 for seniors and children) audience float through their display, sit in the seats of new vehicles, kick some tires ... and hopefully, just hopefully, sell some cars.
While Nissan denied its dealers the chance to sell some new Nissan and Infiniti vehicles at this year's show, I'm guessing Mitsu dealers got together and set up shop. Power to them.
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